The Dalai Lama speaks out against anti-Muslim violence in Burma

Speaking to an audience of 15,000 at the University of Maryland on Tuesday, the Dalai Lama spoke out against religiously motivated attacks against Muslims in Burma and Sri Lanka. Over the past year, violent clashes between Buddhists and Muslims have killed hundreds and displaced over 100,000 people, with some Buddhist monks inciting and participating in the attacks. In Sri Lanka, Buddhists have recently attacked Muslim-owned businesses.

Killing in the name of religion, His Holiness said, is “really very sad, unthinkable.” He said he sometimes counsels Buddhists to think of the face of the Buddha when they feel any negative emotions toward Muslims.