Dalai Lama [Images], spiritual leader of the Buddhist community, said on Thursday that having spent many years as a refugee in this country, he has become an Indian mentally.

"I have been a homeless person for 50 years," the Dalai Lama said at a function organised in Bangalore to felicitate former Defence Minister George Fernandes [Images]. The Buddhist leader added that he has been a guest of the Indian government all these years.

The 72-year-old said that he had become a refugee at the age of 24.

 "The best part of my life has been spent in this country. The major part of my life has been spent in this country", he said. After spending so many years in India, the Dalai Lama said that his inner values and spirituality come from this country.

"Indian spirituality filled my mind. I am mentally an Indian," he said.

According to him, India could solve many of its problems if Indians still possessed the same zeal and spirit that they showed during the freedom struggle.