Kalon Tripa Briefs Tibetan Religious Leaders on Sino-Tibetan Dialogue Process
Dharamsala,3 February 2005: At a special luncheon hosted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
for heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and some senior lamas in Bodh Gaya on 25 January, Kalon Tripa Prof.
Samdhong Rinpoche gave a detailed briefing on the current state of discussions with the Chinese leadership.
Special Envoy Kasur Lodi Gyari also participated in the briefing.
The religious leaders present included Penor Rinpoche, Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, Gyalwa Karmapa Rinpoche, Drikung
Chetsang Rinpoche, Menri Trizin Rinpoche, Jangtse Choeje Rinpoche, Shartse Choeje Rinpoche, Trulshig Rinpoche, Ling
Rinpoche and Taklung Shabdrung Rinpoche.
VOA Tibetan Service quoted Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche as saying that he and Special Envoy Lodi Gyari had
briefed the religious leaders on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach, recent developments following
the visits of the envoys to China and Tibet, and on the meeting of the Task Force to assist the process in
Dharamsala.
The Kalon Tripa talked about the hope of the Tibetan leadership from the current process and the importance they
were attaching to the creation of a congenial atmosphere.
He said that the religious leaders made many insightful comments, with some of them needing implementation in the
coming months.
The spiritual leaders were in Bodh Gaya to participate in the one-day official prayer offering organised by the
Kashag on 25 January to enhance the collective merit of Tibetan people.
As decided by the Kashag, every Tibetan in exile has offered a religious contribution of maximum 25 Rupees and
minimum 1rupee 25 paise as the fund for offering of new robe and alms bowl to the statue of the Buddha located
inside the temple of Bodhgaya.