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His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Visit Germany and Switzerland
Wednesday, 29 July 2009, 3:17 p.m.
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama gives a lecture at the University of Warsaw, on 28 J
July 2009/Photo courtesy: REUTERS
| Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be visiting Germany and Switzerland from 29 July to 7 August to give a series of talks on world peace and compassion, participate in seminars on environment, economy and ethics, and to give Buddhist teachings, the representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Tibet Bureau in Geneva said.
His Holiness will visit Germany at the invitation of three organisations based in Germany – Tibethaus Deutschland e.V., Deutsche Buddhistische Union e.V and Pagoda Phat Hue, a Vietnamese Buddhist community.
Hessen State Chief Minister Roland Koch will receive His Holiness the Dalai Lama on arrival in Frankfurt on 29 July, following which they will jointly address the press.
On 30 July, the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation & Development, Mrs. Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, and the Mayor Dr. h. c. Petra Roth of Frankfurt will call on His Holiness.
His Holiness will lecture on the Buddhist text “The Middle Stages of Meditation” by the great Indian Master Kamalashila from 30 to 31 July. This text offers inspiration and guidance for the complexities of daily life, which could be practiced by anyone, whether one is a Buddhist or not.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama will take part in three different symposiums under the theme: “One World – One Mind – One Heart.” His Holiness will engage in a dialogue on economy and ethics, as well as on the environment.
His Holiness and representatives of different religious traditions will speak on “Compassion.” In the afternoon, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a public talk on “The Art of living.”
2 Songs for Dalai Lama - a concert will be held on 1 August, where some of Germany’s well known artist will perform.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama will visit Marburg University, where he will be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate. The Marburg University has been teaching courses on Tibetan Buddhism since 1929.
This is His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 35th visit to Germany, the first of which was in 1973. Germany is the most visited country in Europe by His Holiness, indicating the tremendous public interest in and support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan issue.
On 10 February 2009, His Holiness the Dalai Lama received the Deutsche Medienpreis (the German Media Prize) in Baden Baden. The journalist asked why His Holiness visits Germany so frequently. His Holiness has said, “Ich liebe Deutschland” – I love Germany. His Holiness highly commends German people’s determination and has said that after the Second World War, Germany rose from the ashes and built a very strong democracy and economy for its people.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama will then visit Switzerland at the invitation of the International Buddhist Rigdzin Community.
His Holiness will give a two-day sermon on “Three Principal Aspects of the Path” by the great Tibetan Buddhist Master Je Tsongkhapa, from 4 – 5 August.
The Tibetan Communities in Europe will offer Tenshug (Long Life Prayer) to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 5 August. This is a Tibetan Buddhist tradition where representatives of the Tibetans residing in different countries in Europe will reaffirm their commitments to His Holiness and strengthen the special bond between them and their leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
There are over 7000 Tibetans living in Europe. In October 1960, the first batch of Tibetan children and refugees were officially re-settled in Switzerland. Today, there are over 4000 Tibetans in Switzerland.
The President of Vaud canton Mr. Pascal Broulis will meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness will give a public talk on “World Peace through Inner Peace.” The President of the Swiss Federal Parliament, Mr. Chiara Simoneschi-Cortesi, will call on His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 6 August in Lausanne.
On 6 August, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a keynote address to a Sino-Tibetan conference where over 100 Chinese and Tibetan scholars, writers, journalist and advocates will gather in Geneva. The conference is convened by the International Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association.
“The objective of the conference is to create a better understanding between the two communities and to explore ways for a peaceful solution of the Tibetan issue,” said Mr. Jonathan Sisson of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation. “This is in the interest of both the Chinese and the Tibetan peoples,” said Dr. Tashe Thaktsang of the Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association. “In addition, it will serve the long-term development of China and contribute to peace and stability in Asia,” Dr. Thaktsang added.
Opportunities for media interviews for Germany visit:
Tseten S. Chhoekyapa (Representative)
Mobile: German No. +49 177 1728 836
29 July to 31 July
7.00am to 8.30am
5pm to 7pm
1 – 2 August 2009
7.00am to 8.30am
5pm to 7pm
3 August 2009
7.00am to 8.30am
Opportunities for media interviews for Switzerland visit
Tseten S. Chhoekyapa (Representative)
Swiss mobile: +41 79 533 93 10
3 August 2009
6pm to 7pm
4 – 6 August 2009
7.00am to 8.30am
5pm to 7pm
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