His Holiness the Dalai Lama's NZ Visit

Kia ora Koutou

HH Dalai Lama Visit

As members will be aware, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is soon to begin 2007 Aotearoa / New Zealand Tour. The visit occurs from June 17 to June 20, 2007.

Feel free to visit the official website at www.dalailamavisit.org.nz for a list of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's public talks and speaking engagements.

Next week His Holiness will provide a public talk in Wellington on Tuesday June 19 at 1pm at the TSB Bank Arena, Queens Wharf Jervois Quay. The topic of his speech will be "A HUMAN APPROACH TO WORLD PEACE".

For those able to attend, it would be great if FOTB members could meet at the Wellington airport on Monday June 18 between 5.15- 6.00pm to welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

There will be no official ceremony at the airport as such, but Thuten Kesang our National Chairman has asked me to encourage all FOTB members to be present at his His Holiness the Dalai Lama's arrival to show their support.

FOTB members should meet at the entrance to the concourse along with other groups supporting His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit. Please bring silk khatas (scarf) if possible and I would suggest you wear your Free Tibet T-Shirts.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's tour to New Zealand is of course an important and exciting event. It is an extremely rare opportunity to listen to the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people and indeed the Buddhist religion.

The tour presents a very rare opportunity to profile the cause of a "Free Tibet" in accordance with His Holiness the Dalai Lama's " Middle Road " political philosophy.

While FOTB focuses on the important political issue of a Free Tibet, this can never of course be divorced from it's Tibetan Buddhist spiritual context and His Holiness the Dalai Lama's philosophy of non-violence and peace.

As well as understanding his message of kindness, compassion and universal responsibility, these themes provide a richer context to understand the political struggle we support, and also, the j ustness of that struggle.

FOTB Wellington has organised a table in the foyer area, with info about the Free Tibet issue, to encourage people to become members, to fundraise for FOTB and also Tibetan refugees. Please encourage your friends and family to attend.

I look forward to seeing you all at 1pm at the ASB Stadium on June 19 to enjoy what will be a memorable event.

Tashi delek

ENDS

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