Photo: Tenizn Choejor
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama left Dharamshala for a short visit to Delhi on November 9 followed by a teaching tour in Japan from November 10 – 22 and his message was on the importance of being united in spirit through his teachings of compassion and togetherness in the face of the problems of the present world.
On his arrival in Delhi, His Holiness inaugurated the yearlong celebration of the 550th anniversary of the birth of Sikh spiritual leader Guru Nanak Jayanti. Dr Manmohan Singh, the Sikh former Prime Minister of India welcomed His Holiness to the event.
Arriving in Yokohama, Japan, on November 12 for his 25th visit to Japan, His Holiness spoke to Rina Yamasawa of NHK, the English-medium Japanese news site, and recollected his first visit to Japan in 1967. He expressed his views on the cooperation that he seeks with the Chinese government regarding the preservation of Tibetan culture and language. “The Chinese can help us with infrastructural development and we can help them with Buddhist psychology” said His Holiness. Later that day he spoke to Ms Yoshiko Sakurai, President of the Japanese Institute for Fundamentals, a privately funded Japanese public and foreign policy think tank,and commended the possibility of combining technological development with Buddhist teachings for inner peace.
At the request of the Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibet House, Japan, three events were organised in Pacifico Yokohama National Convention Hall, Yokohama. Starting with the teaching of the Heart Sutra and Stages of Meditation His Holiness addressed a crowd of 5,000 Japanese, Taiwanese, Korean, Mongolian, Russian and Chinese enthusiasts on November 14. Next day the final teaching of Dependant Origination was given, followed by the Avalokiteshvara Initiation conferred by His Holiness himself.
The third event in Pacifico Hall on November 16 was a dialogue on modern science and Buddhist science. His Holiness addressed the audience of 5,000 people before the start of the dialogue, emphasising the importance of making 21st century an era of peace. Members of the panel were Japanese neuroscientist Dr Irika Atsushi, Dr Chong Jan Chu a quantum physicist from Taiwan and psychologist Dr Yoshiko Sakiko of Kyoto University; topics for discussion included neuroscience, senses and consciousness along with quantum physics, in connection with the Buddhist understanding of mind. “Dialogues like these have two purposes. Scientists’ brilliant minds have predominantly focussed on the physical world. But human beings are not just physical beings. We also have feelings and consciousness. It’s appropriate that scientists learn about the inner world of mind and emotions”, said His Holiness.
The following day His Holiness spoke to 2,800 young people at the Hibiya Open-Air Concert hall in Tokyo, telling them of the importance of nurturing the idea of the oneness of humanity to open our hearts and defeat the sense of isolation.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama Speaking at the Inauguration of Sherab Kyetsel Ling Institute in Chiba, Japan/ Photo: Tenzin Choejor
His Holiness inaugurated the Sherab Kyetsu Ling institute in Ishihara Chiba, and then addressed a gathering in the new Buddhist Centre, reciting stories from his childhood and highlighting the strong connection between Tibetans and Mongolians. The following morning spoke to over 1,700 students, their parents and faculty staff at Reitako University. During the question and answer session, he advised people to pay more attention to inner values and said that the purpose of life is happiness.
On November 20, after meeting around 300 Tibetans and Bhutanese who came to meet him at his hotel, His Holiness arrived at the Japanese parliament complex where he was welcomed by the All Party Japanese Parliamentary Group for Tibet, whose members assured His Holiness that they are keen to contribute to the preservation of Tibetan culture, language and religious tradition. They also discussed cooperation for economic and educational development inside Tibet.
His last visit was to Tochoji Temple in Fukuoka on Kyushu Island to the west of Japan where His Holiness prayed for the victims of the recent Kumamoto earthquake and floods. After chanting a Buddhist sutra at the memorial service, he addressed the gathering of 1,800 monks and lay people.
Throughout his teaching tour the emphasis was on the need for peace and compassion, and on the oneness of humanity.“Over-emphasising difference of nationality, religion or race culminates in feelings of ‘us’ and ‘them’—division. We must remind ourselves that at a deeper level all human beings are the same. We all want to live a happy life and to be happy is our right. Throughout the universe are sentient beings seeking peace and happiness” said His Holiness. A deeper level of human understanding, His Holiness taught, is important for inner peace and in turn for happiness. He particularly encouraged young minds to make an effort to achieve a peaceful 21st century. His Holiness returned to Dharamshala on November 25.
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