His Holiness welcomed by Archbishop, Foreign Secretary and Prince Charles
The Prince of Wales greets His Holiness the Dalai Lama ( AP Photo/Pool, Peter Macdiarmid) |
London, 28 May: International respect for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s moral authority was apparent yesterday when the Tibetan leader was welcomed at separate high profile engagements by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Jack Straw, and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales (Prince Charles). His Holiness was warmly welcomed by literally all the three pillars of the British social structure – the spiritual, political and the royalty. These meetings followed the morning’s event in Liverpool city where His Holiness at the invitation of the John Moores University received an honorary fellowship and gave a public lecture on “Secular Ethics” that was broadcast live on the university’s website www.jmu.ac.uk so that many people unable to get tickets could log onto the computer to see and hear the Tibetan Nobel Peace Laureate.
“His Holiness’ lecture was very well received and the audience also enjoyed His Holiness’ natural sense of humour,” Mrs. Kesang Y. Takla, Representative of H.H. the Dalai Lama for Northern Europe, based here at the Office of Tibet, told this reporter.
Before leaving Liverpool for London His Holiness attended a lunch reception hosted by the Lord Mayor and that was also attended by the city’s other dignitaries and citizens.
“I really had a nice time there,” His Holiness informally told representatives of the Temenos Academy who had come to welcome him at the London City Airport. The academy is the organiser of His Holiness’ sold-out London public talk later today.
His Holiness’ meeting with the Archbishop largely focused on matters spiritual. He said that the three main commitments in his life were: promotion of basic human values that applied to whether a person was a believer or a non-believer; promotion of religious harmony; and work toward resolving the issue of Tibet in view of the trust placed on him by the Tibetan people. His Holiness said that to bring about religious harmony he has been employing four methods: meeting with scholars to discuss similarities and differences between each religious tradition which basically preach the same message of love and compassion; meeting with practitioners to share each other’s experiences; taking part in joint pilgrimage and finally attending interfaith gatherings with heads of other faiths. The Archbishop expressed his appreciation for the contribution that His Holiness has been making in promoting better understanding between the Buddhist and Christian communities. He also asked questions relating to the Tibetan situation and said he prayed for Tibet.
During the meeting with the Foreign Secretary and in accordance to the interest shown, His Holiness explained at length his Middle Way Approach in resolving the issue of Tibet in the best interest of China as well. He said China is changing rapidly and added that viewed from a wider perspective whereby increasing number of Chinese businessmen and intellectuals are showing more interest in Tibetan culture and spirituality, he is optimistic about Tibet’s future. The Foreign Secretary informed His Holiness that Britain continued to discuss Tibet with China and that recently Prime Minister Tony Blair brought up the issue during his meeting with his Chinese counterpart. Mr. Chris Mullin, Minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who received His Holiness also joined the meeting along with Mrs. Takla of the Office of Tibet.
His Holiness later made his presence at the reception hosted by Prince Charles that was attended by representatives of the Tibetan Community in UK, Tibet-related organisations and officers of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet. The community’s dance group sang a Tibetan welcome song as Prince Charles greeted His Holiness upon his arrival at the Clarence House. In his welcome remarks Prince Charles spoke highly of His Holiness and said that like many he too hope for a peaceful and sustainable solution for the Tibet issue. In a message to the souvenir marking the 26 May – 4 June visit of His Holiness to UK, Prince Charles wrote, “His Holiness is renowned for bringing together two rather rare qualities – wisdom and compassion,” and that “His presence is a comfort and an inspiration to all of us who, in difficult and uncertain times, seek that which is rare in our lives.”
His Holiness expressed his appreciation for the courageous friendship that His Royal Highness has shown for Tibet. “I admire your unchanging moral support for our cause,” His Holiness said adding that the Tibetan spirit will carry on from generation to generation. He said the Tibetan struggle is not about victory to one side and defeat to the other. This is why his Middle Way Approach has been brought about to benefit both China and Tibet.
On way to the hotel in motorcade after a rather exhausting day, His Holiness was charmed by the
spontaneous welcome from Tibetans and others, some holding traditional white greeting scarves, who had lined up the road leading to the hotel where he and his entourage will be staying until departure to the Scottish city of Glasgow tomorrow for the third leg of his UK trip.
A report sent by OoT, London