His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Japan on April 2 for a thirteen-day visit, during which he gave public talks and teachings on several topics including environmental conservation, global peace, and teachings: The Heart Sutra, Nagarjuna’s Commentary on the Awakening Mind of Bodhichitta and the middle volume of Kamalashila’s Stages of Meditation.
His Holiness thanking the youngsters for their performance before his talk as part of the 40th Anniversary of All Japan Young Priest Association in Gifu, Japan on April 8, 2015.
Photo: OHHDL/Tenzin Jigmey
On April 3 in Sapporo, Hokkaido His Holiness gave a talk on universal responsibility to an audience of around 1,800 people. He stressed the importance of maintaining mental, emotional, and spiritual balance in a society that values material development, and also touched upon the issue of Japan’s high suicide rate. “If we let our minds be dominated by destructive emotions, by self-centeredness, with little regard for others, we won’t be happy. Therefore, it’s clear that the ultimate source of happiness is warm-heartedness. Here in Japan I’ve heard you have a problem of suicide among young people. One of the ways to address this will be to educate the coming generation in cultivating a basic sense of care and affection for others,” he said.
An audience of 500 physicians gathered in Tokyo the following day to listen to His Holiness. He spoke about allopathic and more holistic forms of medicine including Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Tibetan treatments. He additionally gave a discourse on the importance of inter-religious harmony, secular ethics, and the prevention of suicide.
At the Global Environmental Forum for the Next Generation in Tokyo, Japan on April 6, 2015.
Photo: OHHDL/Tenzin Jigmey
On April 6, in Yomiuri Hall, His holiness took part in a panel for the Global Environmental Forum for the Next Generation in front of 1,100 people. He emphasised the importance of environmental conservation. “We need to educate ourselves and make caring for the environment, even in small ways like remembering to turn off the lights when we leave the room, a part of our lives,” he stated.
3,200 people, 2,400 of them students, were graced by the Dalai Lama’s presence at Aichi Gakuin University on April 7. During his speech, His Holiness touched upon three important points: “There are three reasons I try to promote human values as a source of happiness. Firstly, the kindness and affection we are shown by our mothers is our common experience. Secondly, it’s common sense that if a family is wealthy, but lacks basic kindness and affection, its members will likely be unhappy. Thirdly, even scientists today are finding evidence that the really effective source of happiness is peace of mind.”
His Holiness conferring the Avalokiteshvara Empowerment at Showa Joshi Women’s University in Tokyo, Japan on April 13, 2015.
Photo: OHHDL/Tenzin Jigmey
After giving an interview to the All Japan Soto Young Priests Association, His Holiness spent two days giving discourses During Heart of Wisdom and Commentary on the Awakening Mind, His Holiness talked about how success today’s society equates to material gain and how mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being are often pushed aside in favour of worldly success. For the discourse Permission and Empowerment of Avalokiteshvara, the Stages of Meditation and the Three Essential Moment, His Holiness informed the audience about Buddhist tantric practices, the importance of maintaining a calm mind, and how religion is a source of solace for countless people.
His Holiness’s visit to Japan visit concluded on April 14 with a message for the Tibetan community: “The Chinese authorities have tried to suppress Tibetans with violence, they have tried to eliminate our identity, but we’re resilient, we survive. When China really addresses what Tibetans need, the problem can be solved”.
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