IL DALAI LAMA OSPITE D’ONORE A GLASTONBURY 2015

Tenzin Gyatso ha partecipato ieri in qualità di ospite d’onore alla giornata conclusiva della rassegna musicale di Glastonbury, la cittadina del Somerset, 30 miglia a sud di Bristol, che ogni anno vede riunite celebrità della musica e decine di migliaia di appassionati.

Accolto sul palco dalla cantante americana Patty Smith (nella foto) e dall’applauso scrosciante della folla che ha subito spontaneamente intonato l’augurale “Happy Birthday”, il Dalai Lama è apparso felice e quasi commosso per l’affettuoso tributo a lui riservato. E’ stata la stessa Patty Smith ad intonare ufficialmente il tradizionale motivo di auguri seguita all’unisono dal coro dei 200.000 presenti, tra lo sventolio di bandiere tibetane e striscioni inneggianti alla lunga vita di Sua Santità.

Non è mancato il taglio della torta (alla frutta) seguito dall’abbraccio affettuoso con il quale la cantante americana, a sua volta commossa ed emozionata, ha stretto il Dalai Lama, idealmente coinvolgendo tutti i presenti. Il Dalai Lama in un breve discorso ha ringraziato tutti per l’energia e l’affetto dei quali si è sentito circondato, affetto per lui fonte di grande gioia e incoraggiamento. “Ogni giorno è un nuovo giorno e ogni giorno è una nuova nascita. E per fare di ogni giorno un giorno felice dobbiamo, svegliandoci, impegnarci alla compassione, all’amore per tutti”. Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Inaugurates Buddhist Community Centre in Aldershot

Aldershot, Hampshire, UK, 29 June 2015 – Before setting out for the day’s events, His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a penetrating interview to Emily Maitlis of the BBC’s Newsnight programme. She opened by asking what had been the hardest part of his job. He told her that the situation had become particularly difficult after 1950-51. Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Glastonbury Festival

Glastonbury, Somerset, UK, 28 June 2015 – It was raining when the helicopter carrying His Holiness the Dalai Lama from London landed on a high field near the village of Pilton, site of the Glastonbury Festival. Read the rest of this entry »

Prayers Offered for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Long Life and Celebrations of His Birthday

Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India, 21 June 2015 – The premises of the Tsuglagkhang and the yard before it were packed with people this morning for the first of two days celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday. The Tibetans included many monks and nuns, as well as laypeople in their best clothes and students from Tibetan schools. Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Visit to Australia Comes to an End

Singapore, Singapore, 15 June 2015 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama began the last day of his current visit to Australia in Perth by giving an interview to Monika Kos of Seven West Media. Read the rest of this entry »

Flight from Uluru to Perth and a Talk on the Wisdom of Giving & Receiving

Perth, Western Australia, Australia, 14 June 2015 – It was a beautiful, clear day as His Holiness the Dalai Lama set out for the airport at Uluru to fly to Perth. Many Tibetans who had come especially to join him here were present to see him off. Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Visits Uluru

Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia, 13 June 2015 – Many other visitors to Uluru were happy to have the chance to greet, shake hands and take photographs with His Holiness the Dalai Lama this morning as he walked through the grounds of his hotel.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is welcomed on his arrival at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia on June 13, 2015. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

After a cool night, the sun was bright and beginning to warm the land as he drove out to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. He was met and welcomed by the Chairman of the Traditional Owners’ Board, Sammy, an interpreter, Kathryn Tozer, and Park Staff. They began to walk together towards the Mutitjulu Waterhole, answering his questions on the way. The great red sandstone Uluru rock foundation towering over the surrounding flat desert dominates the place. His Holiness wanted to know about the vegetation, the local wildlife and, once a pair of binoculars was found, spent some time examining the rock-face from below.

Halfway to the Waterhole, the party stopped to rest. His Holiness sat on a bench and was joined by other Traditional Owners, women and children. Sammy took the opportunity to summarize for him the creation story of the region, telling of serpent beings that waged many wars around Uluru, scarring the rock. Walking further up the red sandy path they reached the Mutitjulu Waterhole. The Traditional Owners said they had discussed among themselves how best to welcome His Holiness and decided this would be the place to do so properly. Read the rest of this entry »

Completing ‘Precious Garland’ Teaching and a Public Talk

Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia, 12 June 2015 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama reached the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre early this morning. Not all the audience had arrived, so he suggested they start the session by asking questions. To begin with a woman wanted to confirm what she had understood from the previous day’s explanations of emptiness. Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Teaches the ‘Precious Garland’ and Attends a Multi-faith Gathering at the Cathedral of St Stephen

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 11 June 2015 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s first stop after reaching the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre this morning was to address a gathering of about 300 members of the Tibetan, Bhutanese and Mongolian communities resident in Brisbane. He spoke to them of the founding of the Nalanda tradition in Tibet by the Emperor, Trisong Detsen, Abbot Shantarakshita and adept Guru Padmasambhava. Read the rest of this entry »

Happiness & Its Causes, Sydney

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 10 June 2015 – As His Holiness the Dalai Lama prepared to leave Leura this morning, people lined the lobby and hotel porch to see him off. He posed for photographs with the local police, waved goodbye to friends and well-wishers and climbed into his car. The drive to Sydney, through the first rain for three weeks, was fast despite the morning commuter traffic.

Members of the Tibetan community greeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his arrival at Luna Park in Sydney, Australia on June 10, 2015. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

It was still raining when he arrived at Luna Park, the amusement park at the foot of Sydney Harbour Bridge, to take part in a Happiness & Its Causes Conference. He spent a few minutes talking to the Indian Consul General, Sunjay Sudhir with his family. British comedian and mental health activist Ruby Wax and writer on happiness, Gretchen Rubin, who will take part in later sessions of the conference, also spoke with him.

Taking the stage in the conference hall, well-known Australian radio presenter Richard Fidler introduced His Holiness to an audience of 1700 saying he would like to ask him some questions before they were joined by the other panellists. He opened by asking His Holiness how he keeps his peace of mind.

“I use my intelligence and common sense,” was the reply. “And while life as a refugee has had its sad moments, it’s also provided opportunities to meet other people and learn from their different experiences.” Read the rest of this entry »

Final Day of Teachings in the Blue Mountains

Leura, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia, 9 June 2015 – Today, when he reached the teaching hall His Holiness the Dalai Lama chose to enter through the back door and make his way to the stage through the audience. Smiling, shaking hands, stopping to greet old friends on the way many people were clearly happy to have a little closer contact with him. He resumed his explanation of the Vajrabhairava sadhana.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the final day of his teachings in Leura, NSW, Australia on June 9, 2015. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

During the lunch break Eryk Bagshaw of the Sydney Morning Herald briefly interviewed him about ethics in education. He brought his three children with him and His Holiness talked to them about the prospect of members of the 21st century generation succeeding in making the world a better place.

Bagshaw asked whether organized religion has anything to fear from secular ethics. His Holiness replied that it depends on how you interpret the word secular. He admitted that he has friends in the West who are concerned that to be secular is not to respect religion. They fear secularism is like atheism.

“However, I use the word secular the way it is understood in India, a religious minded country, where all the world’s major religions flourish side by side. In India secular implies respect for all religions, even for the views of those who have no faith. This seems a proper approach.”

His Holiness mentioned that of the three great ancient civilizations in Egypt, China and the Indus Valley, the latter produced the greatest thinkers. Read the rest of this entry »

Teachings Continue and a Public Talk in the Blue Mountains

Leura, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia, 8 June 2015 – This morning everyone settled down in the teaching hall and the ‘Six Session Guru Yoga’ was recited. His Holiness began with a short announcement.

Teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama continue for the fourth day in Leura, NSW, Australia on June 8, 2015. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

“Since there is an excellent English translation of the ‘Five Stages of Guhyasamaja’ available that you can read, and since most of us, including me, have not yet reached the stage of being able to put this completion stage into practice, I’m going to explain the Vajrabhairava sadhana, which is something we should go through every day.”

He spent the session giving a lucid, step by step account of the processes involved, an explanation he will continue tomorrow.

After lunch he drove again to the Katoomba Public School. He was welcomed by the Mayor of the Blue Mountains, Mark Greenhill, who escorted him onto the stage and, after acknowledging the original owners of the land, introduced him to an audience of more than 3600. A group of Tibetan children sang a prayer for his long life. Asking, “Is it my turn now?” His Holiness turned to the crowd.
“Respected brothers and sisters, I’m back in Australia once more, but this is the first time I’ve been to this remote place. It’s beautiful, a bit cold, but very quiet. Read the rest of this entry »