Dharamsala, Nov 18 (IANS): Himachal Pradesh Governor Bandaru Dattatreya on Monday called on Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, here and both held talks on the relevance of ancient Indian tradition in promotion of peace of mind.

A messenger of India and student of Nalanda tradition, as he often refers to himself, the Dalai Lama warmly greeted the Governor, a post on the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) website said.

The two engaged in a productive discussion mainly over the relevance of ancient Indian tradition in promotion of peace of mind and the potential contributions of Tibetan Buddhist masters and institutions in the revival of the tradition, it said.

It is due to India's consistent generosity and kindness that the Tibetan people have been able to preserve their ancient cultural heritage in exile, the post quoting the spiritual leader said.

"The age-old Indian traditions of non-violent conduct 'ahimsa', compassionate motivation 'karuna', along with a thorough understanding of the workings of minds and emotions, are not only relevant but are also necessary in today's world," he said.

The elderly monk also extended his profound gratitude to the government and people of India for hosting the Tibetan people with warmth and generous hospitality.

The Governor said the Tibetans have contributed significantly to the development of the state. He hoped the relationship would remain strong in the future as well.

The Governor also made keen enquiries on the welfare and development of Tibetan communities across India, particularly on the major institutions of Tibetan Buddhist study in north and south India, a statement by his office said.

He expressed his best wishes to the Tibetans all over India and assured them full support in "improvement of lives, education, and all other necessary support".

The Dalai Lama lives in exile along with some 1,40,000 Tibetans, over 1,00,000 of them in different parts of India. Over six million Tibetans live in Tibet.