Dharamshala: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama today granted an in-person audience to Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration at his official residence. This is His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s first in-person audience since the Covid-19 pandemic began in early 2020. It is also Sikyong Penpa Tsering’s first official in-person audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama since he assumed the responsibility of Sikyong in May this year.
Speaking to media persons following the audience, Sikyong expressed his gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for granting him the first in-person audience since the pandemic and pledged to work towards the resolution of the Sino-Tibetan conflict and serve the Tibetan public with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s guidance and blessings at heart.
“For the last one and a half years, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has not met any member of the public in-person due to the Covid-19 pandemic. From today, His Holiness has resumed in-person meetings with the public and the first audience was granted to me as Sikyong. And I would like to express my deep gratitude for that. Gradually, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will start granting audiences to one or two members of the public, although it still would not be possible for the large majority of the people,” Sikyong told reporters.
“As for me, my last in-person audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama was in October 2017. For the last four and a half years, I have not received any in-person audience with His Holiness although I have received four online audiences recently. So, I feel fortunate to have received this first in-person audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama today. I also pledge to perform my duties with the blessings and advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to serve the Tibetan public and our common cause,” he added.