Kalon Tsering Phuntsok Attends Maha Guru Boomtsok in Switzerland [Tuesday, 17 August 2010, 2:53 p.m.]
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| Kalon Tsering Phuntsok addresses Tibetans at the Maha Guro Boomtsok in Switzerland on 13 August 2010 |
Geneva: The first-ever Maha Guru Boomtsok, an important Tibetan prayer congregation, is being organised in Switzerland. At the invitation from the organisers, Kalon Tsering Phuntsok, Kalon for the Department of Religion and Culture, attended the prayer service which began on 13 August. His Eminence Sakya Trizin Rinpoche gave the Guru empowerment on the morning of 13 August. Sakya Trizin said that it was a very auspicious occasion that a Maha Guru Boomtsok is being held in Switzerland. Addressing Tibetans at the prayer congregation, Kalon Tsering Phuntsok expressed his gratitude to the organisers and conveyed Tashi Delek to the Tibetan community on behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration. He said we must understand the significance of the Maha Guru Boomtsok and its benefits to the Buddhism. The organisers hope to make the Maha Guru Boomtsok an annual religion event in Switzerland for accumulating collective merits for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life, early end to the suffering of the Tibetans and for world peace. On 14 August, Sakya Trizin Rinpoche gave the Buddha Ayuttara Initiation at Winterthur to about 1,500 Tibetans. After the Initiation, Kalon Tsering Phuntsok addressed the Tibetans. He said Tibetans must think and act for the common interest of the issue of Tibet. He exhorted the Tibetans to pay attention the Central Tibetan Administration’s policies and also updated them on the Sino-Tibetan dialogue.
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| His Eminence Sakya Trizin Rinpoche giving initiation during the prayer congregation |
Speaking to the local Tibetan assembly in Switzerland on 15 August, Kalon Tsering Phuntsok asked the legislators to study the Central Tibetan Administration’s future policy on Tibet. He briefly spoke about how the Charter of the Tibetans Exile was drafted and made into law. He emphasised that the charter is above every Tibetan. He said the local assembly is a very important body as its members are elected representatives upon whom the Tibetan community have placed their trust.Kalon Tsering Phuntsok yesterday visited the Tibet Bureau in Geneva, and in the afternoon he met with the Assistance to UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion. Today he will meet Namkha Rinpoche and visit the International Nyingmapa Rigdzin Community. He will meet Lodrö Rinpoche of Samdup Dolma Ling in Zurich tomorrow. He also met Geshe Sherab Gyaltsen Amipa of the Sakya Tsechen Ling and had discussions with board meetings and monk community of the Tibetan Institute, Rikon. Kalon Tsering Phuntsok will return to India on 19 August.–Report filed by Geneva based Tibet BureauMore pictures:
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| Kalon Tsering Phunstok addressing over 1,500 Tibetans after the Buddha Ayuttara Initiation conferred by Sakya Trizin Rinpoche at Winterthur, Switzerland, on 14 August. |
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| Europe Chithu Sonam Monkar (sitting 2nd left in back row) and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Representative Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapa (3rd left in back row) at the Maha Guru Boomtsok on 13 August |
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| Kalon Tsering Phuntsok (c) addressing the local Tibetan assembly in Switzerland on 15 August |
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| Tibetans at the Maha Guro Boomtsok in Switzerland on 13 August |
