His Holiness the Dalai Lama Visiting Saitama Medical University

Saitama, Japan, 26 November 2016 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama left Kanazawa for Omiya this morning by bullet train after spending two relaxing days at the home of an old Japanese friend.
From Omiya, he drove through the countryside directly to the Saitama Medical University. On arrival he went immediately to offer his condolences to the family of Maruki Kiyohiro, Chairman of the University, who recently passed away.
Maruki Kiyohiro’s father, Maruki Kiyomi, was the founder of the Saitama Medical University & Hospital, who invited the first five Tibetans to study in Japan in 1965. Subsequently, a total of 21 Tibetans came to Japan under the scholarship program he set up.

Staff and students welcoming His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his arrival at the new campus of Saitama Medical University & Hospital in Saitama, Japan on November 26, 2016. Photo/Tenzin Taklha/OHHDL

After lunch with the senior officials of the University and hospital His Holiness drove to the new campus where he was warmly received by members of the university, some of the original Tibetan students and their families among them. On the stage, he was formally welcomed by Maruki Kiyoyuki, the grandson of the founder, who reminded him that this was his third visit to Saitama and that 49 years had passed since his family had first come into contact with the Tibetan people. He thanked His Holiness for taking the time to come and talk to them.

Beginning by paying tribute to the three generations of the Maruki family who have befriended him, His Holiness said,
“Where there is birth there is always death. Time constantly moves on, which is why things change. We know that everyone who is born has to die, but the important thing is that while we are alive we should make our lives meaningful.

“The senior Maruki-san and his son who has just passed away both gave great service to others, especially the Tibetan people. Soon after we came into exile, very few knew what had happened in Tibet. At that time Maruki-san senior showed great kindness to Tibetans, which we will always remember with gratitude.
“Maruki Kiyoyuki here represents the third generation of this family who have shown concern for the Tibetan people. I would like to thank you for your promise to continue to support us as your father and grandfather did before you.” Read the rest of this entry »

Bloomberg, 25 November 2016. China postponed bilateral meetings with Mongolia indefinitely after its North Asian neighbor allowed a four-day visit by Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

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25 novembre 2016. La presenza del Dalai Lama in Mongolia, arrivato a Ulan Bator il 18 novembre per una visita di quattro giorni, ha provocato dure reazioni da parte di Pechino che ha accusato il governo mongolo di mettere a repentaglio i rapporti economici e i legami tra i due paesi.

Alla vigilia dell’arrivo del leader spirituale tibetano, Geng Shuang, un portavoce del Ministero degli Esteri cinese, aveva dichiarato che “al fine di mantenere e incrementare gli accordi bilaterali esistenti, la Mongolia non deve permettere la visita del Dalai Lama né fornire alcuna forma di sostegno o facilitazione alla sua banda”. Irritata per l’ospitalità concessa nonostante le minacce, la Cina ha cancellato alcuni incontri già programmati con delegazioni mongole – tra le quali la visita a Pechino del Vice Primo Ministro -, ha affermato che Ulan Bator ha “sbagliato” consentendo la visita del Dalai Lama e ha auspicato “azioni concrete” da parte del governo per consentire la normalizzazione dei rapporti tra i due paesi. Read the rest of this entry »

Meeting with the Press before Returning to Japan

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 23 November 2016 – Before leaving for the airport this morning, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with about 50 members of the media at his guest house. He told them he was happy with the way his ninth visit to Mongolia had gone, and that he considered it to have been a meaningful success. Read the rest of this entry »

Bhuchung K. Tsering, International Campaign for Tibet, 23 November 2016. One of the outcomes regarding the Dalai Lama in the post-1959 period is the clarity that has emerged about the nature of his followers. The conventional thinking about the Dalai Lama being merely the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people has changed. Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Interaction with Youth

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 22 November 2016 – At the Culture House in downtown Ulaanbaatar this morning, His Holiness gave two brief interviews to local television channels.
In a message to young Mongolians, His Holiness said,
“Tibet and Mongolia have had friendly relations for more than 1000 years, especially since we embraced Buddhism. Despite the material development we see in the world, people still lack peace of mind. These days we also see conflict in the name of religion. At such a time, it is important to work to ensure international peace. Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the International Conference on Buddhism and Science

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 21 November 2016 – The sun was shining this morning as the motorcade carrying His Holiness the Dalai Lama wove its way through the downtown traffic on its way to the hotel that was to be the venue for today’s activities.
His Holiness first met with about 150 members of the Jetsun Dhampa Centre. Reading a report of their activities the Director informed His Holiness of the various community services they provide, such as offering spiritual support to prisoners and terminally ill patients and their families in one of the local cancer hospitals.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to members of the Jetsun Dhampa Center in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on November 21, 2016. Photo/Tenzin Taklha/OHHDL

His Holiness commended their work and remarked approvingly that in Australia, one of the FPMT Centres similarly runs a hospice.
“In our old society,” he said, “monks did not provide people with such practical service. If they can do so, it is immensely beneficial. Once when I was visiting Arunachal Pradesh, some local people praised the Christians for their practical help. They complained that the Buddhist monasteries gave no such help, but readily accepted donations.”
His Holiness recalled his first visit to Thailand and a meeting he had with the Sangharaja. He raised the question of Buddhist monks engaging in community service as their Christian brothers and sisters did. The Sangharaja responded that a Buddhist monk’s role was to dwell in isolation in order to focus on his practice. His Holiness reported that although he accepted the validity of this, he also felt that extending help to others would also be mutually beneficial.
Advising the centre to take a more academic than religious approach to their study of philosophy and logic, His Holiness related what he has told Buddhists in Ladakh:
“Many people tend to think of monasteries only as places of worship. But if you introduce extensive study of Buddhist science and philosophy, and don’t limit yourselves to performing rituals, people will come to view these institutions as centres of learning where people of any faith or none can acquire knowledge that will be helpful in their day to day life. Read the rest of this entry »

The Dalai Lama’s Visit to Mongolia Indicate Shape of Things to Happen

by N.S.Venkataraman, Sri Lanka Guardian – 20 November 2016

The bold action of Mongolia in receiving the Dalai Lama is bound to become a trend setter in the coming days, with more countries emboldened to encourage the visit of the Dalai Lama. Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Buddhist Teachings in the Mongolian Capital

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 20 November 2016 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s first engagement of the day was to meet with the Indian Ambassador to Mongolia. Many Mongolians lined the lobby seeking His Holiness’s blessings as he left the Guest House. Stepping out into the freezing morning, His Holiness encountered a temperature of -40̊C as a result of the record-breaking cold wave that has descended on Ulaanbaatar.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting members of the audience as he at the Buyant Uhaa Sports Complex in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on November 20, 2016. Photo/Tenzin Taklha/OHHDL

As His Holiness arrived at the Buyant Uhaa Sports Complex, traditionally dressed monks welcomed him playing cymbals, trumpets and long-horns. When he entered the hall, the audience waved their scarves in a gesture of respect. The 10,000 seat hall was filled beyond capacity; hundreds of people sitting in the aisles or wherever there was space. Consequently, more than 12,000 were lucky to be able to hear and see His Holiness teach. Several thousand others gathered outside, unable to enter the hall.

While His Holiness performed the preparatory rituals for the Permission of Je Tsongkhapa Embodying Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani he was going to give, the audience recited the ‘Heart Sutra’ dharani.
As he began to give a general introduction to Buddhism His Holiness declared that rather than reciting prayers or performing rituals, whenever he has the opportunity he always prefers to teach. As Matrceta’s verse says:
Buddhas do not wash unwholesome deeds away with water,
Nor do they remove the sufferings of beings with their hands,
Neither do they transplant their own realization into others.
Teaching the truth of suchness they liberate (beings), Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Arrival in Mongolia and Visit to Gandan Tegchenling Monastery

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 19 November 2016 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama left Japan for Mongolia late yesterday morning. As the plane descended through the clouds over Ulaanbaatar, a white blanket of snow covered the land as far as the eye could see.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama arriving at the airport in Ulannbaatar, Mongolia on November 18, 2016. Photo/Tenzin Taklha/OHHDL

His Holiness was greeted at the door of the plane by Khambo Lama Choi Gyamtso with other senior Mongolian lamas, a representative of the Indian Embassy, and Representative Telo Tulku from Moscow.

A large number of monks awaited His Holiness in the arrival hall and he spent a few minutes talking to dignitaries who had come to receive him. He gave a brief interview to Mongolian National Television. Expressing happiness at being able to visit Mongolia once again, he said he was looking forward to giving Buddhist teachings, visiting Gandan Tegchenling Monastery and interacting with members of the younger generation over the next four days.

This morning, a short drive through Ulaanbaatar brought His Holiness to Gandan Tegchenling Monastery. After first paying his respects in the Vajradhara Temple, he took his seat in the Gandan Assembly Hall. Khambo Lama Choi Gyamtso offered the mandala and three representations of the body, speech and mind of enlightenment on behalf of the entire congregation. Following prayers and a tsok offering, His Holiness gave the oral transmission of his ‘Praise to the Seventeen Masters of Nalanda’. Read the rest of this entry »

The Inner Diamond-Ring

Yokohama, Japan, November 17, 2016 – On a brilliant, warm autumn day in Yokohama, His Holiness devoted his entire morning to a series of audiences, both private and collective, with Buddhist groups from Tibet and Korea and Mongolia, all of whom had traveled great distances to see him. Read the rest of this entry »

Tibet: confiscati i passaporti dei tibetani nel tentativo di dissuaderli dal recarsi in India. Rilasciati 39 tibetani arrestati in prossimità del confine tra Nepal e India.

17 novembre 2016. Nel tentativo di impedire ai tibetani dal recarsi in India per presenziare alla celebrazione dell’iniziazione di Kalachakra, le autorità cinesi delle regioni del Kham, dell’Amdo e del Gansu hanno confiscato i loro passaporti. Read the rest of this entry »

The Potential of Today, The Potential of Tomorrow

Tokyo, Japan, 16 November 2016 – Long lines of junior high-school boys, immaculate in their formal, dark-blue uniforms, and visibly excited, had formed to greet His Holiness as he arrived at the Setagaya Junior High School in Tokyo on a cool, grey morning. The Tibetan flag was flying on every side, and a banner in English above the school’s entrance read, “We are Honored to Welcome H.H. Dalai Lama the 14th to Setagaya Gakuen.” Teachers watched the arrival from a third-floor walkway, under the school’s more than apt motto, “Think and Share.”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting students on his arrival at Setagaya Junior High School in Tokyo, Japan on November 16, 2016. Photo/Jigme Choephel

His Holiness took pains to greet almost every boy in the lines, tickling some, pulling the earlobes of others, leaning down to hold a small boy on crutches and to ask him what was wrong. Later he would say, “Your young, fresh, bright faces make me feel young again!”

After meeting some of the school’s officials—with three little boys in monks’ robes bringing him tea and cookies—His Holiness stepped into a jampacked wooden gymnasium in which—as on his previous trip to the school, some years before—every last seat in thirty long rows was occupied by silent, attentive young boys. “My English is very poor,” he began, “but I’m often suggesting that Japanese students should try to learn English. That way you can make an even greater contribution for the benefit of other people. And you can get more self-confidence. Traveling, you can realize that your own country’s conditions are really very good.”
Then he said simply, “You are the basis of our hope. Past is past; no one can change what happened. But in the future there is still hope, possibility.” Recalling the wars that had broken out throughout his life—since the rise of Nazi Germany and the Sino-Japanese Conflict in his earliest years—His Holiness explained how we can work for peace in an active, concrete way, instead of perpetuating the cycle of violence. “Many of my elder brothers and sisters here and I,” he said, “may not see a more peaceful and happier world. It’s not easily achieved. But in the next thirty or forty years, yours is the generation that can make a significant contribution to a more harmonious world.” Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: The Way of Liberation

Koyasan, Japan, 15 November 2016 – Koyasan, Japan’s charged mountain of temples, was all heavy mists, thick silence, rusting trees when His Holiness left the main temple, Kongobuji, where he had been staying, early in the morning, to deliver a public talk on “The Mission of Buddhists in the 21st Century.”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama walking to the hall in the morning mist for his talk in Koyasan, Japan on November 15, 2016. Photo/Jigme Choephel

Arriving more than twenty minutes early, while people were still filing in, and bursting with energy, eager to get started, he offered to take questions from the floor. Almost immediately, a line of nineteen people formed, stretching along one aisle of the theater. As one questioner after another, mostly Japanese women, asked him about what advice he’d give to young monks, and the gap between rich and poor, His Holiness listened closely and began to speak.

He stressed how Christian monks and nuns are very good at offering help to others, a model for us all; and he said that although karma may play a part in determining individual richness or poverty, the rich need to help the poor more, not in a condescending way, but in a spirit of fellow humanity. And perhaps the poor, he said, can develop some sense of confidence and determination, the feeling that “I can do it!” When asked about helping those in pain, he stressed that mental suffering is worse than physical, even if less visible, so that is where attention must be paid. And when invited to clarify the meaning of refuge, he stressed how much we can do ourselves.
“The Buddha doesn’t wash away our sins,” he said. “The Buddha doesn’t give us liberation. He shows us the way by which we can liberate ourselves.” Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Clarity in the Mist

Koyasan, Japan, 14 November 2016 – On a cool grey morning of light rain, His Holiness left Osaka and traveled up, along narrow roads, around winding turns, into the mists and reddening maples of Koyasan, the 1200 year-old mountain of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, founded by Kobo Daishi and given over now to 117 temples.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama arriving at the main temple in Koyasan, Japan on November 14, 2016. Photo/Jigme Choephel

Passing between tall trees, in an almost Tibetan atmosphere of solemnity and concentration, His Holiness was greeted at the end of the two-hour drive by the head priest of the main temple on the mountain, Keihan Nakanishi-sensei. Led into a quiet room in the radiant temple, Kongobuji, for a conversation with the abbot and other senior priests, His Holiness began by saying, “In this world, everyone want to be free of suffering—to be happy—yet so many of our sufferings come from our own minds.

“If there can be a greater sense of oneness in the world, then violence and killing will end.” He shared with the Japanese priests, arrayed in their rich robes around a series of low tables, an experiment in which it was found that even children of two or three months old lit up when shown an image of a child helping another child pushing a stone up a hill. They grew visibly dismayed when they saw the child blocked in his efforts by another child.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking with senior priests at the main temple in Koyasan, Japan on November 14, 2016. Photo/Jigme Choephel

“This proves,” said His Holiness, “that basic human nature is compassion. Therefore, I see great potential in promoting love and compassion through education. I’m not trying to propagate Buddhism; I only want to spread the message of the fundamentally compassionate nature of human beings. Every different religion has different ideas and philosophies, but all of them agree on the importance of love and compassion.”
Rising to his theme, His Holiness mentioned a Tibetan saying that nobility should never undermine learning, nor learning undermine nobility. A great 13th century Tibetan scholar, he said, declared that even if you’re about to die tomorrow, you should keep learning. It’s almost like an investment for your next life.
After an entirely vegetarian lunch to prepare for the day’s empowerment—not even eggs or onions were included—His Holiness went to Koyasan’s main hall, where he sat on a stage, flanked by rows of chanting monks on both sides, with two thankgas behind him and many huge bouquets of flowers, and opened his empowerment for Achala, the deity of protection and unwaveringness, with thirty minutes of chants. Read the rest of this entry »

Conclusion of Teachings in Osaka

Osaka, Japan, 13 November 2106 – After lunch yesterday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama continued his explanation of Shantideva’s ‘Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life’.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking during the second day of his three day teaching in Osaka, Japan on November 12, 2016. Photo/Jigme Choephel

In his summary of the essence of the text he stressed that the most important parts to study if you do not have the time to go through the entire text are chapter six on patience and chapter eight on cultivating the awakening mind of bodhichitta through equalizing and exchanging self and others. He also recommended that in order to understand chapter nine, which deals with wisdom, it is important to study the Middle Way (Madhyamika) texts of Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Chandrakirti and Buddhapalita, as well as Bhavaviveka’s ‘Blaze of Reasoning’, which deals with the diverse philosophical systems, Buddhist and non-Buddhist, that prevailed in India. Studying this enables you to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the meaning and context of Madhyamika philosophy.
In connection with the Common and Uncommon Permission of Wish-fulfilling Green Tara that he said he would be giving the next morning, His Holiness spent some time talking about tantric practice. He takes the view that it is better to explain and clarify even those this secret practices that are not supposed to be spoken of openly in order to prevent misinterpretations of tantra. He suggested that if anyone is to be blamed for revealing what is supposed to be secret in tantra, it would be those past masters in Tibet who taught tantra so widely. Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: First Day’s Teaching of Shantideva’s ’Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life’

Osaka, Japan, 11 November 2106 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama was greeted by a full house of 1.000 people when he arrived at the newly inaugurated auditorium of Seifu High School, today. The Chairman of the organizing committee, followed by Hiraoko Hidenobu, Director of Seifu High School, made a few brief remarks to welcome him.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the first day of his three day teaching at Seifu High School auditorium in Osaka, Japan on November 11, 2016. Photo/Jigme Choephel

His Holiness began by explaining what he would be teaching for the next three days:
“Earlier I had planned to confer the Guhyasamaja Empowerment, however, in September I visited Europe for two weeks. On returning to Dharamsala I gave several days of ordinations and teachings for a large group of Taiwanese Buddhists. Then I made another visit to Europe, which made me quite tired. So, since the preparatory rituals for the empowerment are quite long and tiring, I thought it might be too much for me to do. After I return from Japan, I have to go to South India for an extended visit in December, following which I’ll be giving the Kalachakra Empowerment in Bodhgaya. Since I thought it might make me too tired, I decided not to give the Guhyasamaja Empowerment this time.

“My decision has provided an opportunity for the Abbot and some monks of Gyumey Tantric College to have a brief holiday in Japan. I will now confer the Common and Uncommon Permission of the Wish-fulfilling White Tara, which is also very good. I had already decided to teach Shantideva’s ‘Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life’. Since there will be only two sessions, I will not read the entire text but will summarize the essence of each chapter. So although you will not receive the entire oral transmission of the text, you will hear the actual teaching.

Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Visit to Seifu High School and Media Interviews

Osaka, Japan, 10 November 2016 – On a chilly overcast morning, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was welcomed at Seifu High School by Hiraoka Hidenobu, the Director. More than 3000 students and staff eagerly awaited him on the school playground. On his way to the stage His Holiness stopped frequently to greet the students. Once he had sat down, the students recited ‘The Heart Sutra’.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting students on his arrival at Seifu High School in Osaka, Japan on November 10, 2016. Photo/Jigme Choephel

To begin with, His Holiness greeted all those present and told them how happy he was to be able to meet them again. He told the students that while they could not change the past, they could shape the future. How they conducted themselves today would affect the future. He advised them that as members of the 21st century generation it was important for them to take a far-sighted, holistic view of the future. He said he had great hopes for today’s youth.

“If the 20th century had been happy, we could continue in the same pattern, but it was not. It was a century of war and bloodshed that resulted in the deaths of over 200 million human beings. When I was born the Second World War was about to break out in Europe and then in Japan. Even today there is war going on in the Middle East and other parts of the world. I could say that I seem to have been witnessing war throughout my life. Unfortunately, the 20th century was guided by a sense of ‘I win, you lose’. Therefore, it is today’s younger generation’s responsibility to make the 21st century an era of peace.” Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Arrival in Japan and Visit to Kyoto

Kyoto, Japan, 9 November 2106 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Japan yesterday on his 23rd extended visit to the country. He was received at Narita Airport by Representative Lungtok, Mr. Hiraoka Kouichi, Principal of Seifu High School and the main organizer of the visit, a few old Japanese friends, and a representative from the Indian Embassy. Read the rest of this entry »