By Tony Barrett
Daily Post Staff
WHEN a man comes to Liverpool bearing the official title of “Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom” you know he must be a pretty important visitor.
The title may not be too familiar, nor is it particularly catchy, but it is the name that Buddhists give their leader, the Dalai Lama, who will be coming to the city next year.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, has been invited by Liverpool John Moores University (JMU) to give a lecture on citizenship next May.
Although he has visited the UK before, this will be the Dalai Lama’s first visit to Merseyside, news that has delighted the region’s Buddhist community.
Practising Buddhist Karma Tsering, 34, escaped from Chinese occupied Tibet across the border into India in 1989 where he met Margaret Jackson, a teacher from Wirral.
The couple settled in Upton eight years ago and Karma says the impending visit by the Dalai Lama will be one of the greatest moments in his life.
He said: “This is absolutely fantastic news for all Buddhists in Merseyside and beyond. I have met His Holiness twice before in Tibet but for him to come here is particularly special.
“In our faith he is a living Buddha of compassion – he is the most holy person in our religion.
“Yet he is also an incredibly open leader and he has time for everyone. Anyone can make an appointment to see him and he lives among the people in India.
“But it is still a shock that he is coming to Merseyside and I look forward to it greatly.”
The Dalai Lama is known for saying: “I am just a simple Buddhist monk – no more, nor less,” but his preachings of peace have won him international recognition.
In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his peaceful struggle to liberate Tibet which was occupied by China in 1950.
He accepted the prize on behalf of people suffering oppression throughout the world.
In his acceptance speech he stated: “The prize reaffirms our conviction that with truth, courage and determination as our weapons, Tibet will be liberated.”
The Dalai Lama will join a list of dignitaries speaking at the Roscoe Lectures. This year Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier offered his thoughts on citizenship, joining a list of speakers which includes NATO secretary general George Robertson, BBC chief Greg Dyke and Liverpool-born Tesco chief Terry Leahy.
