Finnish religious leaders, intellectuals embrace His
Holiness’ message
Tuesday, 3 October 2006, 9:30 a.m.
Helsinki: The Leader of the Greek
Orthodox Church in Finland last Sunday (1 October) warmly welcomed and thanked His Holiness the Dalai Lama for taking part in the inter-faith meeting that he had arranged here at the Palace Hotel conference hall with leaders of the Christian churches, intellectuals and business executives.
Archbishop Ambrosius welcoming His Holiness to the inter-faith group meeting. To the right of Archbishop is Liisa Jaakonsaari, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Finnish Parliament and to the left is His Holiness’ translator Geshe Dorje Damdul. Sitting on His Holiness’ left is Kari Raivio, Chancellor of Helsinki University (Photo: Tsering Tashi) |
In his concluding remarks before the end
of the meeting, the Metropolita or Archbishop
Ambrosius said they would bear in mind the importance
that His Holiness gives to warm heart, unbiased
compassion and Tibet.
Bishop Eero Huovinen of the Lutherian Church in
Helsinki, Liisa Jaakonsaari, Chairman of the Foreign
Affairs Committee in the Finnish Parliament, Judge
Antti Heikinheimo and Kari Raivio, the Chancellor of
the University in Helsinki also attended the meeting
among others.
The meeting was reported during the primetime 10 pm TV
news on 1 October. When asked why the Finnish Parliament
failed to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to
address the parliament, when the European Parliament
and other parliaments have done so, the Chairman of
the Foreign Affairs Committee was shown as saying this
time the schedule being difficult in future they could
consider inviting His Holiness to address the Finnish
Parliament. She also said the Tibetan demand for
autonomy in a way is similar to the status of Finland
under the erstwhile Soviet Union.
At the meeting when a participant asked a question
about Tibet, His Holiness explained that the Tibetan
struggle is not merely political, it is the struggle
about the preservation of a unique culture and
heritage. He said even Tibetans who were Communists
had joined the Tibetan struggle for freedom as they
were against the Chinese rule. His Holiness said he
was seeking genuine autonomy for Tibet to ensure the
survival and preservation of Tibetan Buddhism, culture
and the fragile environment of Tibet.
His Holiness also told the distinguished gathering,
some of whom had attended Saturday his sell-out
public talk on A Human Approach to World Peace that
all the major religions of the world had the same
message of love, compassion and forgiveness. He said
to promote interfaith harmony it was helpful if people
from different religious background mix with each
other. His Holiness also shared his experience of
interactions with practitioners from the Christian and
Islamic traditions.
The Tibetan Nobel Peace Laureate said that a peaceful
society and a peaceful world is in the interest of
everyone and therefore we must think about the
environment and welfare of humanity as a whole because
in this world of growing interdependence, the concept
of national boundaries no longer seem to be relevant.
Earlier in the morning His Holiness gave a basic
introductory teaching on Buddhism to a largely Finnish
audience at the request of the Finnish-Tibetan
Cultural Association, which along with the Service
Centre for Development Cooperation (KEPA) had also
organised His Holiness’ public talk. Prior to the
teaching which was also attended by half a dozen
Tibetan families living in Finland and some
Vietnamese, His Holiness reiterated that it is always
better for people to maintain one’s traditional
religion as sometimes changing a religion can bring
confusion.
The visit of His Holiness and the public talk that he
gave Saturday received wide coverage especially in
the Finnish TV and newspapers. The reports were
accompanied by photos of His Holiness and background
information relating to Tibet.
“In general whether the people believed in Buddhism or
not they all seem to have a lot of interest to see and
hear His Holiness’message which was apparent from the
large attendance at the public talk when the main hall
was fully packed and the organisers had to arrange two
different rooms so that people could see His Holiness
on large video screens”, said Mrs. Kesang Y. Takla,
Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for
Northern Europe, the Baltic States and Poland.
Mrs. Takla said the public interest in attending His
Holiness’ talk and the teaching clearly indicated the
success of the fulfillment of His Holiness’ three
declared commitments in life, namely promotion of
human values, promotion of inter-religious harmony and
working for Tibet.
Maatti Ojanpera feels His Holiness’ visit to Finland
has been successful in terms of good media coverage
and bringing people together.
“This visit of His Holiness is important because now
many Tibetan Buddhist groups seem to have the
willingness to work together and cooperate in
practicing Tibetan Buddhism in this part of the world.
His Holiness has also shown how close he is to the
common people and has been very effective in conveying
his message about warm heart, compassion and the
Tibetan cause”, said Mr. Ojanpera whose Finnish
translation of His Holiness’ book, The Universe In A
Single Atom, can be seen prominently displayed from
the window of book stands in Helsinki.
Report sent by the Office of Tibet, London