Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2 May 2006 (tibet.net) - His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, on 30 April, beginning a 3-day stay. His Holiness was received at the airport by the Protocol Officer of the Foreign Ministry and the representatives of the local host organisations.
Upon arrival at this hotel, a large number of Buddhists and other well-wishers gave a rousing welcome to His Holiness. His Holiness went straight for the Press meeting, which was attended by around 50 to 70 media persons. His Holiness informed the media persons that the main purposes of his visit to South America are to promote basic human values and religious harmony. While explaining to the media persons about his commitments in life, he also informed that he has a responsibility to alleviate the sufferings of the Tibetan people, as the Tibetan people both inside and outside Tibet place their trust and hope on him. He explained the media persons about his middle-way approach to resolve the issue of Tibet.
During lunch break, His Holiness gave an exclusive interview to Ms. Silvina Premat of La Nacion newspaper, the largest circulated newspaper in Argentina.
In the evening, His Holiness gave a public talk on Inner Peace, Outer Peace at the Convention Center La Rural, which was attended by 4,500 people. Apart from Argentineans, the talk was attended by around 200 Uruguayans, who came all the way from Uruguay, a small buffer state between Argentina and Brazil, to attend His Holiness' public events in Buenos Aires.
Yesterday morning, His Holiness had a private meeting with the Argentine Nobel Peace Laureate, Mr. Adolfo Perez Esquivel. Both Nobel Peace Laureates discussed about the joint efforts of the Nobel Peace Laureates and religious leaders to defuse tension in the world's flash points.
After his meeting with the Argentine Nobel Peace Laureate, His Holiness gave an audience to Argentine Senator Maria Laura Leguizamon, the youngest senator of Argentina.
From 9.15-9.45 a.m., His Holiness gave an interview to Mr. Juan Michel, who represented two Argentine television channels, Telefe and Channel 13.
After concluding the television interview with Telefe and Channel 13, His Holiness drove straight to the Convention Center La Rural, where he conducted the first session of his teaching to the Buddhist community of Argentina on the Seven-Point Mind Training.
Since the majority of 4,300 people who attended the teaching were non-Buddhists, His Holiness spent the most part of his two-hour teaching to give a very thorough introduction about Buddhism.
In the afternoon, His Holiness gave an exclusive TV interview to the Television Channel 10 of Uruguay.
In the evening, His Holiness participated in the dialogue on Health and Spirituality at the same Convention Center, which was once again attended by around 4,500 people.
Apart from His Holiness, the panelists of the dialogue included Argentine Psychologists Dr. Hector Fernandez Alvarez, Infant Neuropsychiatrist Mr. Christian Pleabst, Philosopher Mr. Bernardo Nante, Ecologist and Writer Mr. Miguel Grinberg, and Psychologist Ms. Monica Zuretti. The dialogue was moderated by Ms. Susi Reich, President of the Argentine Association of Integrated Medicine.
In his opening remark at the dialogue on health and spirituality, His Holiness mentioned that there are physical aspects of the health as well as mental aspects of the health. Some of the physical aspects of the health, he said, are not related to mental health, whereas some are depended on the mental health.
Similarly there are some aspects of mental health, which are and are not related to the physical aspects of health. With this complexity, His Holiness commented that it was very important to have holistic approach to deal with these complicated problems.
On returning back to the hotel, His Holiness had a private meeting with the two important Uruguayan parliamentarians: the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Uruguayan Legislative Assembly and member of the Foreign Relations Committee and whip of the ruling Uruguayan Party.
Apart from inquiring about the current situation of Tibet as well as about His Holiness' approach to resolve the issue of Tibet, the parliamentarians invited His Holiness to visit Uruguay in the near future.
Report submitted by Liaison Office, Latin America, New york
