Tibet Information Office Australia

New Delhi, July 7, 2010: A symposium titled Celebrating the Dalai Lama was held at India Habitat Center yesterday to celebrate the personality, philosophy, and teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was attended by a diverse group of distinguished personalities – among them were writers, artists, journalists, academics, activists, spiritual personalities and diplomats.

Former Foreign Secretary of India, Mr. Kanwal Sibal in his talk called His Holiness “a living bond between India and Tibet” and said His Holiness can be a reconciliatory force between India and China. “Dalai Lama could be the political, spiritual, economic and transit bridge between India and China,” Mr. Sibal said, adding reconciliation between Tibet and China can open door for reconciliation between India and China. “Let the Dalai Lama open this door,” he said. | Read more

London, 6th July: The Office of Tibet, London, hosted the reception to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday, 6 July 2010.

Around 70 invited guests including Parliamentarians, representatives of Tibet Support Groups, Buddhist groups, charitable organisations, journalists, diplomats, members of the Tibetan community, and other friends and supporters of Tibet gathered at the Kailash Centre in London for a reception in celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 75th Birthday hosted by the Office of Tibet | Read more

As every city in the world celebrates the birthday of one of the most respected leaders in the world today, Sydney drew record numbers of friends and supporters to the Festival of Tibet on the Northern Beaches home of the Tibetan community.

The day was hosted by the NSW Tibetan community, in association with Dalai Lama in Australia Limited and the Tibetan and Chinese Friendship Association. The day commenced with prayers from the venerable Sangha members.

Guest speakers were Mr Sonam Dagpo, representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Justice John Dowd, Chancellor of Southern Cross University, Mr Bill Crews, Chairman of the Exodus Foundation, the Honorable Peter Slipper MP, Mrs Mei Leech, Tibetan and Chinese Friendship Association, Mr Paul Bourke, executive director of Australia Tibet Council, Lynn Bain, General Manager of Dalai Lama in Australia Ltd, and Mr Jigme Dorjee, President of the Tibetan community in NSW. Read the rest »

Canberra: His Holiness the Dalai Lama may describe himself as a simple Buddhist monk, but his 75th birthday was celebrated by his followers and admirers all over the world with great revelry. In Australia, his birthday was marked with festivities in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Tasmania.

In Canberra, a special function was hosted by the Tibet Information Office (Canberra) and Tibetan Community of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in the National Press Club of Australia on 7th July, 2010.

Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown and senior Liberal Party member Hon Peter Slipper MP were among the distinguished guests who attended the function. Hon Peter Slipper MP, a co-convenor of the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, was also representing Hon Tony Abbott MP, Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of Australia. More than 200 guest including diplomats, officials, academicians, media, Tibet supporters, Chinese and Buddhist representatives and Tibetans participated in the function.

The celebration featured a rich and diverse cultural program including Tibetan musicians Tenzin Choegyal from Brisbane, Tenzin Yeshe from Melbourne, a Sri Lankan dance troupe, a Nepalese dancer, a Mozart virtuoso violin performance by Mr. Yang Yang of the Chinese Community and Tibetan dances performed by the Tibetan Community of New South Wales. Read the rest »

Yokohama, Japan: If the Tibetan people can achieve genuine autonomy in protecting and promoting their culture, language, identity, and way of life, it can also provide hope for a more just and compassionate society in China where the frenzied rush to accumulate wealth and power has led to the rapid erosion of moral principles, said His Holiness the Dalai Lama at an informal gathering of some 70 Tibetans and their Japanese supporters this morning at the Intercontinental Grand Hotel in Yokohama.

His Holiness said the Tibetan people’s struggle for autonomy is based on valid historical and cultural basis. “Since the 7th century, the Tibetan people have developed their own language, religion, and culture without seeking any help from outsiders,” he said, adding the most comprehensive knowledge on Buddhism, for instance, is available only in Tibetan language.

Tibetan cultural and religious traditions emphasize the inner values of truth, kindness, peace, and the well-being of humanity even as Tibetans in Tibet still face violent suppression of their basic rights as human beings. Because Tibetans have been honest and transparent in their dealings with the Chinese authorities in solving the Tibet issue, there is no need for them to feel hatred, prejudice, bias, or tell lies, he said. “Truth, not force, is our biggest strength.”

In his brief address to the gathering, Mr. Tsegyam, head of the China Desk at the Private Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama said concern is now growing among many Chinese intellectuals about the corrosion of traditional Chinese values in the current socio-political system in China. Read the rest »