His Holiness Joins 9 Nobel Laureates in Denver
Monday, 18 September 2006, 11:30 a.m.
Denver: His Holiness arrived in Denver in the morning of 15 September by a private aircraft from Los Angeles and had a full and busy schedule in the afternoon with the Nobel Laureates as part of three days PeaceJam program. The first program in the afternoon was a private working lunch with other nine Nobel Laureates to discuss the agenda for Global Call to Action.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama being welcomed by his niece Tenzin Chodon in Denver |
After lunch His Holiness with other four other Nobel Laureates, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Prime Mintser Jose Ramos Horta of East Timor, Mrs Betty Willaims and Mrs Mairead Magquire participated in two and half hours of recording of the BBC World Debate program on the topic “What Price for Peace. Is War an Essential Part of Human Condition” to be broadcast next Sunday.
The other Nobel Laureates Mrs Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Mrs. Shriin Ebadi, Mr. Adolfo Perez Esquival and Mrs Jody Williams sat in the audience. This was followed by a joint Press Conference addressed by all the Laureates on a subject of particular concern to each. His Holiness spoke on the issue of water and environment. Others spoke on a wide range of issues such as poverty, social injustice, education, human security, human rights etc.
The Laureates attended a reception hosted by the city of Denver together with the University of Denver. His Holiness, Bishop Tutu and Mrs.Rigoberta Menchu spoke at the reception.
September 16th
Oscar Arias, President of Costa Rica |
His Holiness stopped over at President Oscar Arias’ hotel Suite on way to the public event. President Arias arrived the night before and they had not met since President Arias won his election. His Holiness did sent a congratulatory letter after the election and this time His Holiness personally congratulated him.
His Holiness gave separate audiences for about 800 Mongolains and 300 Tibetans before delivering the Keynote address to three thousand youths from 31 countries attending the PeaceJam event on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the founding of PeaceJam. In His address His Holiness emphasised the importance of compassion for the future of humanity and answered questions from the young audience on a variety of issues for more than an hour.
This was followed by lunch with the other Nobel Laureates and sponsors and funders of the PeaceJam conference. After lunch His Holiness met briefly with members of the music group who played at the PeaceJam Concert night before and also with the board members of The John Fetzer Institute which had been one of the main funders of the PeaceJam event.
The BBC World recorded an interview for its Hard Talk program. The entire interview was on Tibet with respectful but very provocative questioning of His Holiness’ Middle Path policy and stand on noviolence.
The last event with the Noble Laureates was a joint address to about 7,000 audience on the theme A Global Call to Action. His Holiness spoke about the need to have a variety of religions to suit the differing mental dispositions among people. His Holiness emphasised the importance of having respect for other religious tratditions on the ground that they all have essentially the same meassage of compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment etc
despite fundemental differences in philosophy and approach. His Holiness also made strong a appeal to those who claim to believe in a religion to practise the teachings seriously and sincerely.
At the conclusion His Holiness presented the fellow Nobel Laureates with scarf.
September 17th
His Holiness visited the Shambala Mountain Center by helicopter to bless the Stupta recently completed. The Center was established Trungpa Rinpoche. The Center runs year long courses in Buddhist studies, yoga and meditation.
His Holiness was received at the helipad by the President of Shahmbala and others. At the Stupa site His Holiness was received by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. His Holiness offered a brief prayer in the Stupa and blessed it. His Holiness spoke to a gathering of about 1000 people who came from long distances. The Center is over two hours drive from Denver and it is about 45 minutes by helicopter.
The Queen of Jordon was also there.
In the afternoon His Holiness gave a public talk at the Pepsi Center in Denver to audience of 0ver 13,000 people on the theme The Science of Compassionate Life organised by the Mind and Life Institute. Many were surprised to see many people when there was a paralel meeting of the other Nobel Laureates and also an important football game at the same time. The Mayor of Denver introduced His Holiness at the public talk and His Holiness as one of the most respected world leaders and champion of freedom and peace.
His Holiness spoke on the importance of achieving inner disarmamemt and before external disarmament. His Holiness explained how the power of compassion can be strengthened which is inherent in each person. At the end His Holiness answered a number of question collected from the people through internet.
Report sent by the Office of Tibet, New York
(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.)