Bogota – Colombians gave a rousing welcome to His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his three-day visit to Bogota, the capital of Colombia.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Bogota on 10 May. On his arrival in Bogota, His Holiness proceeded straight to the Convention Center Gonzalo Jimenez, where he gave a two-hour lecture on the introduction to the Buddhism. The lecture was attended by 2,300 people, including a small number of Buddhists.
After the lecture, His Holiness met the press at the Hotel Tequendama Inter-Continental. At the press meet, His Holiness shared his three commitments in life: promotion of human values, promotion of religious harmony, and alleviation of the suffering of the Tibetan people with more than 100 media personnel.
On the morning of 11 May, His Holiness addressed the gathering of 1,000 corporate leaders, intellectuals and other opinion makers of Colombia.
In his address, His Holiness explained about the nature of the Tibetan people’s struggle for their rights, the situation inside Tibet, and his middle-way approach to resolve the issue of Tibet.
Following which His Holiness answered numerous questions from the audience, which ranged from dealing with emotions, the social and economic problems in Colombia, the effective way of peace and reconciliation efforts in Colombia, and the Tibet issue.
In the afternoon, His Holiness gave public talk on the Inner Peace, Outer Peace at the sport auditorium Coliseo Cubierto. Despite the rain in the afternoon that day, more than 14,000 people including intellectuals, businessmen, politicians, bureaucrats, students attended the talk.
The First Lady of Colombia, Mrs. Lina Maria Moreno, along with her staff members also attended the talk.
Apart from these two speaking engagements during the day, His Holiness gave an exclusive television interview to Mr. Alvaro Garcia of RCN News, one of the most influential journalists in Colombia. He also gave another interview to Ms. Maria Paulina Ortiz, the editor of El Tiempo, the largest circulated national newspaper of Colombia.
On the last day of his three-day visit to Colombia (12 May), His Holiness gave an exclusive talk to the faculty members and students from various universities in Bogota at the football ground of Javeriana Catholic University, one of the two most prestigious universities of Colombia.
Javeriana University Rector Mr. Padre Remolino introduced His Holiness to the audience of 16,000 university students and faculty members, who attended His Holiness talk on the Wisdom and Compassion.
In his talk, His Holiness advised the youngsters of the 21st century to be more realistic and not to repeat the mistake committed by his generation who belongs to the 20th century.
He also advised the youngsters to develop a positive attitude to the life and resolve individual, family, local, national and international conflicts through dialogue using one’s wisdom and not relying on violence or use of force. “A violence produces more violence and will not help to bring peace and stability”, he said.
While summing up his talk, His Holiness told the youngsters that one can lead a meaningful and productive life if one combines the wisdom with a genuine sense of caring for others or in other word, compassion. He said that a secular ethics based on human affection and not on religious belief is the call of the 21st century.
The youngsters paid an immense attention to his talk. Many shed tears of joy. Several youngsters waved the Tibetan National Flag and Free Tibet placard.
Earlier before leaving for Javeriana Catholic University, His Holiness also gave an exclusive interview to Mr. Julio Sanchez Crito of Caracoal Radio, the biggest radio network in Colombia.
For the consecutive three days, His Holiness’ engagements remained a cover story of the El Tiempo and other newspapers. Television and Radio news dominated His Holiness visit.
All his talks and lectures were simultaneously telecasted in nine cities of Colombia.
On 12 May His Holiness the Dalai Lama departed Bogota for Austrian town of Huttenberg in Carinthia Region, Austria, where he laid a foundation stone for the Tibetan Culture Center at the request of the Mayor of Huttenberg and Governor of Carinthia region.
Report sent by Liaison Office, Latin America, New York
(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration.)
