By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, October 1: The Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Wednesday asked his followers and Tibetans not to worry about his health, days after cancellation of his US visit later this month following doctors’ advice for “several weeks of rest.”
The 80-year-old Tibetan leader who appeared healthy met with the Tibetans living in Minnesota on Wednesday morning in his first public appearance after reports of cancellation of his US trip this month came out.
The Tibetan leader said, “I go under routine medical check-up in six months’ interval in Delhi and here (US). The doctors in India said my health is very good with no complications, and here too the doctors said the same thing. So no need to worry, stay assured,” the Tibetan leader told an audience comprising of Tibetans living in Minnesota and nearby areas.
The Tibetan leader said the whether or not the Tibetan Buddhism and the culture will survive depends solely on the Tibetan language. “Here in a foreign land, you should ensure that the Tibetan language is spoken at home so that the children keep hearing the language while they grow up. It is a bit too difficult in the absence of a separate school for studying Tibetan language. As much as possible, you parents should communicate in Tibetan with your children.”
His Holiness told the audience that a compassionate mind leads to a healthy body. “More compassionate a person is the more calm he will be and consequently a healthier person.”
The Tibetan leader said the Tibet issue has been able to be of prominence internationally and a problem that China is compelled to address despite six decades of being in exile. ” Around 56 years have passed since we came into exile. That’s quite long. However, The Tibetans in Tibet, despite all the difficulties, have been determined like a mountain. And since we in exile represent them we have worked hard to keep the Tibet issue alive, a problem that the Chinese government also can’t ignore.”
His Holiness also asked the Tibetans to not only chant prayers but also understand the philosophies. “It is stupid to say I am a Buddhist because my parents are Buddhists. So pay attention to the essence of the teachings, study, research, experiment before following.”
The Tibetan leader is scheduled to arrive at his home here at Theckchen Choeling on Saturday.
