Dibrugarh, April 3: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today said a value-added education system was necessary to build a peaceful society.

Speaking at Dibrugarh University on Ethics and Modern Education, His Holiness said inner peace is important to develop a healthy atmosphere of peace in society. Citing the example of Japan, he said its two cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, were destroyed during World War II but the Japanese reconstructed their country through peace.

"Wars happen due to narrow-mindedness. Nobody can gain anything out of it. It causes self-destruction and anxiety. We should discard the path of violence through value-added education. The future generation should think in a wider perspective to stop the growing violence in society," the Nobel peace laureate said.

He said in ancient India, the focus was on knowledge-based education. The ancient Indian philosophies were logical and value-oriented. But, at present, the education system focuses more on material values, which is decreasing the real purpose of education.

"In the greater interest of humanity, we must discard hate and anger within ourselves and carry the message of love and peace wherever we go. You should always be happy and feel happy for others. Then you will be benefited," the Dalai Lama said.

He said people drag religion into terrorism but terrorism has no religion.

"There is no Islamic terrorist or Hindu terrorist. No religion teaches terrorism. People who support terrorism and violence are narrow-minded."

The Dalai Lama narrated the story of his escape from Tibet to India and the warm-heartedness with which the Indians greeted him to their land. He said he is very attached to the country.

This was the Dalai Lama's first visit to Dibrugarh University. The university's vice-chancellor, Alak Kumar Buragohain, had recently met him in New Delhi and invited him to visit the university. Clad in maroon robes, the 82-year-old monk landed at Mohanbari airport, Dibrugarh, in a chartered flight from Guwahati at 9.30 this morning and reached the university by road. He was welcomed by the vice-chancellor and registrar M.N. Dutta.

Later, he met Tibetans who had organised a function to seek his blessings. He returned to Guwahati in the afternoon.

Tomorrow he will fly to Itanagar, visit Tawang monastery and consecrate a new Tara temple (Dolma Lhakhang) in Lumla.