APRIL NEWSLETTER
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| Aloha Your Holiness - 14th April 2012 Hawaii |
Hello and welcome to our April Newsletter or as His Holiness has just been welcomed in Hawaii, Aloha.
His Holiness has just finished up a three day visit to Hawaii where he participated in a discussion with native Hawaiian Leaders on The Importance of
Native Intelligence in Modern Times and gave talks on Educating the Heart and Advancing Peace through the power of Aloha. During the official welcome
for His Holiness, he brought much laughter to those in attendance - watch this short clip of the occasion
http://youtu.be/gHND6kxtsxQ
His Holiness has been very busy since we last connected with you all in February. Before giving a three day Teaching at Chime Gatsal Ling Monastery in
Sidhbari, he gave a two day Teaching on The Four Noble Truths in New Delhi, a Public Talk on Ethics, Educating the Mind & Heart at the Delhi
University and offered a short Teaching on the Jataka Tales and a Chenrezig Empowerment in Dharamsala.
He was also present for the official proceedings for the 10th March Uprising Day.
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| His Holiness 10th March 2012 - Dharamsala |
His Holiness is now in California and will follow this up with a visit to Chicago where he will participate in the 12th World Summit of
Nobel Peace Laureates before heading to Canada. Remember to join our
facebook page
for daily postings on His Holiness's
activities and webcast times and details.
His Holiness to return to Australia in 2013
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| With His Holiness at his home in Dharamsala |
On a recent trip to India, Lynn Bain, General Manager of Dalai Lama in Australia meet with both His Holiness and representatives from his office and
offered an invitation to His Holiness for him to visit Australia. The invitation was on behalf of the people of Australia and included requests from
several leading Australian Organisations, Politicians and Buddhist groups.
The invitation to return to Australia was accepted by His Holiness and his office, with final dates and locations for the visit to be finalized within
the coming months.
Lynn said, "his parting words to me were, see you next year".
Thank you Your Holiness, for sharing your Wisdom and Compassion with us here in Australia once again. We pray for your long life.
As a friend of Dalai Lama in Australia, you will be the first to know the full details of His Holiness's visit, so look out for a special email coming
into your inbox soon.
His Holiness receives 2012 Templeton Award
The Dalai Lama, whose long-standing engagement with multiple dimensions of science and with people far beyond his own religious traditions has made him
an incomparable global voice for universal ethics, nonviolence, and harmony among world religions, was awarded the 2012 Templeton Prize earlier this
year.
For decades, His Holiness has vigorously focused on the connections between the investigative traditions of science and Buddhism as a way to better
understand and advance what both disciplines might offer the world.
Specifically, he encourages serious scientific investigative reviews of the power of compassion and its broad potential to address the world's
fundamental problems - a theme at the core of his teachings and a cornerstone of his immense popularity.
Within that search, the "big questions" he raises - such as "Can compassion be trained or taught?" - reflect the deep interest of the founder of the
Templeton Prize, the late Sir John Templeton, in seeking to bring scientific methods to the study of spiritual claims and thus foster the spiritual
progress that the Prize has recognized for the past 40 years.
"With an increasing reliance on technological advances to solve the world's problems, humanity also seeks the reassurance that only a spiritual quest
can answer," said Dr. John M. Templeton, Jr., president and chairman of the John Templeton Foundation and son of the late Prize founder. "The Dalai
Lama offers a universal voice of compassion underpinned by a love and respect for spiritually relevant scientific research that centers on every single
human being."
The Dalai Lama responded to the prize in the humble style that has become his signature. "When I heard today your decision to give me this quite famous
award, I really felt this is another sign of recognition about my little service to humanity, mainly nonviolence and unity around different religious
traditions," he said.
Watch His Holiness's acceptance speech here -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yukm2JyfvjI
His Holiness becomes the second Templeton Prize Laureate to have also received the Nobel Peace Prize. Mother Teresa received the first Templeton Prize
in 1973, six years before her Nobel. Valued at £1.1 million, the prize is the world's largest annual monetary award given to an individual and
honors a living person who has made exceptional contributions to affirming life's spiritual dimension.
The Prize will be presented to the Dalai Lama at a ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral in London on the afternoon of Monday, May 14.
Congratulations Your Holiness - you deserve this award and more. Thank you for your compassion and understanding for all beings.
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| Book |
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| Book on MP3 CD |
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New book by His Holiness Available online now
His Holiness's new book, Beyond Religion; Ethics for a Whole World is now available from our website.
"We need to recognise two things. The first is that religion is not the only way to pursue a spiritual life. There are indeed ways of living the
fulfilling and contented lives we all desire which do not require religious belief.
The second is that in order to build a harmonious and peaceful world, we require more than just tolerance and understanding between the various
religions. We also need mutual tolerance and understanding between believers (of whatever faith) and non-believers.
Between those with religion and
those without...
In my view, the most promising avenue is to be found in a system of secular ethics grounded in a deep appreciation of our common humanity."
The Dalai Lama
With the highest level of spiritual and intellectual authority, the Dalai Lama makes a stirring appeal in this book for what he calls a "third way," a
path to an ethical and happy life and to a global human community based on understanding and mutual respect.
Beyond Religion is an essential statement from His Holiness, a blueprint for all those who may choose not to identify with a religious tradition, yet still yearn for a
life of spiritual fulfillment as they work for a better world.
We also have the book available on MP3 CD. Running for over 5 hours the book is read by Martin Sheen.
And don't forget to get your copy of the Teachings of Milarepa out now on DVD.
Ideally suited for Western viewers interested in knowing more about Milarepa's significance for Buddhism as a whole, these teachings also show how we
can incorporate Milarepa's determination, honesty, clarity and compassion into our lives.
Only $20 plus postage:
The Blue Book Project
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) ntends to resolve the issue of Tibet and preserve the Tibetan culture and its unique Buddhist traditions on
the basis of the Middle Way Policy initiated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet.
Many individuals have shown solidarity and voluntarily contributed towards the Tibetan cause which has greatly benefited the just cause of Tibet and in
sustaining the Tibetan refugee community in exile.
Tibetan Solidarity Partnership (aka Blue Book) project is patterned after the Tibetan Freedom Movement's Green Book, to record the generous
contributions of many individuals to resolve the issue of Tibet. It was introduced in 1996 with an aim of garnering support and solidarity for the just
cause of Tibet from people of all walks of life.
They need your continual support for the Tibetan cause and you can voluntarily join this solidarity alliance as mark of your support.
A Blue Book
is issued to everyone wishing to contribute to this project, to symbolize their
solidarity. Hence it is called Blue Book Project. Your generosity will be recorded across time by placing colorful stamps
bearing the pictures of different ancient Tibetan heritage into the book.
All proceeds from your contributions will be used towards supporting various CTA projects related to education of Tibetan children, revitalizing
Tibetan refugee settlements, providing healthcare and other socio-welfare services.
Mr Sonam Dagpo, His Holiness's Australian Representative explains further about the project.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb7VOO8cEwI
To support this project, please visit
http://tibet.net/support-tibet/friends-of-tibet/
Bob the Builder
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| His Holiness and Bob during 2011 visit |
Bob Brown, builder of the Greens Party and close friend and staunch supporter of His Holiness and the Tibetan issue, announced his retirement last
week.
Every visit His Holiness has made to Australia, Bob has always made the time to meet with him and discuss the issue of Tibet and his contribution to
Australian politics is unquestionable. His courage and determination in saving the Tasmanian Forests many years ago, is very aligned with His
Holiness's views on the importance of saving what is left of our natural environments for future generations.
Thinking ahead and thinking long term, is why Bob was a presence in the senate for 16 years. Thank you Bob, for all that you have done for His Holiness
and Tibet, speaking out when no one else dared to. May you live a long and happy life.
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IN CLOSING
Remember to join us on Facebook for daily updates on His Holiness and Tibet and remember to visit the What's On
section of our website, to find out what's happening in your area.
Until next time,
The Board of Dalai Lama in Australia and
Lynn Bain, General Manager DLIA
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