By Kalsang Rinchen
Minneapolis, March 2: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Sunday presided over the Losar (Tibetan New Year) celebrations at the Sports Arena of Augsburg College here. In Minneapolis, home to one of the largest Tibetan communities in North America, the Tibetan leader spent his first ever Losar outside of India since his arrival in India 55 years ago.
The Tibetan leader was offered Mandala offerings by Namgyal Dorjee, the president of Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota, which organized the celebrations. His Holiness expressed his greetings on the Tibetan New Year to Tibetans both inside Tibet and those in exile. “Numerically, Tibetans are not many. However, we have our own language and script, which most efficiently imparts the meanings of Buddhist philosophies of the Nalanda School, which we can be proud of.”
More than 3000 Tibetans and friends of Tibetans joined the Tibetan leader in a morning marked with Buddhist prayers and Tibetan cultural performances by the Tibetan school children. Also present as guests were U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison, Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges, Tibetan Sikyong (PM) Lobsang Sangay, North America MPs of Tibetan Parliament Tashi Namgyal and Norbu Samphel.
The newly elected Mayor of Minneapolis, Betsy Hodges, officially declared the Tibetan new year day as ‘the Dalai Lama day of peace and compassion’. “City of Minneapolis recognizes His Holiness the fourteenth Dalai Lama as a true champion of world peace, inter religious harmony, and beacon of love and compassion,” said Mayor Betsy Hodges. “And human rights in Tibet must be of a concern for all justice loving people who must call on the government of China to end its crackdown and enter into a substantive dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to find a negotiated solution.”
The Tibetan leader said the most important thing Buddhism teaches is the transformation of one’s mind and way of thinking. “I am not an expert in Buddhism but I have studied various texts in Buddhism, and also imbibed them in my daily life all these years.”
Congressman Keith Ellison expressed his gratitude for inviting him for the celebrations with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. “I would like to thank His Holiness the Dalai Lama for bravely coming to Minnesota in this coldest and snowest season. It’s great honor to have you to celebrate the first Losar outside of India here in Minnesota,” said Keith.
Meanwhile, Congresswoman Betty McCollum said she was proud to represent the Tibetan Americans in the US Congress. “Recently His Holiness was in Washington D.C. I was so proud and happy that President Obama and His Holiness had the opportunity to meet,” said McCollum. “We have much to learn from your wisdom and teaching.”
According to the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota, McCollum is one of the “most reliable friends of Tibet,” and was one of the co-sponsors of the Tibet Policy Act” which called on the Chinese government to end its crackdown in Tibet, and enter into a substantive dialogue with the Tibetan spiritual leader to find a negotiable solution.
Later in the day, the Tibetan leader spoke to around 3500 people at Macalester College in St. Paul. His Holiness received an honorary doctorate from Provost of Macalester College Kathleen Murray and President Brian Rosenberg for his work for peace in the world.
The Dalai Lama who is currently on a three-week visit to the United States arrived in Minnesota last Friday for a series of events, including an interaction session with a group of Chinese and Tibetan students on Saturday. The Tibetan spiritual leader also gave a keynote speech at the 26th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum anniversary yesterday in the same city. His Holiness will give a public talk on Beyond Religion: Ethics for the Whole World at National Cathedral in Washington DC on March 7.
Tendar Tsering in Minneapolis contributed to this report
