The Dalai Lama visits Europe

By Stella Schaller / May 13, 2014;

Tibetans and supporters line the streets waiting for His Holiness’ arrival in Oslo, Norway on May 8.
Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

On May 5, His Holiness the Dalai Lama began an eleven day visit to Europe. In four countries he gave public talks and participated in discussions with students, philosophers, journalists and politicians. The aim of the visit was to spread a message of compassion and to foster interfaith dialogue.

The trip started in Riga, Latvia, where His Holiness gave two day teachings on the “Heart Sutra” and the “37 Practices of a Bodhisattva”. Some 3,500 devotees from Latvia, Russia, Estonia and Lithuania followed his lessons about non-violent conflict resolution and the different levels of ignorance and destructive emotions. During his address, he said, “I tell people that to be 21st century Buddhists we should follow the Buddha’s advice to use our intelligence to the full and transform our disturbing emotions.”

His Holiness with former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik in Oslo, Norway on May 8.
Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

During his third day in Europe, the Dalai Lama met Norwegian supporters in Oslo as well as the Norwegian former Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee. Though his visit of Norway was overshadowed by the government’s refusal to give him a formal reception, his teachings in the country were well attended.

His Holiness then continued to the Netherlands and gave a discourse on “The Three Principal Paths” and on “Well-being, Wisdom and Compassion” in Rotterdam. He emphasised his concern regarding the ongoing repression of Tibetan culture as well as his great respect for the Tibetan people: “The spirit of the people in Tibet is very strong; their courage is amazing”, he said in a meeting with Dutch journalists.

The Dalai Lama dedicated the two final days of his tour to the German audience in Frankfurt, where he gave three public discourses on secular approaches to ethics and self-awareness. At one of the talks, in St. Paul’s Church, school children were given the opportunity to ask questions and to have face to face discussions with him.

Soon again, His Holiness will travel across the world, in order to raise awareness about the Tibet issue and the Buddhist way of cultivating positive values: in June, he is expected in Italy; in August he will visit Germany again.