France: Representative Tashi Phuntsok and Secretary Namgyal Samdup of Office of Tibet, Paris visited Gandenling Institute on 24, May 2019 to pay respect to His Eminence Ling Rinpoche who is visiting Europe. After offering scarves and having been invited to be seated, the meeting which was both solemn and jovial at the same time, lasted for over an hour. Representative Phuntsok apprised Rinpoche on the works of the Office, giving details in particular on the sound relationship with all the Buddhist Centres and their heads in Europe, most notably with Dagpo Rinpoche.
Rinpoche inquired on the recent Riga Convention of the 7th World Parliamentarian Convention on Tibet. Elaborating on the international support system for Tibet, Representative Phuntsok outlined the Tibetan reach to all levels – government, parliament, media, public etc. He mentioned, like a parliamentarian convention, the 8th International Tibet Support Group Meeting was scheduled later in October in Dharamsala. The forthcoming meeting would have expanded participation, including by the Buddhist Centres, in addition to the Tibet support groups, he informed.
In this connection, the representative also brought to Rinpoche’s attention to the proposed meeting of Buddhists Centres across the world to be organised by the Offices of Tibet.
Representative Phuntsok discussed with Dagpo Rinpoche in an earlier meeting about the meeting.
Ling Rinpoche evinced great interest on Tibetan communities in Europe, especially on the weekend Tibetan schools. He was much pleased with the extensive schools in Belgium, France and Holland. He propounded its importance and expressed his appreciation.
After an extended discussion, the Office of Tibet’s delegation was invited to lunch, joined by Dagpo Rinpoche and the attendants.
Representative had a similar audience with Ling Rinpoche in 2005 during his previous posting in Paris. Gandenling Institute was established in 1987 by Dagpo Rinpoche who was the first Tibetan to arrive in France in 1960s sailing across South Africa from Bombay, a voyage taking months. Dagga Rinpoche has been a great patron of the Office of Tibet, Paris.
-Filed by Office of Tibet, Brussels