Buenos Aires, Argentina, 13 September 2011 - His
Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived yesterday evening in Buenos Aires, the
capital of Argentina, after flying for nine hours from Mexico City. He
was received at the airport by the protocol officers of the Ministry of
External Affairs of Argentina as well as by Prof. Horacio E. Araujo
(Lama Sangye Dorye), Lama Rinchen, and other members of the Kagyu
Thekchen Choeling, one of the two hosts of the visit in Argentina.
Later when His Holiness arrived at Four Seasons Hotel, he was
greeted by the members of the Dongyuling (Drukpa Kagyu) Buddhist Center,
second host of the visit, and many well-wishers.
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Members of the media meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on September 13, 2011.
Photo/ Pompi Gutnisky |
This morning (September 14th), His Holiness had an
hour long meeting with the Argentinean media. More than 25 media people,
representing various media agencies attended the Press Meet. At the
press meet, His Holiness told the media that he has come to Argentina at
the invitation of many of his friends and his main purpose of the visit
was to share his two commitments in life—to promote basic human values
as a fellow human being and to promote harmony among various religious
traditions, as a spiritual person and Buddhist.
His Holiness told the media people that they have
an equal responsibility to promote and create awareness about these
basic human values and that they should report unbiasly, honestly and
truthfully about social problems in order to benefit the larger
society. He added that in many parts of the World, corruptions have now
become like a new cancer and that those who indulge in such unhealthy
practice would not admit. Therefore, he said, it was the media role to
investigate and report about these unhealthy practice truthfully and
honestly to protect of the interest of a society.
Later His Holiness attended to various questions posed by media
persons, ranging from how to incorporate Buddhist values in one’s life
to how to adapt Buddhism to different culture settings to
democratization of the Tibetan community in exile. While answering the
question on democratization of the Tibetan community, His Holiness said
that he noticed various flaw in the Tibetan government system when he
was child and therefore he made serious attempts to reform the system as
early as in 1952. Later after coming into exile in 1959, he said, he
slowly introduced a democratic system in the Tibetan community and then
ultimately in 2002, the Tibetans managed to directly elect the chief
executive leader (Kalon Tripa).
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama with
Nobel Peace Laureate Perez Esquivel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on
September 13, 2011. Photo/Pompi Gutnisky
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For ten years since then the Tibetan people
have shouldered more responsibility and also people became more
politically matured and then he thought it was right time for him to
completely devolve his administrative and political authorities to the
elected leaders. Not only did he devolve the political authorities, His
Holiness said, he proudly, happily and sincerely ended the temporal
leadership of the 400 years old institution of the Dalai Lamas.
Towards the end of his press meet, His Holiness was joined by
Argentinean Nobel Peace Laureate, Mr. Perez Esquivel. After the press
meet, His Holiness had a private meeting with Mr. Perez Ezquivel. Later,
His Holiness had a lunch with Mr. Perez Esquivel and his family
members.
His Holiness also met Argentinean Congresswoman Dr/Maria Laura Leguizamon and her family members.
In the afternoon, His Holiness depart for Coliseo Auditorium, where
he delivered a lecture on ‘Transforming the Youth for a Better World’
for 2,000 people, where the majority of audience turned out to be young
people.
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| His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking at the Coleseo Auditorium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on September 13, 2011. Photo/Reuters |
In
his lecture, His Holiness said that the 21st century belongs to youth,
particularly those who are currently in the age group of 30s and lower.
In order to make the 21st century more peaceful, more stable, more
harmonious, His Holiness said that the responsibility falls on the young
people. He warned that education alone might not bring inner peace and
happiness and added that warm-heartedness and compassion are crucial to
bring inner peace and happiness. In order to make a significant
contribution to the development and progress of a society, he said, an
individual youth should take more serious responsibility. He added that
no one from outside was going to come to clean the society and
therefore, one must take personal initiative in this direction. His
Holiness attended questions posed by people through internet as well as
by others who physically attended the lecture.
