(TibetanReview.net, Nov07, 2014) – Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, concluded his Oct 21-Nov 5 tour of Canada and the United States with two religious teachings in New York City over Nov 2-4, besides addressing a gathering of over 5,000 Tibetans and meeting with a group of Chinese students on Nov 5.
On Nov 2, he gave religious teachings to a gathering of 1,100 people in the Manhattan Center, New York City. The teachings were requested by the Danang Foundation led by Karma Kagyu Lama Tsewang Tashi Rinpoche. The devotees included some 800 Chinese from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and North America. They were joined by Tibetans, Mongolians and Americans.
The teaching was on Nagarjuna’s ‘Commentary on the Awakening Mind’ and it was followed by the bestowing of the One-Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara Empowerment.
Over Nov 3-4, the Dalai Lama gave a teaching on Je Tsongkhapa’s ‘Essence of True Eloquence’ to a gathering of nearly 3,000 devotees in Beacon Theater. The teaching was requested by Tibet House US and the Tibetan Buddhist Learning Center. The text deals with the Chittamatra or Mind Only School and that of the Madhyamaka or Middle Way School.
The Dalai Lama concluded his New York City visit Nov 5 by addressing a gathering of 5,000 Tibetans in the Javits Convention Center. It was organized by the New York & New Jersey Tibetan Association which was set up in 1979 and which presented a report on its activities. The Dalai Lama spoke to the Tibetans about the importance of being meaningful practitioners of Buddhism. He also told them how he first came in contact with Dolgyal, whose followers had been holding protests during his visit, and how he later realized his mistake in propitiating it and distanced himself completely from it.
He also met, later in the afternoon, and before flying back to India, with a group of Chinese students studying in New York City and nearby areas. He spoke to them about the historical spiritual fraternity between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples, Tibet’s interest to remain a part of the PRC, and his wish to undertake a pilgrimage to the Wutai Mountain in China.
