Dalai Lama arrives in Riga

  • 2013-09-08
  • From wire reports

The Dalai Lama. Last time he visited Latvia in 2001

RIGA - His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, arrived in Latvia on Sept. 8, on a visit until Sept. 11, reports LETA. The key themes in all engagements throughout this visit will be the Dalai Lama’s message of non-violence, compassion and dialogue.

About 40 people, including several Buddhist monks, welcomed the Dalai Lama as he arrived at FG Royal Hotel. In the crowd were foreign tourists, and passers-by, who were curious to know who the celebrity was.

His Holiness’ supporters in the crowd waved small Tibetan flags, and some of them held books authored by him. His Holiness shook hands with many of them, and then turned and walked into the hotel.

The main event of the visit will be ‘The Culture of Compassion,’ a public talk delivered on Sept. 9, in Arena Riga at 1.30 p.m. All attendees are being asked to bring white lilies. They will line the stage, and later in the afternoon (at 5 p.m.) will be scattered in the Daugava River at a ceremony between Akmens and Vansu bridges with the local Buddhist community.
The Dalai Lama previously visited Latvia in 1991 and 2001.