Canberra, Australia, 13 June 2011 (By Tsering Kyinzom
Dhongdue) - His Holiness the Dalai Lama finished his teachings on "The
Bodhisattva's Way of Life" in Melbourne today. Over the last three days,
around 4,500 people attended the teachings. For the first time in
Australia, His Holiness’ teachings were streamed live on the web. An
astonishing 32,000 people watched the teachings live online. 6,000
people attended the public conversation on Saturday, with another 5,000
watching live on a giant screen at Federation Square in the heart of
city.
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama
prepares to leave the plane in Canberra after a short flight from
Melbourne on 13 June 2011. Photo/Rusty Stewart/DLIAL
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His Holiness began the final day of teachings by
recapping some fundamental Buddhist concepts including the Four Noble
Truths, the law of causality and interconnectedness. He then led the
audience through the Bodhisattva vows and encouraged people to repeat
the vow as part of their daily practice.
With great detail and clarity, His Holiness covered
chapters 2 (Disclosure of Wrongdoing), 3 (Full Acceptance of the
Awakening Mind), 6 (Patience), 7 (Enthusiasm) and 8 (Meditation). His
Holiness then concluded with a series of questions and answers from an
enthusiastic audience.
Furthering his engagement with Australia’s Chinese
community, His Holiness made time to do an interview with SBS Mandarin
Service.
After a short flight late in the afternoon, His Holiness arrived in
Canberra and was welcomed on the tarmac by a senior representative of
the Indian High Commission. Members of the 70-strong local Tibetan
community greeted him on his arrival at the hotel.
His Holiness will have a busy schedule of high-profile events in the
nation’s capital tomorrow. He will be meeting members of all
Australia’s major political parties at a parliamentary reception to be
held in his honour. Later there will be another sold-over public
conversation.
