The Secret Tibet (The Forbidden world)

A Taiwanese mother and her baby attends the 5 days teaching by The Dalai Lama at Dharamshala, India 30 September 2008. Photo: Potala Post

Some 3, 500 devotees from around the world, including some 600 Chinese Buddhists from Taiwan, have thronged the Tsuglagkhang, the main temple, in Dharamshala, to attend a five-day teaching series by His Holiness.

Buddhists from Korea, Japan and Vietnam are also attending the teachings.

The five-day teaching is on "Arya Nagarjuna's Commentary on Bodhicitta (jangchup semdrel)" and "Kamalashila's The Middling Stages of Meditation (gomrim barpa)".

In his brief introductory address, His Holiness said as a Buddhist monk, his life-long commitment is to offer service of teaching the traditions of Buddhism to the people all over the world, especially to benefit the Chinese Buddhists in Mainland China.

More than 600 Taiwanese attends the 5 days teaching of the Dalai Lama

His Holiness said while following any religion, including Buddhism, the practitioners should have a full understanding of the methods and concepts about that tradition, with a clear objective. So, giving an introduction on the Buddhism is very important, His Holiness added.

While talking to some Christians who are also attending the teachings, His Holiness said, Christian devotees' interest and devotion in Buddhism is "genuine" and are "borne out of investigation".

The five-day teaching will go on till 4 October.