Budapest, Hungary, 18 September 2010 - Today Mayor Gabor Demsky of Budapest conferred Honorary Citizenship to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at a ceremony held in the City Hall.
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Mayor Gabor Demsky of Budapest and His Holiness the Dalai Lama with the Honorary Citizenship Award on September 18th, 2010. Photo/Gáti Kornél
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The Honorary Citizenship award citation declared “The title of ‘Honorary Citizen of Budapest’ be conferred upon Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, for preserving cultural and spiritual traditions as the leader of the people of Tibet, and for his work for peace and non-violence.”
In His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s acceptance address, His Holiness said that he was honored to receive the Honorary Citizenship Award. He said that there is a special significance in receiving this award because of Alexander Csoma de Korös, a Hungarian scholar and a pioneer of Tibetology who authored and published the first Tibetan-English dictionary.
Today His Holiness also gave teachings to over 11,000 people at the Budapest Sport Arena. Another 8,000 people from 74 countries watched His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teaching on Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism on the internet.
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A sold out crowd of 11,000 turned out to hear His Holiness the Dalai speak in Budapest, Hungary, on September 18th, 2010. Photo/Gáti Kornél
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In the morning His Holiness gave a detail teaching on the foundation of Tibetan Buddhism. In the afternoon, he answered questions from the audience.
In response to a question, His Holiness said that the transformation of our destructive emotions is very important. For the last 2,000 years, there has been no change in our emotions. Therefore, ancient teachings are still relevant and for thousands of years to come they will remain relevant because of the lack of change in human emotion. The 7 billion human beings are the same and have attachments, anger, greed, love, kindness and all need happiness.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that the essence of Buddhism is infinite altruism.
After the first day teaching, His Holiness the Dalai Lama left for the Budapest City Hall where Mayor Mr. Gabor Demsky welcomed His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
