H.H. the Dalai Lama to lead prayers in the Senate!
Dear students and friends,
I have always admired His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama for His great effort in promoting peace and compassion. Recently the news reported that H.H. the Dalai Lama will be leading the US Senate in a prayer. I thought that was beautiful, as we all know that the predominant religion in the Senate is Christianity. This shows great religious acceptance and tolerance, a very necessary aspect in keeping peace and harmony.
I thought I’d share with everyone how open mindedness can bring harmony and be the cause for us to learn more about each other. Today, it is just not enough for us to accept or practice tolerance, we must also understand each other in order to build a stronger relationship between people of different religion, culture and background.
I hope that efforts to bring religious harmony like this will continue and also serve as an inspiration to other religious leaders to be as open about the different traditions that the people of this world have adopted throughout the centuries.
Tsem Rinpoche
Dalai Lama to lead US Senate prayers
The Dalai Lama speaks at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC, February 20, 2014 (AFP Photo/Jim Watson)
Washington (AFP) – The Dalai Lama will lead the US Senate in prayer on Thursday as the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader meets leaders of Congress, his office said.
It will mark the first time that the Dalai Lama — whose activities overseas are strongly opposed by China — will deliver the prayer that customarily opens each Senate session.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner will later meet leaders of both the Senate and House of Representatives, said Kaydor Aukatsang, a spokesman for the Office of Tibet. A Senate aide confirmed the Dalai Lama’s meetings.
Last month, the Dalai Lama, who fled his homeland in 1959 for India amid an abortive uprising against Chinese rule, met President Barack Obama, the fourth consecutive sitting US leader whom the Tibetan leader has seen.
China called the meeting “gross interference” in its internal affairs and summoned a US diplomat, although it has not taken stronger retaliatory measures. The Dalai Lama’s meeting was his third at the White House with Obama, who barred reporters and met the monk inside the executive mansion’s residence rather than the Oval Office where he receives dignitaries.
The Dalai Lama, who has officially ceded his political role to a prime minister elected by exiled Tibetans, says he accepts China’s rule and is peacefully seeking greater autonomy for the Himalayan region. More than 120 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in recent years to protest what they say is religious, political and cultural oppression.
China has described the Dalai Lama as a “wolf in monk’s clothing” and accuses him of supporting Tibetan independence despite his statements.
The Dalai Lama has traditionally enjoyed wide support across the US political spectrum. Last month, he addressed the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, and he has prominent left-leaning supporters such as actor Richard Gere.
After visiting Washington in February, the Dalai Lama delivered lectures in California and celebrated the Losar new year holiday with the Tibetan community in the Midwestern state of Minnesota.
On Friday, the Dalai Lama will address a maximum-capacity crowd at the Washington National Cathedral.
The United States is officially secular, but the Senate has opened each session with a prayer. The chaplain — since 2003, Barry C. Black — has frequently invited figures from a variety of faiths to deliver the prayer.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dalai-lama-lead-us-senate-prayers-185507622.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory
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Came across this old post …..very interesting could not have imagine HH Dalai Lama has lead a prayers at White House. As Christianity is the main religion in US. The US Senate has opened each session with a prayer from various faith, that shows an open fair-minded of US accepting and tolerance in all faiths and religion. World peace can be achieve only that they live together with mutual religious tolerance and respects.
Rejoice on the news!!! It is indeed great that now the Dalai Lama is able to be able to teach in the Senate. After Rinpoche mentioned that the religion in the Senate is predominantly Christianity, this news that the Dalai Lama is teaching there is even a bigger deal.
It is just really amazing how the people behaved when the Dalai Lama was doing the prayers at the Senate as well. Although, I believe that many of them are not Buddhists, the way that they helped the Dalai Lama up the platform for the prayer is just amazing. I really like how they all respected the prayers although they may not understand or even know what is happening.
I think this is a great chance that the US has shown an equality among all the religions and not just be biased towards the Christians. It shows us indirectly that now, people are more receptive to other religions even though they may not fully understand. Rejoice to religious tolerance! Rejoice to religious freedom allowing people to practice what they want in the US.
This is a link of the Dalai Lama doing the prayers at the Senate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCJuITZYzCc
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is such an extraordinary being. He has achieved renown, and commands respect (and rightly so) from all sections of society and people from all walks of life. From the US Senate to esteemed universities like Cambridge, royal families to Nobel laureates to scientists and dignitaries from other religious traditions, he is everyone’s dear friend. I first attended a teaching by him around 2008 and the talk was on preserving the environment. I didn’t know much about the Dalai Lama then. I saw HHDL again in 2012. He is very very special to this world.
Wonderful news!!! Religious tolerance is very vital for any country to have peace and harmony and we should respect all religion. It is good that the US Senate is open minded and invited HH The 14th Dalai Lama for a prayer. HH The 14th Dalai Lama is well respected and where ever he goes, he will promote loving kindness, peace and love.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for reminding us that respect and tolerance is key to peace and harmony 🙂
Truly, respect for all religions, respect for all cultures, respect for all people and respect for all diversities will keep peace and harmony throughout the world 😀
We may not able to meet and receive our guru Tsem Rinpoche’s teachings if that year 1959 H.H. the Dalai Lama didn’t leave Tibet for good. Also because of His strong connection with the Indian President, all the monks and high Lamas managed to settle down and started the community and build their monasteries again in India. There’s when many Lamas started to travel abroad to the west to teach and to build monasteries in Europe, North and South America and Australia. Since then H.H. the Dalai Lama has been working very hard to promote Buddhism, promote world peace and making connection and bond with other religions heads and also many countries presidents. May H.H. the Dalai Lama and all the high lamas live long and continue to turn the Dharma wheel.
Through the sacrifice of the Dalai Lama to leave Tibet in 1959, Tibetan Buddhism has spread exponentially.
It is rightful honour for the Dalai Lama to speak to a Christian based Senate of the USA as He always speaks of tolerance, peace, compassion, care and love. Such are topics of universal acceptance.
Let all of us practise the teachings from the Dalai Lama and end all disputes and wars now facing our world.
Is this article https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/current-affairs/the-dalai-lama-opens-us-senate-session-with-prayers.html is the same as above? Am a little confused. Anyway, this is definitely a good move. This will foster better relationship with people from differing religion or races. H.H. Dalai Lama has definitely worked very hard to maintain the peace among nations although He himself is being exiled from Tibet. Through the efforts of H.H. Dalai Lama, Buddhism has benefited many beings, and many more to come. Long live H.H. Dalai Lama
Jacinta, you are right. The ground-breaking event was in March this year. I think this post serves as a reminder and teaching. Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Oh, thanks a lot, Choong!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with the wonderful news of H.H. The Dalai Lama has lead the US Senate in prayer.
The openness, sincerity and compassion, which are manifested from H.H. The Dalai Lama, have reached to thousands of people around the world.
May H.H. The Dalai Lama continues to live long and spread the peace and happiness to all people regardless of race, culture, geographical or political background.
Great news!