DHARAMSHALA, APRIL 8: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, currently on a ten day visit to Japan, expressed his solidarity with the families affected by the 2011 Tsunami at a prayer service in Sendai, one of the worst hit regions, on Monday.
Praising the Japanese people’s spirit and strength to recover in the face of immense suffering and destruction, His Holiness the Dalai Lama encouraged victims of the devastating natural disaster which hit Japan in 2011 to look to future with optimism and determination.
The Tibetan leader was invited by ‘A Society for Prayers – 2014’ to give emotional support and zest for living for people in Sendai, said the website of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
His Holiness joined Shinto priests for a special prayer service for the disaster victims before his giving a public talk on “Finding Wisdom and Confidence in the Face of Terrible Loss,” attended by a packed audience.
“I am really happy to meet you once again in this time of tragedy and honoured to take part in many Shinto traditional prayer services. I want to especially express my solidarity with those of you who have suffered immense loss during the tragedy,” His Holiness said.
His Holiness said getting disheartened by tragedy would not lessen the suffering. “It is important to develop self-confidence to transform tragedy into self-determination and optimism to build a better future,” His Holiness said.
His Holiness said Japan and Germany served as examples of resilience in the face of immense tragedy because they achieved “through self-confidence, transforming the tragedy into determination and will power based on optimism to rebuild a better future.”
Ms Kawakami Hiroko, head of the organising committee, expressed his hope that that through those who are suffering may regain strength, optimism and confidence through the words of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
