THERE have recently been comments in a local newspaper by a Rev Saturo Kato in which he says "in Buddhism love is nothing".

I have been a Buddhist for many years and I am totally baffled at this statement. The love and compassion taught by the Buddha are the very qualities which first drew me to Buddhism.

Every book I read was about love and compassion for all sentient beings, and one has only to read and listen to the words of his holiness the Dalai Lama to know what the Buddha taught.

Also the Buddha most certainly did believe in life after death and gave many teachings on this subject. In fact, I have recently had the great privilege of receiving such teachings from a highly qualified and internationally respected Tibetan Lama who has come from India to this country and Europe to hold teachings and his first public talk was on love and compassion.

Eileen Maher, Hawthorn Crescent, Lea, Preston.