Geneva: Hundreds of Tibetans, Mongolians, Swiss and French welcomed His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the newly constructed Sherdurb Choekhorling – a Tibetan Buddhist Centre at Mont Saléve, France.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama stopped the car at the beginning of the long line of people. He walked slowly greeting people, and every now and then shaking well wishers’ hands.
Russian Buddhist guests had especially come from Russia for this auspicious event.
Before entering Shedrub Choekhorling’s prayer hall, His Holiness, Drepung Gomang Abbot, chant master and monks began the consecration prayers.
Sherdurb Choekhorling’s name was given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Mr. Raefel Gimalov, member of the Russian Parliament and a businessman built it. The centre is situated in France but just across Geneva border.
In his welcome address, Mr. Gimalov thanked His Holiness for his personal involvement in the construction of the centre. He said one of the main aims of the centre was to help people to get a better understanding of Tibetan Buddhism.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that he was very happy to be at the centre. Since several centuries ago, some parts of Russia have very close connection with Tibetan tradition. The 13th Dalai Lama further developed this close relationship.
His Holiness said in spite of lots of materialistic development in the 21 Century, yet number of people who are materially very rich and highly educated were not very happy.
Short sightedness and self-centered attitude with the lack of awareness of the destructive nature of certain emotions (anger, hate and jealousy) were the main creators of unhappiness.
He said as human beings we all have the ability to reduce these destructive emotions.
Commenting on the centre’s Shedrub Choekhorling name, His Holiness said Sheba means explanation and knowledge, and Drub means practice. So even a non-believer who has interest about mind or emotion should be able to study in this centre to improve their understanding of the mind and then put it into practice.
During lunch His Holiness the Dalai Lama said faith must be developed on the basis of conviction and thorough reasoning. Otherwise faith is not stable.
The Abbot and five monks from Drepung Monastery had especially come from India for the inauguration and consecration of Shedrub Choekhorling.
Last year, the centre signed an agreement with Drepung Gomang monastery in South India to be associated with the great Tibetan monastery for Buddhist studies. Drepung Gomang has centuries old tradition of association with Mongolian and Russian Buddhist. Today there are over 200 Mongolian and Russian Buddhist monks at the monastery in south India.