Wiesbaden, Germany, 25 August 2011 - During the
final day of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Germany, he visited
Johann-Peter-Schafter-Schule (school for the blind and visually impaired
children) in Friedberg on 24 August.
“It is hard for me to express feelings and emotions
in a foreign language, but I can say, that His Holiness touched our
hearts. At the moment there is no other theme than the visit of His
Holiness. Our parents, our colleagues and especially our children were
deeply impressed of His amicability, His kindness,” wrote the Headmaster
of the school in an email.
“Afterwards I asked one of the girls, His Holiness had embraced, how she
would feel. Answer: “I will be happy the rest of my life.”
He further wrote, “I also will tell you that the teachers and educators
of the two groups with the multiple handicapped children were encouraged
by the words of His Holiness; and the children there, that I know for
sure, felt the special situation and the Kindness of His Holiness.”
On arrival at the school, His Holiness first
visited the multiple handicapped children home. He met blind children
with multiple handicapped and their helpers.
“I really admire your service to such needy children. Best way to
translate compassion,” said His Holiness the Dalai Lama. “You are
carrying out impossible task but wonderful. I really admire your
dedication.”
His Holiness prayed while he was with the children. Then he walked to the assembly over 200 blind children.
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama
greeting young visually impaired children who sang on his arrival at the
Johann-Peter-Schafter-Schule in Friedberg, Germany, on 24 August 2011.
Photo/Tibet Bureau Geneva
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As His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived at the
stage in front of the assembly, the students – all blind children sang a
song called “Hello”. There was genuine joy and happiness in the voice
of the children as they welcomed His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
In the school’s Headmaster welcome address, he said, “In the long
history of this school, it is an extraordinary day. Please welcome His
Holiness the Dalai Lama. Your Holiness, we thank you very much for
visiting us.”
“Dear young brothers and sister, their helpers and parents,” said His
Holiness the Dalai Lama. “I am extremely happy to have this opportunity
to spend few minutes among those young children. I am extremely very
happy.”
He said that he really felt that those helpers giving their energy, life
and time in taking care of these children were implementing the real
meaning of compassion.
“Genuine compassion without expecting something reward,” he said. “I
really admire your dedication. Please do it continuously… This kind of
dedication is the best way to offer God.”
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama
speaking to visually impaired children, their parents and helpers, at
the Johann-Peter-Schafter-Schule in Friedberg, Germany, on 24 August 2011. Photo/Tibet Bureau Geneva
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Despite your blindness, you have a human
brain, he said. Then His Holiness told them a story of meeting a young
blind Tibetan boy about 40 years ago. He sent this boy to a blind
school. Few months ago, this person came to see His Holiness. He told
His Holiness he had a good family and no concern about his own
livelihood. He told His Holiness that he wanted to carry out community
work and help blind Tibetan children.
“You have good future and please keep your self-confidence. You have
lots of good teachers and helpers. You must have the attitude that you
can do it, even though you have slight problem,” His Holiness said.
Then he walked among the assembled children. May of the students hugged His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Earlier in the morning His Holiness granted a special audience to the
Tibetan community in Germany. Many Tibetans came far as Hamburg, Munch,
Berlin and etc. Among the 250 gathered few had come from Switzerland,
Belgium and France.
The community sang the Tibetan national anthem and then His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed the Tibetans.
His Holiness said that he always remind Tibetans to maintain the good
Tibetan character based on compassion and human values. These values of
our parents have been passed down centuries from generation to
generation he said.
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| His Holiness the Dalai Lama
addresses members of the Tibetan community in Wiesbaden, Germany, on 24
August 2011. Photo/Tibet Bureau Geneva |
The
majority of the 250 were young Tibetans with lots of small children.
His Holiness said that though we have been separated from our homeland -
mentally, physically and emotionally were are Tibetans. Tibetan
language must be maintained and not forgotten. He said preserving the
Tibetan language is very important especially amongst the younger
generation. It would indeed be very sad if in the long run, Tibetans are
not able to speak Tibetan.
His Holiness said there was more interest on the Tibetan issue in the
world, including amongst the Chinese population. Great changes were
taking place in the world. Today freedom is prevailing all over the
world.
“Human beings cannot continue to live under repression. This cannot be permanent,” he said.
Despite the change of generations, the Tibetan spirit in Tibet is very strong.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a detailed background to his decision
to devolve his political authority to the elected Tibetan leadership. He
said he was happy and proud to implement what he believed in and it was
for the long-term benefit of the Tibetan people.
He said that in 1951, he assumed the formal political leadership of the
Tibetan people. In 1952, he established a reform committee in Tibet. The
Tibetan democracy was implemented in early 1960. Since in 2001, the
Tibetan people have directly elected leadership. In 2011, His Holiness
handed over the political leadership to the directly elected Tibetan
leadership.
Since the direct election of the Kalon Tripa in 2001 by the Tibetan
people, His Holiness always said his political leader is the Kalon
Tripa. Ten years later, Tibetans have elected a young and well educated
Kalon Tripa.
