Dalai Lama's call for change

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Sydney Morning Herald
By ALICIA WOOD
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Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama gestures during a news conference in central Sydney November 30, 2009. The Dalai Lama is visiting Australia and New Zealand until December 10. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz (AUSTRALIA RELIGION POLITICS)

THE Dalai Lama will join the call for action on climate change when he arrives in Sydney tomorrow.

This is the seventh visit to Australia for the 74-year-old self-professed "simple Buddhist monk", and will culminate in the 20th anniversary of his Nobel Peace Prize win on December 10.

In a letter written before his visit, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said he hoped to teach environmental responsibility and religious tolerance during his stay.

"As far as the natural environment is concerned, we have a twofold responsibility; firstly to take greater steps to care for our world and, secondly, to undo the serious environmental degradation that has resulted from incorrect human behaviour."

"Today, the world over, we can find followers of many faiths sacrificing their own welfare in the service of others. Clearly the development of altruism, the wish to work for the happiness of others, is the most important goal of all religious practice. Therefore it is crucial that we nurture harmony and trust among our spiritual traditions."

Messages of inter-religious harmony, environmental responsibility and self-improvement will figure prominently in the series of talks he will give in Sydney.

The first, Awakening the Mind, is on Tuesday and Wednesday and will focus on teachings about positive life changes.