Patna, Dec 25 (IANS) Buddhist religious head Karmapa Lama has called for the protection of environment across the globe.
In his address beginning Thursday at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, the 17th Karmapa Lama, Ogyen Thrinley Dorje, a spiritual leader of the Kagyu sect Buddhists, said there was a need to improve the environment in Tibet and Himalayas.

Karmapa asked his followers to protect the earth and live simply. He also revealed his vision of building environment management capacity for all Kagyu monasteries and centres.

To send a strong message of environment protection, hundreds of participants of the eight-day long prayer festival would be engaged in cleaning work around Bodh Gaya on Dec 29.

Hoardings have been put around Bodh Gaya to spread message of environment protection.

Thousands of Buddhists monks and devotees congregated in Bodh Gaya to hear the sermon. “Around 10,000 lamas, Tulkus, monks and nuns from around 52 countries including US, China, Portugal, Nepal, Taiwan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar are participating in the prayer,” said an official of Karmapa.

Bodh Gaya is considered the birth place of Buddhism, it is here that the Buddha attained enlightenment.