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Forced conversion not good: Dalai Lama

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, April 2 - Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today said it was always better to stick to one�s traditional faith.

He was responding to a query regarding religious conversion during an interaction organised at the Pragjyoti ITA Centre at Machkhowa as part of the Namami Brahmaputra festival.

He said changing faith could create confusion in the mind of the person. �Forced conversion is not good. It is always better to keep one�s traditional faith and religion. Changing faith could create confusion,� he said.

The Dalai Lama, however, maintained that religion is a deeply personal choice and no religion can be forced on any person.

He pointed out that though he is a Buddhist and has met people from across the globe, he never tried to propagate the religion, even during his visit to western countries.

The Dalai Lama, however, maintained that if an individual wanted to embrace a different faith, he should have the freedom to do so.

�If any person thinks a religion is suitable or more effective, he should have the freedom to embrace it voluntarily,� he said.

The Nobel Peace laureate further underlined the need to learn about different religions to broaden the mind and develop religious harmony.

�We should have better knowledge of the teachings of all traditional values. Knowledge of other traditions is important for religious harmony,� he said.

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