The Dalai Lama returns home after a successful eye surgery

DHARAMSHALA, January 31: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived back in his exile home of Dharamshala after a successful minor eye surgery in the Indian capital New Delhi today afternoon.

The Tibetan leader was resting in New Delhi for the past few days following the removal of a cataract from his left eye on the 22nd of this month.

The whole procedure had lasted not more than half an hour according to doctors at the AIIMS hospital where the Dalai Lama underwent surgery.

Dr R V Azad, chief of Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS had earlier told reporters that the surgery was conducted by a team of doctors led by Dr J S Titiyal and involved removing the cataract in the left eye and replacing it with an artificial lens.

“The process was completed within half an hour and the leader was discharged after that,” Azad was quoted as saying.

The Dalai Lama had recently concluded his 32nd Kalachakra teachings at Bodh Gaya, attended by over 200,000 devotees from all over the world.

Young at 76, the Tibetan spiritual leader maintains a hectic schedule, travelling and speaking all over the globe. Last year alone, the Dalai Lama visited over a dozen countries in Europe, the North and South Americas and Asia.

His Holiness is scheduled to give a short teaching from the Jataka Tales in the morning on March 8 at the Tsug-la Khang, the main temple.

However, according to his official website, there will be no spring teachings this year.