Another foreign visit for Dalai Lama - but not to Tibet
The globetrotting Dalai Lama visited not less than 18 countries last year and the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism already has on the cards a trip to Britain. But the one place he pines to visit - his native land Tibet - remains out of reach.
This summer, the Dalai Lama, 76, is all set to take off for Britain with his teachings. He will give a series of public lectures there, Tenzin Taklha, joint secretary at the Dalai Lama's office, told IANS.
Taklha said, "His Holiness would be in Britain from June 16 to 23."Ever since he fled Tibet in 1950, the Tibetan spiritual leader has travelled to more than 50 countries and met with presidents, prime ministers and crown rulers of major nations, say officials of the Tibetan government-in-exile based here.
The elderly monk visits only on invitation."His Holiness prefers visiting universities and educational institutions to speak on peace, non-violence and promoting human values," Taklha said.
He loves to speak on Buddhism and global environmental concerns despite China forewarning the countries he plans to visit. During his lectures, he often jokes and chuckles. His teachings are free and open to the public.
In the past five years, the Dalai Lama's preferred foreign destinations have included Japan, the US, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and France.
Last year alone, the Dalai Lama made 21 visits abroad and travelled to 18 countries - he visited the US twice and Japan thrice. Within India, he has travelled 23 times out of his official palace here.
This year, he has travelled within India only. He visited Bodh Gaya and Delhi.
South Africa is apparently one of the few countries in the world that has grounded his plans of visit there.
The monk, listed by Time magazine last year among the world's top 25 political icons, had called off his South Africa visit in October last year as it was 'inconvenient' for the government there to grant him a visa.
"I am very sad and very much (hoped) to see Nelson Mandela (former South African president), who is now very old. So now I doubt whether I can have another occasion to meet him," the spiritual leader said in his message to his host and fellow Nobel laureate, Desmond Tutu.
But if there is one place he has not been able to visit, it is his native land.
"Yes, I remain optimistic that I will be able to return to Tibet. China is in the process of changing. Besides, I am not seeking separation from China," the Nobel laureate wrote on his official website.
The Dalai Lama, who believes in the "middle-path" policy that demands "greater autonomy" for the Tibetans, is viewed by the Chinese as a hostile element bent on splitting Tibet from China.
He had expressed his desire to visit quake-hit areas in Tibetan Autonomous Region in April 2010 to provide solace to victims, but the Chinese refused to oblige him.
But His Holiness is optimistic about his return to Tibet.
Speaking at a religious ceremony in Bodh Gaya this month, the Dalai Lama said, "The understanding of the Tibetan issue as well as sympathy towards Tibetans among Chinese in mainland China is growing."
"I have been meeting Chinese scholars, students, and various representatives of organisations in the last many years and there is a growing understanding of the Tibetan issue and a growing interest in Tibetan Buddhism among the mainland Chinese," he said.
Some 140,000 Tibetans now live in exile, over 100,000 of them in different parts of India. Over six million Tibetans live in Tibet.
