Geneva, Switzerland, 12 August 2011 - Hundreds of
Tibetans, Mongolians, Swiss and French welcomed His Holiness the Dalai
Lama at the newly constructed Sherdurb Choekhorling – a Tibetan Buddhist
Centre at Mont Saléve, France.
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama is
greeted by well-wishers on his arrival at Shedurb Choekhorling - A
Tibetan Buddhist Center at Mount Saleve, France, on 12 August 2011.
Photo/Igor Yanchoglov
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama stopped the car at the
beginning of the long line of people. He walked slowly greeting people,
and every now and then shaking well wisher’s hands. Russian Buddhist
guests had especially come from Russia for this auspicious event.
Before entering Shedrub Choekhorling’s prayer hall
His Holiness, Drepung Gomang Abbot, Chant Master and monks began the
consecration prayers.
Sherdurb Choekorling’s name was given by His
Holiness the Dalai Lama. Mr. Raefel Gimalov, member of the Russian
Parliament and a businessman built it. The centre is situated in France
but just across Geneva border.
In his welcome address, Mr. Gimalov thanked His
Holiness for his personal involvement in the construction of the centre.
He said one of the main aims of the centre was to help people to get a
better understanding of Tibetan Buddhism.
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama is
speaking at Shedurb Choekhorling - A Tibetan Buddhist Center at Mount
Saleve, France, on 12 August 2011. Photo/Manuel Bauer
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that he was
very happy to be at the centre. Since several centuries ago, some parts
of Russia have very close connection with Tibetan tradition. The 13th
Dalai Lama further developed this close relationship.
His Holiness said in spite of lots of materialistic
development in the 21 Century, yet number of people who are materially
very rich and highly educated were not very happy.
Short sightedness and self-centered attitude with the lack of awareness
of the destructive nature of certain emotions (anger, hate and jealousy)
were the main creators of unhappiness. He said as human beings we all
have the ability to reduce these destructive emotions.
Commenting on the centre’s Shedrub Choekhorling name, His Holiness said
Sheba means explanation and knowledge, and Drub means practice. So even a
non-believer who has interest about mind or emotion should be able to
study to this centre to improve their understanding of the mind and then
put it into practice.
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama touring the grounds of
Shedrub Choekhorling, a Buddhist Centre on Mount Saleve, France, on 12
August 2011. Photo/Manuel Bauer
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During lunch His Holiness the Dalai Lama said
faith must be developed on the basis of conviction and thorough
reasoning. Otherwise faith is not stable.
The Abbot and five monks from Drepung Monastery had especially come from
India for the inauguration and consecration of Shedrub Choekhorling.
Last year, the centre signed an agreement with Drepung Gomang monastery
in South India to be associated with the great Tibetan monastery for
Buddhist studies. Drepung Gomang has centuries old tradition of
association with Mongolian and Russian Buddhist. Today there are over
200 Mongolian and Russian Buddhist monks at the monastery in South
India.
