DHARAMSHALA, January 13: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Kolkata yesterday for a series of events, including a talk on secular ethics ‘A Human Approach to World Peace’ at Presidency University in Kolkata.
On his arrival at the airport, around 150 Tibetans welcomed the Tibetan leader who stopped for a brief meeting with them. Among the Tibetans were some 30 Muslims from Srinagar.
His Holiness lauded the Tibetan Muslims for their preservation of the Tibetan language and culture even after 56 years in exile. He expressed his admiration for the elder generation Tibetan Muslims for the effort put.
He told them that he cites them as an example of language preservation in his talks to Tibetans in the west where most Tibetans don’t speak Tibetan in their homes.
The Tibetan leader later paid a surprise visit to the Missionaries of Charity where he was received at the Mother House by the Superior General of the Order, Sister Mary Prema Pierick.
The 79 year old Nobel Laureate visited Mother Teresa’s tomb and paid his respects to Mother Teresa by lighting a candle before a portrait of the late founder of the Missionary and a fellow Nobel laureate, whom he had met briefly in 1988 in England.
The Archbishop of Kolkata, in his welcome remarks, said it was a blessing to have their amidst His Holiness, calling it “a true gift for Christmas and the New Year.”
“And yet peace is not something we celebrate only because of the season. His Holiness is a perpetual apostle of peace,” said the Archbishop.
He further said that in a world torn by war owing to people’s greed and mistrust, simply to see His Holiness’s smiling face is to know that peace is possible. “Thank you for bringing your peace to us,” he added.
The Tibetan leader expressed his appreciation to the sisters at the Missionary for their charity work and encouraged them to continue working for the poor and underprivileged. Recalling his meeting with Mother Teresa, His Holiness described her as an example of the true practice of love and compassion through her work for the poor and needy.
“It is important that you keep up your humanitarian service. I often point out to other people how Christian brothers and sisters have made the greatest contribution to humanity in terms of education and health. Mother Teresa dedicated herself sincerely to the poor. As an admirer it is my duty to pay tribute to her. She was practical in her prayers, actually putting them into action by taking care of the poor,” said His Holiness.
His Holiness urged the sisters to continue serving people in the same spirit as the Mother did. He asked the sisters to think that they are working for the entire family of 7 billion human beings with the aim of making this 21st century an era of peace.
