(TibetanReview.net, Aug18’24) – While still hoping to be back in his homeland after over half a century of being a guest of the government of India, the Dalai Lama has said living in exile as a refugee has been beneficial for him in terms of developing global connections, spreading the message of the Buddha, and raising awareness about Tibet. He has made the remarks on Aug 16 while addressing the public in Ithaca City of New York state during a brief stopover enroute to New York City from Syracuse where he has been undergoing physical therapy.
“By coming into exile, I had an opportunity to travel around the world explaining the essence of Buddhism to a wider audience, building a human-to-human connection that has proved to be beneficial and connect with many people globally,” the Tibetan service of rfa.org Aug 16 quoted the exile Tibetan spiritual leader as saying.
“People around the world today feel a deep sense of closeness and unity with Tibet and Tibetans,” the 89-year-old 1989 Nobel Peace laureate has said, during his first visit to the Dalai Lama Library and Learning Center that was established by his India-based Namgyal Monastery.
“If I had not been a refugee, I may be sitting on a high throne in Lhasa, Tibet,” he has told the gathering of over 100 Tibetans and other well-wishers.
Speaking during his one-hour stop at the centre, the Dalai Lama has reaffirmed his commitment to serve the Tibetan people and promote the Buddhist tradition, and emphasized the importance of preserving their religious and cultural heritage.
The centre, which opened to the public in Sep 2023, includes a digital audio archive with 40,000 hours of the Dalai Lama’s teachings, about 4,000 books with translations of ancient texts on the evolution of Buddhist thought, and Buddhist artifacts from India and Tibet, the report noted.
The Dalai Lama arrived in New York City on Jun 23 and had a successful knee replacement surgery on Jun 28. He is undergoing physical therapy lasting 6 to 12 months to optimize his recovery.
Dr David Mayman, MD, Chief of the Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, said Aug 5 that the Dalai Lama was making great progress
On Aug 22, more than 10,000 Tibetans, Mongolians and people from Himalayan communities based in North America will make a long-life prayer offering to the Dalai Lama at the UBS Arena in New York.
He will then fly to Zurich the following day and will be offered a long-life ceremonial prayer by the Tibetan Community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein on Aug 25.
The Dalai Lama will fly back to India the following day.