H.H. the Dalai Lama Meets Tibetans, Mongolians and Himalayan Buddhists
Published: Monday, 27 April, 2009
His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in San Francisco from Santa Barbara just before Saturday noon for his second leg of the tour of the United States.
His Holiness was received by the Board of Directors of the Tibetan Association of Northern California (TANC) at Berkeley Community Center.
In his remarks His Holiness talked about the commonality of the
spiritual and cultural heritage of the Tibetans, the Mongols and the
Himalayan people. He referred to the Tibetan Buddhist culture as a way
of life saying that the Tibetan Muslims, who are not Buddhists, also
shared this way of life. He talked of two levels of Buddhism, one at
the popular ritualistic level and the other that of the study of the
deeper Buddhist philosophy. He asked the people to study the Nalanda
tradition from which Tibetan Buddhism originated.
His Holiness said that the Tibetan language was the best language to
study this tradition of Buddhism and thus asked these communities to
pay attention to the Tibetan language.
Referring to the Mongol people, His Holiness said that they had
suffered a lot in the 20th century but that they had achieved freedom
and are now seeing the revival of their religion in their country. As
for the communities in Nepal, His Holiness said that there was a
renewed interest in Tibetan Buddhism. He said the Sherpas, the Tamangs
and others are beginning to think about their ancestral heritage that
came from Tibet. He said one important aspect of identity is the
traditional faith.
His Holiness also emphasized the importance of modern education and how
that had been a drawback in Tibet of the past. He asked the Tibetan
people to uphold the good Tibetan character. He said the Tibetans have
the additional responsibility to think about Tibet. He said that since
the Tibetans had the truth there was no need to lie as we do not have
any state secrets. However, the other side had to resort to likes and
every violent suppression, which he said was a sign of weakness and not
of strength. His Holiness said there was thus no need to be
discouraged.
His Holiness said Tibetans should hope for the best but prepare for the
worst. He said China was changing. Just as the Tibetans are passing
through a desperate situation, the Chinese Communists are also passing
through a desperate situation. He then referred to the demonstrations
in Tibet last year and said that now another generation is taking over
the responsibility of the Tibet movement. This, he said, showed that
the Tibetan spirit has not died.
Following His Holiness' speech, members of the Chaksampa troupe sang
some excerpts from the Tibetan opera in praise of His Holiness. His
Holiness then departed for his hotel.
Prior to meeting with members of the Tibetan, Mongolian and Himalayan
Buddhist Communities, His Holiness attended a luncheon reception, which
was hosted by the American Himalayan Foundation (AHF), a non-profit
organization dedicated to helping the people and ecology of the
Himalaya.
Actress and member of the AHF Board of Director Sharon Stone welcomed
the gathering and spoke about AHF's projects in Tibet. She said in
1995 at the suggestion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama AHF began
developmental projects in Tibet and since then have build 33 schools,
24 bridges and helped orphans and elders. She said currently AHF had
three urgent projects; building a school hostel, construction of a
bridge that will benefit 3000 villagers, and establishing a drinking
water system that will benefit 2000 Tibetans. She then introduced a
video that detailed these and other AHF projects to help the Tibetan
people.
AHF Chairman Richard C. Blum spoke next and gave a background to his
personal involvement with the Tibetan people. He said 30 years ago at
the invitation of his wife Dianne Feinstein (then mayor of San
Francisco) and him, His Holiness the Dalai Lama had visited San
Francisco (during his first ever visit to the United States). Since
then he said AHF had been assisting the Tibetan people, including those
in Nepal. Blum then invited His Holiness to make some remarks.
His Holiness began by expressing his deep appreciation for the very
constructive work that AHF was undertaking throughout the Himalayan
region. He said the people along the Himalayan region although they
may be Indian or Nepalese citizens share the same Tibetan cultural and
spiritual heritage. He said that today even though the Tibetans are
homeless yet the many Tibetan monastic institutions in India are
serving the monks and nuns of the entire Himalayan region. He said
those Himalayan people who trace their ethnic origin to Tibet are today
paying interest in finding their original root as well as in their
spiritual heritage.
His Holiness said in the future if the situation in Tibet does not
change Tibet may be finished but that the Tibetan spirit will continue
as it was strong. He talked about the increasing support for the
Tibetan people in the Chinese community. Since March 10 last year, he
said there were over 400 articles in Chinese written by Chinese all of
which were sympathetic to the Tibetan cause and critical of the Chinese
Government's policy.
His Holiness said that he had been telling the Himalayan people that it
was their responsibility, too, to help in the survival of the Tibetan
Buddhist culture as it was beneficial to them. He urged the AHF to
continue its involvement in projects with these communities.
Referring to projects inside Tibet, His Holiness said that I always
welcome any help in Tibet in the field of education and health. He
said although in the bigger towns there were some facilities in these
fields the remote areas of Tibet was being neglected. He said any help
that can be rendered in these areas would be of immense benefit.
Following the luncheon, His Holiness departed for the University of
California in Berkeley's Greek Theatre to give a public talk on “Peace
Through Compassion”, jointly organized by UC Berkeley?s Blum Centre for
Developing Economies and the AHF. His Holiness was welcomed by
Chancellor Robert Birgeneau on his arrival at the venue.
