Dalai Lama tells religious leaders to know, respect other traditions

Published: 2004-05-05

TORONTO (CNS) -- The Dalai Lama told an audience of 3,000 in Toronto to practice their own faith, but to know and respect others. "I always pay my respects to the contribution to humanity of these great traditions," the Dalai Lama said at a May 1 interfaith prayer service held in the National Trade Center in Toronto. Among those participating were representatives from 15 different faith traditions. While he learns from and respects other religions, the spiritual leader of the world's Tibetan Buddhists said he sticks to practicing his own. He urged his audience to know, respect and practice their own religion as individuals, but to foster in their communities an appreciation for the multiplicity of religions surrounding them. The Dalai Lama was in Toronto for an eight-day intensive teaching and initiation rite for Buddhists from 44 countries.

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