Dalai Lama Visits Britain Amidst Chinese Protests
New York, 27 May: At a special ceremony this morning in the Anglican Cathedral of Liverpool, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by John Moores University, who–along with the Temenos Academy, the Dharma Network and the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association–is responsible for arranging the Tibetan leader’s visit to Britain.
Speaking to a crowd of 2,000 people, who packed the world’s largest Anglican Cathedral, His Holiness called on educational institutions to place greater emphasis on moral ethics in order to develop deeper human values of love, compassion and mutual care.
One need not necessarily accept a religion to exercise morality, he said.
Professor Michael Brown, vice-chairman of John Moores University, admitted that the Chinese authorities had tried to dissuade his university from hosting the Dalai Lama.
“But we are not accepting any orthodox views.”
“We have no wish to upset China and the Dalai Lama’s visit has nothing to do with Tibet. He is here as a spiritual leader and a Nobel Peace prize winner.”
Professor Brown hailed the visit as an event that would “raise the profile of John Moores University, demonstrating that we can attract the best in the world”.
The Chinese consulate had warned Liverpool that the visit could cause problems for its close relationship with its sister city, Shanghai.
Later, His Holiness attended a luncheon at the Town Hall with the Lord Mayor and some 80 topmost spiritual figures in Liverpool.
Elsewhere, in London, Labor MP Kate Hoey took Prime Minister Tony Blair to task for failing to meet the Tibetan leader and apostle of peace.
During the Question Time in parliament on 26 May, Hoey is reported to have asked Blair “if fear of angering China was the reason why he could not find a half-hour in his busy schedule to see the Dalai Lama”.
Blair said that is not the case. “I’ve actually met the Dalai Lama on previous occasions. I’ll be very happy to meet him again on subsequent occasions.”
He also assured the parliament that the issue of Tibet is something Britain raises constantly with the Chinese, “most recently during Prime Minister Wen Jiabao`s visit to London earlier this month when we had a significant and long discussion on Tibet”.
In an earlier session, the Prime Minister informed the house that Foreign Secretary Jack Straw would meet His Holiness.
The meeting is scheduled for today in London.
Also, religious heads and dignitaries, including Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams, will receive His Holiness at the Lambeth Palace.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed “regret and dissatisfaction with the British side in meeting the Dalai Lama despite Chinese representation”.
“We oppose the Dalai Lama and his followers engaging in splittist activities in the international arena and we also oppose any officials meeting the Dalai Lama,” said foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao.
His Holiness’ other engagements in London include a talk on “A Human Approach to World Peace” at The Temenos Academy.
Dr. L.M. Singhvi, Former Indian High Commissioner to London, is traveling from India to participate in the event as he is closely associated with the Academy, said a report from the Office of Tibet in London.
According to a Gujrati online news network, His Holiness will also meet “Prince Charles, who has invited him to a reception at Saint James`s Palace in London with Tibetan activists and expatriates”.
On 29 May His Holiness will be in Glasgow where he will give a public talk on “Inner Peace, Outer Harmony”.
According to news reports, this talk will be attended by 10,000 people.
From 30 May to 1 June he will give teachings on Kamashila’s Middle Stages of Meditation and Thogme Sangpo’s Thirty-Seven Bodhisattava Practices, followed by the Mithrukpa Initiation.
While in Glasgow His Holiness also will be receiving delegations from Leaders of Glasgow Churches Together and Glasgow Forum of Faiths.
On 2-3 June His Holiness will visit Scotland’s modern capital, Edinburgh, and ancient capital, Dunfermline at the invitation of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association and the Tibet Association of Edinburgh.
He will give a public talk titled, “Towards Vision of a New Civilization”.
While in Edinburgh, His Holiness will also be giving a short address at the main Parliament Chamber, namely ‘Time for Reflection’ at the invitation of the Scottish Parliament.
This brief presentation on the matter of ‘Spirituality in Leadership’ will focus on Wisdom, Justice, Compassion and Integrity’ and will be telecast live on the internet.
His Holiness visit program for Dunfermline is focused mostly on peace initiatives and to benefit the school children and youngsters who with the support of the Fife Council has for months been studying about His Holiness, Tibet and the Tibetan culture.