Santiago , Chile, 8 May 2006 (tibet.net) - His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Santiago on 3 May. Soon after checking in at the Hotel Marriott, His Holiness met with the Chilean press. Around 100 Chilean media reporters attended the meet.
After the press meet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave an exclusive interview separately to the National Television and to the El Mercurio, the largest circulated national newspaper of Chile .
In the afternoon, His Holiness visited the most prestigious university of Chile and spoke on maintaining a balance between nurturing a good, intelligent brain and a warm heart. Speaking to 250 faculty members of the university and other invited intellectuals and opinion makers, His Holiness said development of mind alone is not adequate in education. His Holiness said that the human intelligence should be compounded with nurturing a warm heart to use it in the most productive and constructive way. His Holiness commented that modern education lacks in the promotion of moral values, resulting in the use of human intelligence and technologies in destructive ways as shown by the experience of September 11 incident. He urged educationists, academics, and others who are connected with the education to find a way to maintain a delicate balance between the development of mind and nurturing a good heart, while educating the youngsters. In his opening remark, the Dean of the University Prof. Jorge Litvak applauded His Holiness for his ceaseless efforts in leading a non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people to regain their rights and also for providing moral guidance to the global community at this difficult time.
Before addressing the University of Chile , His Holiness had a private meeting with Mr. Jiame Nanjo, Vice President of the Senate of the Republic of Chile , the upper house of Chile 's bi-cameral national Congress. His Holiness also gave an audience to Mr. Ubaldo Zuniga Quintanilla, the Dean of the University of Santiago .
On the morning of 4 May, His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited the Chilean Congress, where he was received by the President of the House of Deputies, Mr. Antonio Leal, Senior Vice President of the House of Deputies, Mr. Jorge Burgos, Vice President of the House of Deputies, Mr. Jose Perez, and the heads of several of the political parties. These included Ms. Adriana Munoz of the Party for Democracy (PPD), Mr. Ivan Paredes of the Socialist Party (PS), Mr. Gabriel Ascencio of the Christian Democrats (PDC), Mr. Carlos Abel Jarpa of Social Democrat Radical Party (PR), Mr. German Becker of the National Renewal Party (NR), and Mr. Marcelo Forni of the Independent Democratic Union (UDI). His Holiness spent nearly an hour with the leaders of the House discussing various issues, including the plight of the Tibetan people and his approach in resolving the issue of Tibet . Later, His Holiness met with a group of around 40 other deputies and spent an hour with them. The Chilean House of Deputies has 120 members, 65 members from the ruling coalition of parties for democracy and 55 members of the opposition alliance parties. The deputies also hosted a luncheon for His Holiness.
On his way back from the Chilean Congress, His Holiness visited the University of Santiago , where he accepted an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the university. The award ceremony, presided by the Assistant Dean of the University Dr. Silvana Cominetti, was attended by around 500 faculty members, researchers and post-graduate students.
In the evening, His Holiness visited the Catholic University , where he participated in an Inter-religious Prayer for Peace. The event was participated by religious representatives from Catholic, Protestant, Jews, Muslim, Bahai, and Mapucha (indigineous) and over one thousand audience.
Report sent by Liaison Office, Latin America , New York
