Tibetan Buddhism, in particular, is centered on compassion toward all sentient beings and prohibition of murder, suicide included.

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He said that all the schools of Tibetan Buddhism are involved in this.

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His motivation is partly doctrinal, but there is a political angle: he is trying to unify the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism, an aim which Shugden devotees oppose.

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The school of Tibetan Buddhism he heads has just been celebrating its 900th anniversary in India at Bodh Gaya, site of the bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment.

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"It just seemed like Buddhism, especially Tibetan Buddhism -- because that's mainly what I've been exposed to -- was a real solid organization of teachings to point someone in the right direction, " the magazine quoted him as saying.

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Tibetan sources in Dharamsala say the Karmapa pleaded to be allowed to stay in India, birthplace of Buddhism, because Beijing's repression in Tibet was making it difficult for him to pursue religious studies and maintain Tibetan culture.

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