AUSPICIOUS EVENTS

Diane Cadwallader, who handled national media and publicity for the visit to New Zealand September, 10-14 [1996] of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, writes “with a joyful heart” of the visit, His Holiness’s second.

The renowned Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey, who graced New Zealand by making it his home, often said how rich must be the blessings and merit of this country and her people to be free of any poisonous or dangerous fauna and flora. (Save for man of course, but we changed even some of that!) We nestle safely now in the largest nuclear-free zone of the planet. Plus, our oceans finally have been declared a sanctuary for whales.

Thus we know that political change is possible because we’ve proved it to ourselves with our successful battles against the odds with nuclear weapons and against apartheid in South Africa.

So it is that New Zealand, or Aotearoa in the language of the indigenous Maori, is a land rich in gifts, and most of us feel there is something quite special going on here on this tiny dot at the bottom of the world. And we wanted to share it all with His Holiness the Dalai Lama when he came in September, to repay his kindness and to honor his great gift of visiting again.

The tour was named “A Celebration of Kindness” and began in our capital city, Wellington, with an event quite specific to New Zealand. The first gifts came as a remarkable offering from the local Maori tribe, the Te Atiawa. Their Council of Elders had invited His Holiness to attend at Waihetu marae or sacred tribal meeting ground for a formal welcome with more than 200 guests.

Normally this involves a fierce warrior challenge or wero to leave weapons and any negative intent at the porch of the meeting house – even the Queen of England is challenged in this way. But His Holiness was given the unprecedented honor of being admitted to the meeting house without a challenge – the rare courtesy offered because of the regard he is held in as “the foremost spiritual leader of indigenous peoples of the world,” according to the spokesperson for the Te Atiawa Council of Elders, Peter Love.

Mr. Love went on to offer to His Holiness personal use of the marae as a safe arena for negotiating with the Chinese government if and when they can be brought to the discussion table. It made wonderful national television and press headlines across the country that night – along with the antithetic that “contrary to the atmosphere of peace and goodwill evident at Waiwhetu marae, the Chinese government today reiterated its opposition to the Dalai Lama’s visit and its annoyance with the ‘interference’ of his supporters here.”

Day Two, Wellington I hope His Holiness has forgiven us for scheduling 15 appointments on that Wednesday. We tried not to do it, but every single appointment was invaluable. Simply, I pray the seeds will quickly ripen from the meetings with the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, the Parliamentary Tibet Support Lobby Group, the other members of Parliament, the corporate business leaders and the religious and community leaders at the Friends of Tibet/Amnesty International event, the myriad number of journalists who attended the press conference and followed us throughout the day, and last, but by no means least, the more than 5000 people who attended the public talk.

It was quite a day – with moments when many of us felt seeds being sown for a different history.

Did I mention New Zealand was in the middle of an election campaign? With only three weeks to go to the biggest change the country has seen in years, from the Westminster First Past the Post representation system to one of full proportional representation. If His Holiness had chosen to stay with us, I’m sure he would have been elected! All the politicians commented to him that his crowds were so much bigger than theirs! I pray they might realize why.

Day Three, Nelson It was His Holiness’s first visit to this small country city in the north of the South Island. In the days previous it rained and rained and rained and the event was in an outdoor park! I’m told the Fire Brigade drained it in the hours before we arrived. I can only imagine the stress for the local committee and I congratulate them for the miraculous event they accomplished for the 4000 people. The two kilometers of prayer flags looked fantastic – and thank you to the miracle workers who took them down in the drenching rain after His Holiness departed and packed them to be air-freighted 600 miles north for the Auckland event 36 hours later! Team work of the best kind.

Late Afternoon, Christchurch Our private 30-seater chartered jet touched down in dusk light, with no welcoming party or cars in sight. Our tight schedule provided for them to be waiting on the tarmac. Where were they? His Holiness walks very quickly sometimes and he determined off towards the main terminal building with the rest of us in straggly pursuit pretending to keep up, when suddenly from the left, a spectacular vision: Speeding across the tarmac, headlights full on in the darkening evening, nine or ten cars abreast bearing down upon us very fast like a Hollywood movie shoot! I don’t really think for a moment they screeched to a halt right next to His Holiness, but in the ensuing hilarity my memory gives me a full quadraphonic sound effects track! The traveling party found it an amusing few minutes – not so the welcoming group who had been misdirected by airport staff to a wrong terminal gate.

Christchurch with is blessed to have a young and dynamic mayor in Vicki Buck. So deeply was she affected in 1992 by her meeting with His Holiness, she determined this time her city itself would host his visit. She appointed special staff to liaise with local Trust organizers for His Holiness to make an address inside Christchurch Cathedral, the heart of this lovely garden city, with video broadcast to 2500 in the surrounding Cathedral Square. The Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Reverend John Bluck, invited church leaders, including both Anglican and Catholic bishops.

Always I will remember the joyful faces, the tears, the laughter – the purity and goodness that appear from within ordinary people in the presence of this sublime nirmanakaya we call Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet.

Very Late Evening, Dunedin We touch down at Dunedin, home of the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre, the southern-most Dharma center of the world, closest to Antarctica and the South Pole. Out on the Otago peninsula, the beautiful stupa just completed for the holy relics of Gen Rinpoche, the most venerable Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey, awaits the blessings and consecration by His Holiness early tomorrow morning. The weather forecast is for rain and wind….

Day Four, Dawn The sky is brilliantly clear with not a breath of wind – I cry as I realize the blessings we are about to experience and the kindness of the Buddhas to offer for us one of the magical sparkling days so perfect and rare at this time of year in Dunedin. And I remember the great and extraordinary kindness of Gen Rinpoche whoso blessed us all, always, even when I, for one, didn’t necessarily understand.

Late Afternoon, Auckland His Holiness arrives on a seven-seater private jet. We had known in advance of a strike by air traffic controllers limiting the number of commercial flights possible on that Friday all across New Zealand. We sorted it out by using private jets and His Holiness’s New Zealand schedule was not disrupted … yet. We hadn’t reckoned on the cumulative effect on international traffic between us and Australia, and His Holiness was due to leave New Zealand for Melbourne at 3 p.m. the following day. But first, we had a tight minute-by-minute schedule to meet….

Early Evening Tsi Ming Taiwanese Mahayana Buddhist Temple. His Holiness consecrated the ground for this magnificent temple on his 1992 visit – now it is a spectacle of beautiful golden Buddhas towering in a shrine room opulent with shining native timbers highlighted by shimmering rainbow offerings from a circular crystal chandelier – a glorious sight to present to His Holiness to thank him for his prayers and great kindnesses.

That night, back at the hotel, we hear the news the Melbourne flight next day is delayed by five hours. Superficially this is good news for Auckland but the worst possible for the Australian organizers of His Holiness’s visit there. So we try for bookings to Sydney, although this flight leaves one hour earlier and means cancellations of all appointments in the morning. But we had to preserve the timetable for our public event on Saturday, a carefully scheduled outdoor public talk at 11 a.m. with a concert beforehand.

Meanwhile, at Dorje Chang Institute and the new Trashi Gomang center, preparations carried on for the proposed Saturday lunch and afternoon visits by His Holiness although we had no way of knowing if they could possibly happen.

Day Five, Auckland The Tibetan and Mongolian communities meet with His Holiness early morning on Saturday at the hotel; major benefactors are welcomed to a special breakfast for blessings from His Holiness; our Trust members meet for the first time as a whole group with His Holiness. We are on a tight schedule to reach the public talk on time.

Reports from the public venue are of huge crowds gathering and traffic jams making it impossible to get there. We are going to be late because of how successful it all is! Fantastic!

Plus I’m certain we’ve accomplished a world first: miraculously and inexpensively we have booked a light plane that by now is in the air pulling a message drogue across the skies of Auckland saying “Welcome H. H. Dalai Lama Ellerslie 10 A.M.” I wish I’d seen it but was content with crazy paper messages from caring friends such as: “D’plane, D’plane, D’plane is in D’air” and “She flies, she flies!”

Cell phones are running hot with news from the venue – more than 14,000 people are there. The police meanwhile confirm the traffic jam situation. We send messages asking the musicians to keep on playing please.

At the hotel, the main party is gathering: this will include former Prime Minister David Lange who will travel with and introduce His Holiness.

We know we are running late, the traffic jams will delay us even more and now it is inevitable: we must cancel the afternoon visits to the Buddhist centers to make the plane on time. Suddenly, right on cue, comes the news that now the Sydney flight is delayed by three hours! Somewhere, somehow, someone’s prayers were answered. The afternoon visits will happen after all, and even be longer than expected.

David Lange arrives at the hotel and again I am aware of the powerful presence of this great New Zealander who brought the political reality of nuclear-free existence into the world. His Holiness noted this at their first meeting in 1992, three years after both had been nominated in the same year for the Nobel Peace Prize. I feel privileged to experience their great warmth and mutual respect.

And it was there again for all to see at the public event a little while later. (Yes, finally we did get there after taking a very long and circuitous back route with a full police escort.)

Now, David Lange is a large man in his early fifties renowned as an erudite and sparklingly witty orator. I remember he was shakingly gleeful as he finished his introduction of His Holiness with: “Isn’t it wonderful how a man who is even older than I am and only about half my size, can make a superpower nervous just be being concerned with principle and peace and not hating people. It makes them so upset. Sir, you are just so welcome.”

As David finished, His Holiness stood and invited him to remain on stage in the seat right next to his, actually intended for His Holiness’s translator. His Holiness seemed to address comments to David several times while he spoke, and watched over him as a mindful host. So when David Lange reached for a glass of water only to find the glass empty, it was perfectly natural for His Holiness to notice and simply break into his talk to the 14,000 people to pour water for David from his own jug. It was so simple, but so special. And the crowd truly appreciated it, even when His Holiness laughingly said he had forgotten the point of what he had been saying before he stopped to offer the water!

Indeed, it was a true Celebration of Kindness, demonstrated by the kindest teacher himself.

Early Afternoon Oh, how the members and friends of Dorje Chang Institute worked to have their stupa ready, and how wonderful the accomplishment of the stupa builders to have it complete for the consecration by His Holiness. Founding member William Hursthouse was the master builder (Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the master planner, of course) along with a determined crew that included (but not limited to) the Vens. Lobsang Namgyal, Sanjay, Kelsang and Tenzin Namdrol and Vanessa, Anton and JoJo Lee — all lovingly overseen by Geshe Pal Tsering. It was a fine way to celebrate the center’s twentieth birthday, and I think the directors, members and friends will make extra use of this Wheel-Turning Stupa, the first of its kind in New Zealand.

Mid-afternoon Trashi Gomang Centre: Khensur Rinpoche, the Venerable Geshe Kalsang Thapkhey, was previously resident geshe at Dorje Chang Institute and this very new center is his home after being away teaching in Mongolia for many months. Rinpoche is a former abbot of Gomang College at Drepung. How auspicious to host His Holiness in the very first months of the life of this new Dharma center.

Late Afternoon, Auckland Airport The windy skies are filled with tears, as are we all. Though blessed and bound for all time in the great mind of Chenrezig, we must say goodbye, as is the way of samsara.

Thank you, Your Holiness, for the Celebration of Kindness you blessed us to experience by your holy presence.

May your life be long and healthy, and please remain until each of us may be freed by your holy Dharma.

May all beings quickly benefit and may samsara soon be emptied; may our precious lamas’ lives be long and always may they turn the golden wheel of Dharma.

Special thanks to Thuten Kesang, His Holiness’s Official Representative in New Zealand and Mrs. Gwen Kesang; and to Chhime Rigzin Chhoekyapa, His Holiness’s Australian Representative.

 

Apostle of Peace, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Welcomed by European Parliament

By Denis Huet

“I implore you to help us,” said the Dalai Lama during his address to the European Deputies on October 23 and 24 [1996] in Strasbourg. His Holiness was warmly received, despite protests from the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs.

We had the pleasure of welcoming him on October 28 and presenting him with a khata at his Paris hotel.

The following day we were present in the French Channel 3 television studios during the taping of the very popular current affairs program “Marché du Siècle.” The program covered the current situation in Tibet, a portrait of His Holiness and Buddhists in France.

His Holiness was joined by four other guests: Arnaud Desjardins, author and filmmaker of The Message of the Tibetans; Jean Claude Carrière, author of The Power of Buddhism, an interview with His Holiness; Ven. Matthieu Ricard, Buddhist monk for 25 years and translator for the Dalai Lama since 1989; and Martine Franck, a photographer.

On October 30, His Holiness talked on spiritual values to a packed house of 6000 people at the Palais des Sportes in Paris.

His Holiness was received by the group “Tibet,” made up of 200 deputies from the French National Assembly, representing both right and left political parties.

The French press covered the short visit of His Holiness with their usual loyalty and warmth, expressing their regrets that the French president Mr. Jacques Chirac had not officially received this apostle of peace.