Tallinn, Estonia, 16 August 2011 (by Toomas Tiivel)
- His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama arrived in Tallinn, the capital of
Estonia from France this afternoon. His Holiness will stay in Estonia
for three days until the afternoon of 18 August, and the hosts for this
visit are the Estonian Institute of Buddhism and the Riigikogu Tibet
Support Group (Estonian Parliamentary group for Tibet). This is
His Holiness' third visit to Estonia, the previous two visits having
taken place in 1991 and 2001.
|
| His Holiness the Dalai Lama is met
by members of the media on his arrival in Tallinn, Estonia, on 16 August
2011. Photos/Jarek Jõepera/Office of Tibet, London |
At the Tallinn Airport His Holiness was welcomed by
the main organisers of this visit, the Director of the Estonian
Institute of Buddhism Mr. Sven Grünberg and the leader of the Estonian
Parliamentary group for Tibet MP Mr. Andres Herkel.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama's first public engagement for this current
visit to Estonia started with an audience at the conference center of
the Radisson Blu Hotel in Tallinn. There was a meeting of His Holiness
and people from the Institute of Buddhism as well as guests invited by
the Institute. All together there were more than 400 persons in the hall
- politicians, ministers, members of Parliament, scholars from the
Estonian universities, representatives of various non-governmental
organisations, intellectuals as well as members of the different
Buddhist groups in Estonia.
|
| His Holiness the Dalai Lama with
400 guests from the Estonian Institute of Buddhism in Tallinn, Estonia,
on 16 August, 2011. Photo/Jarek Jõepera/Office of Tibet, London |
Opening
the meeting, the Director of the Institute Mr. Sven Grünberg compared
the event – His Holiness’ visit to Estonia with a miracle, although
Buddhism does not recognise miracles. He said also that people are here
not only to get something but also to give – we have to make sure that
the Tibetan civilization and culture will not vanish. He gave a present
to His Holiness from the Institute – an umbrella in the national colours
of Estonia – blue, black and white.
In his speech His Holiness remembered with warm words his first two
visits to Estonia and to other Baltic States some years ago, mentioning
that he loved Estonia and Estonian people for their courage and the
bravery during complicated times 20 and more years ago. His Holiness
spoke of the respect which he held for the Estonian people for the
strength and determination that they have shown in their struggle for
freedom and in their establishing democracy following a long period of
authoritarian Communist rule.
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| His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his talk to
members and guests of the Estonian Institute of Buddhism in Tallinn,
Estonia, on 16 August, 2011. Photo/Jarek Jõepera/Office of Tibet, London |
His
Holiness told the large gathering that it was good to base our life on
hope because no one can predict the future. He said if a person lost
hope then many bad things can happen and this is why it is much better
to remain hopeful and follow the path of peace and non-violence. “Only
through cultivation of inner peace can we attain lasting and long-term
peace in the world. All the religions and faith have the same potential
to promote peace,” His Holiness said, adding that “Religion must be the
method to solve problems and not create problems”. There must be a
freedom to believe and to practice your own religion and traditions.
There have been very difficult times in Tibet for both Buddhism and the
Buddhist. The Chinese see Buddhism in Tibet, where the majority of
people are Buddhists, as an enemy for the Chinese state. Many original
Buddhist texts are still forbidden in schools and universities.
Following the address, the Tibetan Nobel Peace Laureate also answered a
series of questions from the audience ranging from his growing up in
Tibet, the present situation there, his recent resignation from the post
of the political leader of Tibet and how people from different
countries can help the Tibetans. His Holiness told the supporters that
he does not consider their support for the Tibetan people as being
pro-Tibet or anti-Chinese but rather as pro-justice and pro-truth.
People must be free inside, in their thoughts as well as beliefs.
His Holiness´ schedule for the afternoon also included an interview for Estonian television channel Kanal 2.
