Dharamshala-20 November 2008 - His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke at the dedication of the Lions Club Dr. Pushpa Devi Goleria Memorial Hall today in Dharamsala. In his address he spoke on his two commitments to nurture human affection and to promote religious harmony.

On his commitment to nurture human affection he said, "My number one commitment is a motion of warm-heartedness. The best way to maintain healthy emotions is through warm-heartedness." He honored Dr. Pushpa Devi Goleria for her role, as a mother and a physician, in nurturing affection. "The value of love and affection we learn from our mothers," he said.

The second commitment he made was, as a Buddhist monk, to promote religious harmony between all different religious traditions through respect, admiration, and appreciation. "We need different ways to hope," he said. "Let their faith provide some hope."

His third and final commitment he made to Tibet but avoided speaking in detail on the issues he said were "too complicated."About Tibet's current relationship with China, he had no comment, but said that Tibet's relationship with India is like a chela's (student's) relationship with his guru (teacher). "Whenever a chela is passing through some difficulties, the guru has some responsibilities," he said.

The Lions Club dedicated the memorial hall to honor the late Dr. Goleria, who worked to establish the Plastic Surgery Camp of Dharamsala for the treatment of physical deformities of the underprivileged in Himachal Pradesh. Her widower, Dr. KS Goleria, told club members in his dedication speech, "It is her character-simple, kind, and caring-that you have chosen to enshrine as an inspiration to posterity in this memorial."