His Holiness’ Washington D.C.Visit: Update

Wednesday, 17 October 2007, 12:30 p.m.

File picture from 2003 shows President George W. Bush welcoming His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the White House

Washington D.C. His Holiness the Dalai Lama began his first morning in this visit to Washington, D.C.with a closed door session with a group of experts on the situation in China.

In the afternoon, His Holiness had a nearly hour-long meeting with
President George Bush at the White House. Discussions touched on what
the United States could do to support His Holiness’ endeavour for a
solution to the Tibetan problem. First Lady Laura Bush joined the
meeting.

On his return from the White House, His Holiness gave some private
audiences, including to a group of Vietnamese Buddhists, as well as an
interview for Voice of America’s Chinese language service.

The issue of President Bush meeting with His Holiness dominated the
discussion at today’s daily press briefing by the White House
Spokesperson. This briefing took place before the meeting.

The Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Mr Karma Chophel arrived in Washington, D.C.this afternoon to attend the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony. He will be in Washington, D.C. till 19 October.

Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche attended a Pray for Peace Concert and Prayer Ceremony at the National Cathedral. The program began with nearly an hour long prayer ceremony by a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks led by Lama Zopa, Gyudmey Khensur Lobsang Jampa, and Gyuto Khensur Ngawang Jorden.

The Kalon Tripa was introduced to the packed cathedral by Bishop John
Bryson Chane of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. The Kalon Tripa addressed the gathering on the need of peace and the role of religion and religious practitioners in today’s world.

–Report send by the International Campaign for Tibet