Dharamsala, Jan 1 (IANS) Tibetan religious head and the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje has greeted people on New Year's Day, praying for peace and harmony.

'May you find lasting happiness and peace. May all of us who share this planet go forward together into the new year in harmony. May we live this year with mutual love and respect for one another and for the earth that is our common home,' the Karmapa said in a statement here.

The Karmapa, who fled Tibet and sought refuge in India in January 2000, is the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu school, one of the four sects of Buddhism.

He is considered the third most important Tibetan religious head after the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama.

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