Dalai Lama Lays Foundation Stone for New Jokhang Temple in Leh

His Holiness the Dalai Lama laid the foundation stone for the new Jokhang Temple in Leh after the old temple developed irreparable cracks from flooding and heavy rain. Speaking to hundreds of monastics and laypeople, he emphasized that rebuilding provides unforeseen opportunities, comparing it to Tibet's exile leading to preservation of Buddhist traditions in India where Buddhism originated. He stressed making the reconstructed temple a center of learning for studying Buddhist philosophy through logical reasoning rather than rituals. The Dalai Lama also blessed a Dharma Centre at Choglamsar, encouraging monks and nuns to study classic texts.