Tibetan Parliament
Honours Legislative Members of Himachal Pradesh[Thursday, 9 December 2010, 11:25 a.m.]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama (c) addresses a breakfast reception in honour of Himachal Pradesh’s state legislative assembly organised by the Tibetan Parliament in Exile at Tsuglagkhang, the main temple, in Dharamsala, India, on Thursday, 9 December 2010. Also seen in the picture from left are Opposition Congress leader Mrs Vidhya Stokes, Chief Minister Prof P K Dhumal and Assembly Speaker Mr Tulsi Ram/Photos by Namgyal Tsewang

DHARAMSALA: His Holiness the Dalai Lama joined
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal and members of
the state legislative assembly (Vidhan Sabha) at a breakfast reception
organised in their honour by the Tibetan Parliament in Exile at the main
temple here this morning.The leader of the opposition Congress
Party, Mrs Vidhya Stokes and Vidhan Sabha Speaker Mr Tulsi Ram were also
present at the reception. Members of the Tibetan Parliament’s standing
committee and the Kashag also joined the reception.Addressing
the gathering, Tibetan Deputy Speaker Dolma Gyari: “ We would like to
extend our gratitude, love and respect to the government and people of
Himachal Pradesh for their support towards the Tibetan people in the
last more than 50 years.”Describing Dharamsala as an abode of
gods, Congress Leader Vidhya Stokes said: “We are fortunate and blessed
by His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s presence in the state, and we thank him
for sustaining Dharamsala as a very beautiful place.”Expressing
his happiness over receiving the invitation to the breakfast reception,
Chief Minister Prof Prem Dhumal said His Holiness the Dalai Lama is
greatest living Buddhist monk and an apostle of Mahatma Gandhi’s message
of peace and non-violence.”

Prof Dhumal
said India and Tibet cherish a long historical and religious ties. “I
pray for the long and healthy life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. May
the issue of Tibet be resolved soon and the relationship between Indians
and Tibetan peoples continue to flourish,” he said.His Holiness
the Dalai Lama extended his greetings to the Indian delegation. His
Holiness said “India and Tibet share a relationship of teacher and
student”, adding, “he as a student has special connection with the host
Himachal Pradesh state as two of his teachers, Khunu Lama Tenzin
Gyaltsen and Rigzin Tenpa belong to Himachal.”His Holiness said
Himachal Pradesh has proved very auspicious in helping him to contribute
to the promotion of Buddhist values and serve humanity, and to
highlight the plight of the Tibetan people inside Tibet for the last
more than 50 years in exile.His Holiness said “ We have known
each other very well and get a feeling of meeting old friends whenever
occasions arise for such meetings.”His Holiness said “he has
witnessed different chief ministers during the last 50 years, which he
said is the strength of Indian democracy and the people’s mandate in
choosing a competent democratic leadership”.Recounting his visit
to a Buddhist temple in the Indian state of Bihar, His Holiness said
during the visit, the state chief minister expressed his hope that the
state would enjoy progress due to the blessings of Lord Buddha. “But I
told him the state could have achieved progress a long time before if it
needs only Buddha’s blessing. I said the real development would only
come through practical action by the concerned chief minister with the
blessings of Buddha,” His Holiness said.The members of state
Vidhan Sabha are in Dharamsala to take part in the winter session of the
assembly.