His Holiness with Martin Schulz
Photo: Reuters
His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Belgium, France and Poland during a 15-day tour this month. While in France, he met European Parliament President Martin Schulz in Strasbourg on September 15, prompting an outcry from Beijing who have threatened to postpone an upcoming visit by a European Union economic delegation to China.
China said that interactions with His Holiness did not support the EU’s commitment to the One China Policy, which states that there is only one China and Tibet is a part of that one China, and that meeting His Holiness interferes with China’s domestic affairs and harms interactions between the EU and China. President Schulz stood by his decision to meet His Holiness in his capacity as spiritual leader, and a statement from Mr Schulz’s office said “the President remains firm in deciding autonomously and free from undue pressure on who he should meet and in ensuring the European Parliament remains an open and pluralistic place for debate, hosting a number of guests and of different opinions.”
His Holiness’s tour included public talks, teachings, and dialogues in the many places he visited.
With Mr Pedro Agramunt
Photo: Phayul
With Mr Nils Muiznieks, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe
Photo: Reuters
He visited the European Parliament in Strasbourg and addressed the Committee on Foreign Affairs where he expressed his admiration for the “spirit of European Union”. He also visited the Council of Europe and spoke to people in the Commission on Human Rights where he offered his support for a youth campaign to counter terrorism – #no hate no fear, and was offered the movement’s badge.
He was presented with the Marcel Rudloff Tolerance Prize at a public talk at the Strasbourg Convention. “Young brothers and sisters I’m happy to be with you. Meeting with younger people like you make me feel younger”, said His Holiness.
He inaugurated the Seventh Tibet Support Group Conference at St-Louis University, Brussels on September 8. The following day he sat as a panellist at the Mind and Life Dialogue Power and Care. Mind and Life is a conference which examines science in addition to a wide range of topics with leading experts in the field including scientists, economists, and influential spiritual leaders.
His Holiness later gave a public talk Individual Engagement and Global Responsibility which looked at the idea of applying compassion in business and he explained that when you are motivated for the right reasons you will never have cause for regret.
While in France, His Holiness attended events in Paris as well as the EU meetings in Strasbourg. In Strasbourg he conferred the Avalokiteshvara Empowerment, saying that Avalokiteshvara was the Great Compassionate One. The empowerment entailed giving the vows of a lay-practitioner, generating the awakening and giving the bodhisattva vows. He urged everyone who had taken the empowerment to engage in practice.
Nearly nine thousand people gathered for a teaching at the Zénith de Strasbourg where His Holiness explained Nagarjuna’s Commentary on Bodhichitta, saying that the text is related to the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, saying they are “the most excellent teachings of the Buddha”.
Signing the Appeal for Peace
Photo; OHHDL
He finished off his tour by spending two days in Poland where he and other religious leaders attended the World Peace Day event at the UNESCO world heritage site, the Church of Peace in Swidnica. The religious leaders signed an Appeal for Peace which has been initiated in response to incidents around the world which threaten peace, such as Russia’s annexation of the Crimea and North Korea’s excessive Nuclear weapon testing.
“Peace is something that must arise through inner peace. It cannot be built on the basis of destructive emotions like fear and anger,” His Holiness told the gathering.
His Holiness returned to Dharamshala on September 23.
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