The Tibet House Brazil’s initiative provided unique opportunities to a large number of people to engage with compassion and discover practical ways to incorporate them into their lives
Our Bureau
Sao Paulo (Brazil)
To mark the Dalai Lama’s 88th birthday, a special tour called “Connection with Compassion” was organized throughout Latin America to disperse the Tibetan spiritual leaders’ teachings. The tour was led by Jigme Tsering, the director of Tibet House Brazil (THB) here.
Tsering is the Representative for Latin America of the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration.
The tour kicked off on Sunday, July 2 at Dri-Kyung Kagyue in Santiago, Chile. Following the celebrations in the Chilean city, commemorations were held for two weeks at Yamantaka Centre in Bogota, Colombia, Mexico Casa Tibet in Mexico City, Mexico, Association Cultural Tibetano Costarricense in San Jose, Costa Rica, Buenos Aires in Argentina, Thabshe Dargyeling in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and concluded at THB here.
The THB initiative provided unique opportunities to a large number of people to engage with the principles of compassion and discover practical ways to incorporate them into their lives. “By following the Dalai Lama’s teachings and embracing compassion, we can contribute to building a more harmonious, inclusive, and compassionate world. So, we decided to celebrating His Holiness’s 88th birthday by dedicating ourselves to the practice of compassion and spreading its transformative power throughout Latin America and beyond,” Tsering.
The commencement of “Connection with Compassion” in Santiago brought together dignitaries, Tibetan Buddhist followers, and members of TSG Amigos Del Tibet as a cake-cutting ceremony was held with great enthusiasm.
On July 12, celebrations were held, at Casa Tibet México, with many dignitaries in attendance, including His Eminence the XXXIV Kyabje Menri Trizin Lhungtok Dawa Dhargyal Rinpoche of the tradition Bön, Marco Antonio Karam President of Casa Tibet México, Venerable Gueshe Sherab Choephel, Director of Drepung Loseling México, Youdung Lodoe, Centro Cultural Chamma, Ligmincha, México and a group of deputies members of the parliamentary group of Friends of Tibet headed by the Deputy Salvador Caro Cabrera and Jigme Tsering who organized the celebration.
The event was attended by members of the different Buddhist communities in Mexico represented by the special guests.
An offering of Khatas for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was made as Venerable Geshe Sherab Choephel recited auspicious verses for the occasion, culminating in the recitation of the prayer for the long life of the Dalai Lama in Tibetan.
On July 19, people from different Buddhist centers and friends gathered to celebrate the 88th birthday of Dalai Lama in the Fundación Naturopatica Argentina room. It was organized by the Kagyu Tekchen Chöling Buddhist Center and the Raudra Chakri Foundation.
Lama Rinchen Kandro on behalf of the KTC center welcomed everyone, beginning by citing the Dalai Lama’s four main commitments: highlighting human values; promote harmony between different religions; preserve Tibetan culture and identity; and share the Buddhist philosophy with the people of India. Then, Gerardo Abboud, director of Dongyuling, Drukpa Kagyu center, commented on some of his moving experiences as an interpreter of his Holiness in the different countries of Latin America.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Tsering talked about the recent news about the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people in Tibet, asking the practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism to accompany the Tibetan cause and be interested in learning about their culture, language, and supporting their endeavors.
Finally, the tour culminated at THB here on July 26, with a gathering to honor the life and teachings of Dalai Lama. Prof. Lia Diskin, a well-known Gandhian activist who was awarded the Padmashree award by the Indian government last year, shared her knowledge about the Dalai Lama’s teachings of compassion and science.
The ceremony here began with the lighting of lamp and ended with a cake-cutting ceremony, with Jigme Tsering expressing gratitude to all participants and supporters.
What is “Tibetan Cause”? Does it ask for Tibet to be a sovereign democratic country of independent Tibetan people? Are there plans to set up embassies around the world?