I want to live for another 20 years, says Dalai Lama

He advised his followers that the best way to fulfil his wishes would be to become a true follower of the Buddha

The Tibetan spiritual leader The Dalai Lama on Wednesday said he wants to live for another 20 years to serve the people.

"Today the members of the Phenpo and Pemakoe Tibetan community and those in Tibet have expressed unwavering faith and prayers for my long life," he said.

"As I have told before, there have been certain revelations that I will live for more than a hundred years," he added.

"Personally, I also pray and hope to live for the next twenty years or more to continue to serve the well being of all human beings," the 81-year-old told thousands of Tibetans and devotees who had come here to join in the prayer for his long life.

The Dalai Lama said the long-life prayer ceremony is rooted in a strong spiritual bond between the teacher and his disciples and the prayers bring fruition.

The Tibetan spiritual leader advised his followers that the best way to fulfil his wishes would be to become a true follower of the Buddha.

The long-life prayer ceremony, organised by the Phenpo and Pemakoe Tibetan community members, was attended by officials and staff of the Central Tibetan Administration, along with thousands of local Tibetans and non-Tibetan devotees.

The Dalai Lama exhorted the Tibetans to bring primary focus on quality of religious education and its practice.

"Our rich tradition of Buddhism encapsulates vast knowledge of the workings of the mind and emotions. The main purpose of the Buddhist teaching is to train and conquer one's mind," he said.

"By doing that, one will be able to achieve peaceful mind and body and simultaneously spread peace in your environment," he added.

Reiterating his message of peace and universal responsibility, the Nobel laureate made a clarion call to all his followers to usher a new era of mutual respect and brotherhood.

"We are part of one great human family. We can no longer invoke the differences of nationalities, race or beliefs," he said.

"For a better, happier, more stable future, each one of us must develop a sincere and warm-hearted feeling of oneness with the seven billion people of the world," he added.

"Individuals can truly make a difference in society and it is up to each of us to make the best use of our knowledge and ability to help create a happier world," he said.