New Delhi, March 22 (IANS): Youngsters should embrace compassion and inner peace for a better future, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said Saturday.

The Nobel laureate was addressing students from 13 schools here.

"Past is past. Even god can't change the past. But future is something that is in your hand. You all have the ability and opportunity to create a beautiful and peaceful world with peace and compassion," he said.

"People should develop inner peace, only then you can create peaceful events," he said.

"Compassion is good for peace of mind... It will help you to build inner peace."

The Dalai Lama underlined the importance of "ahimsa" and "karuna" (compassion) and the contribution of ancient Indian philosophies in shaping up the fundamental roots of the Indian nation.

"Peace, ahimsa and karuna are very relevant tools to create a happy world.

"India's constitution is based on secularism, which means respect for all religions and (even) non-believers. The real meaning of religion lies in the practice of love and compassion."

The Dalai Lama, who has lived in India since 1959, also said it was the time to ponder seriously over dowry and caste system.

He felt "good education" was the first step to develop compassion, and criticised "corrupted religious believers who use religion ... to exploit (people for) money and, sometimes, sex".

The Tibetan leader also called for narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor.

"This can happen only when we all have a sense of oneness in humanity.

“The past centuries have been the centre of violence, but this century has to be the centre of a dialogue."