His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Attend 'Thank You Switzerland' Event

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Tibet.net
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama greets public during a talk in Slovenia on Monday

His Holiness the Dalai Lama to thank Switzerland for 50 years hospitality and support, and participate as a key speaker at the Mind and Life Conference in Zurich.

Zurich: His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to Zurich starting today marks 50 years since the arrival of Tibetans in Switzerland. At Merci Schwiiz (Thank You Switzerland) programme on 8 April, His Holiness will thank Switzerland for 50 years hospitality and humanitarian assistance to the Tibetans living in Switzerland, India and Nepal.In October 1960, 20 Tibetans boys and girls arrived for education at the Pestalozzi's Children Village in Trogen, Switzerland.

The Swiss Government on 29 March 1963 approved the re-settlement of 1,000 Tibetans. Today there are about 4,000 Tibetans living in Switzerland.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will visit the Tibetan Institute in Rikon - the oldest Tibetan monastery in the West on 8 April morning. The monastery has monks from the four schools of Tibetan Buddhist tradition and is the cultural centre of the Tibetan community.

Mrs. Pascale Bruderer Wyss, President of the Swiss Parliament will attend the ceremony at the monastery and she will call on His Holiness the Dalai Lama after the ceremony. She is a member of the Tibet Group in the Swiss Parliament and last met His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2005.

From 9 to 11 April 2010, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and leading figures from business, economics, psychology, contemplation, anthropology and neuroscience will take part in Mind and Life's Altruism and Compassion in Economic Systems conference at the Zurich Kongresshaus.This conference is a public dialogue between Economics, Neuroscience and Contemplative Sciences exploring alternative approaches of "altruism and compassion" to the economic systems that rewards both individuals and our global societies.

The Mind and Life Conference is co-sponsored by the University of Zurich, the largest university in Switzerland. The University is known internationally for its ground breaking research, particularly in molecular biology, brain research and anthropology.

The first Mind and Life meeting was in 1987. The institute was co-founded in 1987 by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, neuroscientist Francisco J. Varela and American businessman Adam Engle. Its aim is to create a rigorous dialogue and research collaboration between modern science and the world's living contemplative traditions, especially Buddhism.This is the Mind and Life's first conference in Europe.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has always promoted the introduction of science education in Tibetan Buddhist monastic colleges and academic centres, and has encouraged Tibetan scholars to engage with science as a way of revitalizing the Tibetan philosophical tradition.

On 10 April morning His Holiness the Dalai Lama will address the opening session of the First European Tibetan Youth Parliament. Over 150 Tibetan delegates from 11 countries will take part in this Parliament. And in the evening His Holiness the Dalai Lama will address the Solidarity Rally for Tibet organized at the centre of Zurich by the Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association.

Over 7,500 people will attend His Holiness the Dalai Lama's public talk on Universal Responsibility and the Economy in the Zurich Hallenstadion on 11 April afternoon. Following the public talk,His Holiness the Dalai Lama,Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile Mr. Penpa Tsering and Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche will address the members of the Tibetan Community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Also Presidents and Vice-Presidents of Tibetan communities across Europe will be presented during this event.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will leave for India on 12 April morning.

--Report filed by The Tibet Bureau, Geneva