MUMBAI: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has a cure for what could perhaps mend the strained ties between India and China, even as both countries remain locked in a tense standoff on the grassy plateau of Doklam at the tri-junction of their border with Bhutan “Neither India nor China has the ability to defeat each other. China is strong militarily, but India is also powerful with its population of one billion. Eventually, both sides will have to reach Hindi-Chini-Bhai-Bhai not just on paper, but culturally... And for this, I have a suggestion,“ he told TOI on Monday when quizzed on how the conflict between the neighbouring countries could be resolved and their re lations bettered.Looking at China as home to the highest population of Buddhists in the world “who still follow the ancient Indian knowledge, particularly the Nalanda tradition and Sanskrit manuscripts,“ he put forward an idea that could improve the bond.“From time to time, I have mentioned this to consul-generals in the government that India should create some special arrangements and facilities for Chinese Buddhists in places like Bodh Gaya, Rajgir and Sanchi so that they find it easy to come on pilgrimage to India. If that happens, millions of Chinese Buddhists will emotionally come closer to this country,“ he smiled.The 82-year-old Tibetan Buddhist leader in exile was in Mumbai to launch a course on 'Secular Ethics for Higher Education' at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Back in 2012, the Dalai Lama had told his Facebook friends that grounding ethics in religion was no longer adequate and that the time had come to find a way of looking at spirituality beyond religion altogether. Since then, he has taken his message on the road, calling for sustained efforts to cultivate secular ethics in the scholastic sphere.“If we have an alternative system to educate people from kindergarten to university level on secular ethics which in the Indian context is to respect all religions, including non-believers, it is possible for India to once again become a guru on love and peace,“ grinned the Nobel laureate at the inaugural lecture introducing the academic course that will be offered to all postgraduate and doctoral students starting this month.The spiritual leader may believe that religion alone cannot foster values, but he has a mantra for a healthy society. “Infinite altruism, combined with compassion, intelligence, wisdom and realistic knowledge“ to tackle the perils of “secondary level of differences“ in caste, class or faith. “There's a reason why I call everyone my brother and sister. It allows for equal exchange. Before anything, we're human beings but lack that oneness,“ he rued.“For the last 30 years, I've been having serious discussions with modern scientists and we never talk about salvation or afterlife but cosmology, neurobiology and our brain.Science shows the basic nature of human beings is compassion and in spite of all the violence that runs in our history or present times, this means there's still hope,“ he said.While he praised “the mix of traditions that coexist in India,“ he stressed that it was people who drag religion into terrorism. “In a religious country like India, corruption is a big contradiction,“ he said. “There are people who wake up in the morning, light incense and pray to God, 'Oh, my corrupt life should be successful!' But you can't take your money and go shopping for peace of mind in a supermarket,“ he said, while narrating a tale about a wealthy businessman from Mumbai who came to seek his blessings in Dharamshala and went back with a lesson in kindness. “With all that money, you're the one with the blessings, I told him and sent him off to the slums!“