UPDATE 6: His Holiness the Dalai Lama Concludes His Peru Visit
Thursday, 11 May 2006, 3:00 PM
 His Holiness at Inter-Religious Meeting, 9 May |
Lima: On 9 May His Holiness the Dalai Lama successfully concluded his three-day visit to Peru with an address to the intellectuals and opinion makers at the auditorium of National Library of Peru. Around 520 intellectuals and opinion makers attended the talk.
He drew the attention of intellectuals and opinion makers, including the business community, to the plight of the underprivileged people, particularly the native indigenous population of Incas. The huge economic gap is not only morally wrong, but also a source of problem and instability in the society, His Holiness said.
He suggested the privileged community to share some of their resources to improve education and health facilities of the underprivileged people.
Earlier in the morning, His Holiness gave a teaching on the Eight Verses of the Training of Mind to the Buddhist community of Peru.
Following his teachings, His Holiness participated in an Inter-religious Meet with the representatives of ten different religious traditions. While speaking on the occasion, His Holiness said that the religious-based conflicts are the most unfortunate and should be avoided by learning to respect each others traditions and by establishing harmony among various religious traditions.
His Holiness outlined four different strategies to bring harmony among various religious traditions.
 Meeting with elders of Indigenous people of Incas, 8 May |
These included organising academic discussions to find out the commonalities and differences between various religious traditions; arranging dialogues among various spiritual leaders; organising joint pilgrimage to various religious sites; and organising a bigger gathering such as one organized by the late Pope John Paul II in Assi, Italy, a few years ago.
On the second day of his visit to Peru on 8 May, His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Cusco, the ancient mythical capital of Inca civilization, where he met with the elders of the indigenous people of Incas.
The gathering was held at the Temple Qoricancha (Sacred Temple of Sun) in the heart of Cusco City.
In his address at the special gathering with the representatives of the Altomisayoqs Queros, considered as a direct descendent of Quechuas, one of the tribes of Inca civilization, His Holiness advised the indigenous population to protect their native culture and civilization with modern education. He advised the natives not to isolate themselves from the modern society.
 Presenting hand-woven Inca bag and bracelet to His Holiness, 8 May |
The representatives of the native people offered His Holiness with a pair of hand-woven small Inca bag and bracelet with seeds, while His Holiness offered elders of the indigenous people with Khatag, a traditional Tibetan silk scarf, as a symbol of friendship and mutual respect.
Later in the afternoon, the Mayor of Cusco Mr. Carlos Valencia gave a formal reception to His Holiness in the City Hall in the presence of all his senior officials. The Mayor presented His Holiness with a medal and resolution to declare him as a distinguished guest of Cusco City.
After the Mayor’s reception, His Holiness gave a public talk on Ancient Culture in the Modern Society, which was attended by 1,500 people (800 people in the main auditorium and another 700 people in the annexure of the Town Hall with a short circuit TV facility).
In his talk, His Holiness urged the audience to learn from the culture of native indigenous people how to care the mother earth, the only home for the humanity.
His Holiness drew the attention of the audience to the issue of the global environmental crisis, by highlighting the seriousness the problem of global warming, shortage of drinking water in Indian sub-continent and China, and desertification in many parts of the world.
 Welcoming His Holiness at the press meeting, 7 May |
He also urged the audience to assist the native indigenous people to protect their age-old culture and civilization by improving the education facilities for them.
On Sunday, 7 May, following his arrival in Lima, the capital of Peru, His Holiness attended a press meeting at the Miraflores Park Hotel. Around 100 local and international media personnel attended the press meet.
Later in the evening on that day, His Holiness gave a public talk on The Power of Tolerance at the auditorium of Catholic University of Peru, which was attended by 3,000 people.
This was His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s first visit to Peru.
Report sent by Liaison Office, Latin America, New York
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