Four Nation European Tour (First Leg in Sweden & The Netherlands)

By Alex Laba / September 20, 2018;

Photo: Manuel Bauer

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, currently on his four-nation European tour, arrived in Sweden on September 11 and is holding a series of public talks and teachings, alongside visiting many of the thousands of Tibetans residing in Europe. Starting in Sweden, His Holiness gave a talk,the Art of Happiness and Peace, as well as visiting Malmo University where he spoke on Secular Ethics with the students there. His Holiness thanked his hosts and the Swedish aid organisation, Individuell Människohjälp (IM),for their hospitality and continued support. IM were celebrating their 80th anniversary as ambassadors of freedom and basic human rights.
Travelling from Sweden to the Netherlands on September 14 His Holiness gave a talk,Why compassion is essential in our Troubled World and a teaching, the Eight Verses for Training the Mind. 21,000 people attended the talks with 400 000 viewing the live stream. His Holiness addressed many topics including the need for religious harmony, refugee rehabilitation and education, setting up the next generation, the failings of the current system of education, technology and its role in society and Tibet’s relationship with China.
Regarding China,His Holiness stated, “We always think about going back to Tibet and to rebuild Tibet. We want to be broad minded, not narrow minded. Therefore, we are very much willing to remain within the People Republic of China given that they respect Tibetan culture, language, and environment. These are in accordance with the Chinese constitution”. Additionally, His Holiness expressed his desire to make a pilgrimage to China in the hopes of making peace. However, he said a visit would depend upon the Chinese government being willing to comply with two conditions: one,that he can give religious teachings to the growing Buddhist population and,two, that he could visit top universities in Beijing and start conversations there on science.
His Holiness spoke of how the Tibetans yearn to go home saying, “We Tibetans took shelter in India, but most Tibetans want to return to Tibet when the situation there has changed. Each country has its own culture, language, way of life, and it is better for people to live in their own country. That is my view.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Germany on September 18 where he will remain until September 20 when he will travel to Switzerland where he will stay until September 23.