Christian leaders too welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Glasgow
Photo by Georgina Cranston/Office of Tibet, London |
Glasgow, 31 May: The much liked ongoing visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Glasgow was also welcomed here today by leaders of the majority Christian community. In a pre-scheduled audience arranged through the Office of Tibet in London, the Leaders of Glasgow Churches Together presented the Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader with a formal letter of greeting welcoming him on “your historic visit to our city.”
The Office of Tibet is the official agency of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“We recognise your significant role and standing in the promotion of spiritual and religious belief and practice in our contemporary world. We welcome your visit as an opportunity to promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all peoples, faiths, cultures and societies,” said the letter addressed to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and which was signed by representatives of the Church of Scotland, Methodist Church, Roman Catholic Church, Scottish Episcopal Church, United Free Church of Scotland and United Reformed Church.
The Archbishop of Glasgow, Most Rev Mario Conti, told His Holiness that just as he has learned about Christainty during his exile life so have they learned about Buddhism and Tibet, thanks to his being in exile. He said the tragedy that has befallen Tibet has given them the opportunity to learn more about Tibet and the Tibetan culture and Buddhism.
His Holiness also granted an audience to representatives of the eighteen Tibetan Buddhist and Bon groups which under the banner of the Dharma Network had invited him to give the 29 May – 1 June public talk and teachings in Glasgow.
Tomorrow before concluding the fifth and final session of the teachings, His Holiness will be giving the Mitrukpa Initiation during the morning session.
On 2 June, His Holiness will be Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. The programme there include a visit to the Scottish Parliament where he has been invited to give the traditional Time for Reflection address concentrating on the themes of Wisdom, Justice, Compassion and Integrity. This event and the proceedings in the parliament will be broadcast live on the Scottish Parliament website: www.scottishparliamentlive.com
The highlight of His Holiness’ 2-3 June visit to Edinburgh and the ancient Scottish capital of Dunfermline will be the meetings with thousands of school children who under the aegis of the Fife City Council have for the last many months been learning about him and Tibet.
“His Holiness is providing a platform for reflection and discussion on citizenship, values, ethics, peace, spirituality, religion, politics, the environment and other critical issues as well as disarmingly simple matters to do with our everyday lives,” says the press release issued by the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association at whose invitation His Holiness will be visting the two cities.
A report sent by OoT, London