Mr. Chope Paljor Tsering, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan and East Asian countries received the 2005 Korean Manhae Grand Prize for Peace award on behalf of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 12th August at Backdam Temple in Gangwon Province of South Korea before a huge distinguished crowd.
The Manhae Foudation has named His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet as the winner of 2005 Manhae Grand Prize for Peace. The Peace Prize Committee has cited, “His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in his struggle for the freedom of the Tibetan people has consistently opposed the use of violence. He has instead advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect in order to preserve the unique Buddhist cultural heritage of his people.”
The Manhae Grand Prize is one of the most prestigious prizes in Korea. It is given to honor the profound spirit of Manhae, a Korean Buddhist monk and poet (1879-1944) who devoted most of his life to the independence of his homeland. Among the Manhae Peace Prize recipients are South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela was the recipient of 2004 Manhae Grand Prize for Peace and former Korean President, Kim Dae-Jung.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his written message has said, “In awarding this Peace Prize to me, a simple monk from Tibet, you also fill my people with hope. It means that we Tibetans have not been forgotten. It also means that the values we cherish, in particular our respect for all life and the belief in the power of truth, are today recognized and encouraged.”
