His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Visit Germany and SwitzerlandWednesday, 29 July 2009, 3:17 p.m.

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 83629 July to 31 July7.00am to 8.30am5pm to 7pm1 – 2 August 20097.00am to 8.30am5pm to 7pm3 August 20097.00am to 8.30amOpportunities for media interviews for Switzerland visitTseten S. Chhoekyapa (Representative)Swiss mobile: +41 79 533 93 103 August 20096pm to 7pm4 – 6 August 20097.00am to 8.30am5pm to 7pm