On February 17, His Holiness the Dalai Lama departed from Dharamshala, India for the United States of America, where he delivered various discourses and additionally attended Tibetan New Year festivities organised by the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota. His Holiness delivered one of his first speeches during his visit to San Francisco, California on February 22, where he graced an event organised by the Himalayan Foundation. The public talks that His Holiness gave throughout his stay specifically centred upon the Middle-Way Approach and how its usage can help improve the extremely tense relations that exist between China and Tibet.
The Middle-Way Approach also garnered support from President Barack Obama. After concluding his meeting with His Holiness, President Obama “reiterated his strong support for the preservation of Tibet’s unique religious, cultural, and linguistic traditions and the protection of human rights for Tibetans” by stating that “[he] and the Dalai Lama agreed on the importance of a positive and constructive relationship between the United States and China.”
HH the Dalai Lama greets audiences on Tibetan New Year in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 2, 2014. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL
2014 is the first year, since his exile from Tibet in 1959, in which His Holiness celebrated Losar away from India. The Tibetan New Year festivities started out in Minneapolis’s Augsburg College, where close to three thousand Tibetan-Americans from all over the United States gathered to hear him speak about the effect that violence had in the 20th century, and how such violence should not repeated in the 21st century. “When we first came into exile, the only thing we knew for certain was the earth and sky. Reaching Mussoorie we had no idea what would happen to us.” said His Holiness, “As time went on, we survived by relying on non-violence and the power of truth. I was 24 then and I’m nearly 79 now. In addition to the power of truth, we experience the power of compassion. We’ve done our best and kept our peace of mind.”
His Holiness concluded his United States visit in Washington with a discourse on “Beyond Religion: Ethics for the Whole World.” Throughout this itinerary in the United States, His Holiness continued his constant efforts towards spreading the significance of compassion, and emphasising the importance that peace and non-violence ultimately hold.
His Holiness, accompanied by Sikyong Sangay, receives a traditional welcome on his arrival in Washington DC on February 18, 2014.
Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL
The United States visit began on February 17.
February 19: Washington, DC, interviews for Time Magazine and Vanity Fair.
Discussion: “Happiness, Free Enterprise, and Human Flourishing”, His Holiness was accompanied by Arthur Brook, President of American Enterprise Institute.
February 21: meeting with President Obama at the White House.
February 22: public talk in San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall, event organised by the American Himalayan Foundation.
February 23: talk at the “Unsung Heroes of Compassion Event”.
February 24: panel discussion in Santa Clara University “Business, Ethics, and Compassion.”
February 25: talk at the Forum in Los Angeles, California “Non-violence and the Effects of Compassion in the 21st Century.”
March 1: the 26th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota – His Holiness delivered the Laureate Address, in which he highlighted the importance of “Faith, Peace, Human Rights, and Mutual Understanding.”
March 2: Losar celebrations, with Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay.
March 6: visit to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
March 7: visit to the National Cathedral and National Institutes for Health in Washington, DC.
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