Dalai Lama to visit New Zealand

Public lecture at Vector Arena on December 5 & 6

Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of millions of followers worldwide, will be in Auckland next month for two public lectures on Peaceful Mind and Awakening the Mind. Tibetan singer Yungchen Lhamo, known as ‘The Voice of Tibet,’ will accompany him.

Tickets for the two-day event, to be held on December 5 and 6 at the Vector Arena in Auckland City are available at Ticketek (0800-842538).

He is no stranger to New Zealand and this would be his fifth visit.

Dalai Lama Visit Trust officials, who are organising the programme, said that the Monk’s lectures had profound impact on Buddhists and others.

“He is recognised as one of the most accomplished Buddhist Masters and his lectures, based on personal experience of compassion and inner peace, have made positive changes in the lives of millions of people around the world,” the officials said.

According to Dalai Lama, developing a heart that is kind and a mind that has awakened are not religious or sentimental goals, “but for everyone who considers himself or herself as a member of the human family.”

 “All human beings are the same. We all want happiness and do not want suffering. Even people who do not believe in religion recognise the importance of these human values in making their life happier,” he said.

Born on July 6, 1935 into a farming family in North Eastern Tibet, Lhamo Dhondup (his original name), is the 14th Dalai Lama and the spiritual and political head of state of Tibet, which is now a part of China.

When he was two years old, Lhamo was recognised as the reincarnation of Thubten Gyatso, the 13th Dalai Lama.

Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet. 

Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity.

Dalai Lama said he was committed to the promotion of human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline.

He also propagates religious harmony and understanding among the world’s major religious traditions.

“Despite philosophical differences, all major world religions have the same potential to create good human beings. It is therefore important for all religious traditions to respect one another and recognise the value of each other’s traditions,” he said.