“All religions preach love and compassion. No religion says that God is full of anger. The God is full of love. We are children of such a compassionate father (God). Basis of all religions is harmony.. Mutual respect,” he added.

Observing that violence, killing and starvation are man-made, the Dalai Lama said, “We human being ourselves have created all this. So either we just ignore or make some effort. But any sensible human being cannot ignore. Therefore, ignoring is perfectly wrong…Remaining indifferent (to the problems) is wrong,” he said.

Stating that religions act like medicines that destroy diseases, the Dalai Lama said, “I never say that Buddhism is the best religion.”

He underlined the need of such education system that will be based on secularism, inner values, love and compassion, and not on any religion.

“Existing education system is materialistic which is not adequate..My first Guru to teach love was my mother. My mother was very kind. I never saw her angry, unlike my father who was short-tempered,” he recalled.

At times, I use to pull his moustache and he used to beat me up, the Dalai Lama said in a lighter vein.

He said love and affection start from bosom of mother.

“Mother cuddles her newborn child and the infant starts reciprocating love. People who don’t get this love get angry and (they) grow up with mistrust, according to studies,” the Dalai Lama said, adding that happiness cannot be bought in any supermarket.

He lauded Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for creating a department of Happiness last year.

Observing that “varna dharma” is outdated,” he said that the caste-based system was based on a feudal mindset and was aimed at exploiting farmers.

He recalled instances of ill treatment meted out to members of so-called lower castes in India in past.

“…Now time has come for different spiritual leaders to create a voice that all are equal…Dr B R Ambedkar had made great contribution..Wonderful,” he said.