His Holiness the Dalai Lama Visits Sweden[Saturday, 16 April 2011, 1:11 p.m.]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressing students and staff at Soderton University on the theme of “A Human Approach to World Peace” in Stockholm, Sweden, on 15 April 2011/Lotta Gyllensten/Office of Tibet, London

STOCKHOLM:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Sweden late on Thursday (15
April), for a three-day visit to Stockholm and Lund. His
Holiness spoke to over 3000 people at Stockholm Waterfront Congress
Centre at a public talk “Meeting with Dalai Lama” arranged by Swedish
Organisation for Individual Relief (IM) on the same day.The
questions asked focused on the notions of compassion, harmony and
happiness but his recent statement of his imminent retirement also gave
rise to some questions. His Holiness reaffirmed the decision to devolve
his political authority to the elected leadership to further
democratise the Tibetan community. In his meeting with local press he
said: “I end the four century old tradition voluntarily, happily and
proudly.” His Holiness also mentioned that things are changing
in China and that he is still hopeful, noticing that the awareness
about Tibet among the Chinese population is increasing and so is their
criticising of their own government on its policy in Tibet.Earlier
in the morning His Holiness visited the Nobel Museum to receive a
private tour of the exhibition and as part of the tradition signed his
name on the bottom of his chair in the restaurant of the museum, as
most other Nobel laureates have done before him. These chairs account
for one of the museums “hidden” treasures. His Holiness the Dalai Lama
also donated some personal belongings including a pen, a pair of
glasses and a Buddhist scripture to the museum.During the day
His Holiness also spoke to hundreds of students at Södertörn
University, entitled “A Human Approach to World Peace”, which was also
screened on the University campus for all those who were not able to
fit inside the auditorium. His Holiness’ speech was followed by an
outdoor meditation for peace led by Lama Lobsang from the Tibetan
Community in Sweden. –Report filed by Swedish Tibet Committee More photos:

His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the “Meet the Dalai Lama” event organised by the Swedish aid organisation Individuell Manniskohjalp (IM) in Sweden, on 15 April 2011/Lotta Gyllensten/Office of Tibet, London

Some of the audience members at the “Meet the Dalai Lama” event in Stockholm, Sweden, on 15 April 2011/Photo by Tenzin Taklha/OHHDL

His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Nobel Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, on 15 April 2011.Lotta Gyllensten/Office of Tibet, London

His Holiness the Dalai Lama signing a chair at the Nobel Museum, a tradition which visiting Nobel laureates are asked to perform, in Stockholm, Sweden, on 15 April 2011/Lotta Gyllensten/OoT, London

Personal articles donated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Nobel Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, on 15 April 2011/Photo by Tenzin Taklha/OHHDL

His Holiness the Dalai Lama poses with the members of the Mongolian community after their meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, on 15 April 2011/Photo by Tenzin Taklha/OHHDL