His Holiness in Italy

By Tsering Wangdue / June 19, 2014;

Well-wishers waiting for His Holiness to arrive at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Pomaia, Tuscany, Italy
Photo: FilmPRO

The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama visited Italy from June 10-16. He arrived at Lama Tsong Khapa Institute in Pomaia in Pisa, his 5^th visit to the Pomaia district.

On June 12 His Holiness started his day in Pomaia by meeting a delegation from the Sacred Convent of Assisi together with more than 80 journalists. He spoke to the journalists about the importance of the role of the media in promoting human values and religious harmony, as well as answering questions.

On the morning of his final day in Pomaia, His Holiness blessed the five-metre tall four-arm Chenrezig statue at the Lama Tsong Khapa Institute and gave a teaching. There were around one thousand people gathered, and he spoke of the importance of studying the actual teachings, saying that is more important than worshiping statues. He also gave a teaching on developing love and compassion.

The Lama Tsong Khapa Institute, one of the largest Buddhist centers in Europe, was founded in 1977. The institute runs a Liberation Prison Project which offers spiritual teachings and advice to prisoners, and to date the project has benefited thousands of prisoners in Italy. This teaching was watched live by 1,200 prisoners in Milan via the internet.

His Holiness being greeted by representative of the Central Government in Pisa, President of the Province and the Mayor of Pisa on his arrival at Pisa Airport, Italy Photo: FilmPRO

Representative of the Central Government, President of the Province and the Mayor of Pisa greeting His Holiness on his arrival at Pisa Airport, Italy
Photo: FilmPRO

On June 14 His Holiness was warmly welcomed by the Mayor of Livorno Filippo Nogarin on his arrival at the Modigliani Forum to begin his teaching there; he was presented with the Key to the city of Livorno, having already received an honorary citizenship during an earlier visit.

At the Forum, His Holiness gave commentaries on the great Buddhist scholar Nagarjuna’s Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend (shetring) and on the following day gave the Avalokiteshvara Jigten Wangchuk empowerment and a public talk on Ethics and Compassion which was simultaneously translated into Italian, English, Spanish, French, Russian and Chinese.