Dalai Lama Tours UK

By Vanshika Tripathi / September 21, 2015;

His Holiness with 200 students who have attended interactive meeting at Rhodes House in Oxford, UK
Photo: Ian Cumming

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is mid-way through a 9-day tour of the United Kingdom. A commencement press conference on Sept. 14 at Magdalene College in Cambridge saw His Holiness speaking about his role as a Buddhist monk, and his desire to encourage an atmosphere of religious harmony within the current climate of religious conflict and violence.

His Holiness then interacted with primary school students at Rhodes House in Oxford. His message was a hopeful one. “The 20th century generation to which I belong created all sorts of problems that it will be up to you to resolve. You are our source of hope, so perhaps the end of the 21st century will be peaceful and happier.” Later that day, His Holiness met with the Oxford Tibetan Studies Department, where he emphasised the need to preserve the language and traditions unique to Tibetan culture.

His Holiness at dialogue on ‘Growing Wisdom, Changing People” at Magdalene College’s Cripps Court in Cambridge, UK Photo:Ian Cumming

The second day of His Holiness’ tour began with a presentation on the origin of photography in Tibet, followed by back-to-back interviews with local newspapers the London Evening Standard and The Sun. The interview topics ranged from the current refugee crisis in Europe to the growing concern over the growth of ISIS. His Holiness finished up the day in a meeting with around fifty Chinese students.

The third day of the tour saw His Holiness return to Magdalene College in Cambridge to deliver “Growing Wisdom, Changing People”, a talk on how the inherent goodness of human nature can be distracted by materialistic pursuits. The following day His Holiness, with host Lord Rowan Williams, continued the discussion at Magdalene College. Topics included the distinguishing features of religion and spirituality, the sublime consciousness, and conserving Tibet’s religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage.

The next stop of the tour is London, where His Holiness will hold several discussions.