The Dalai Lama’s visit to Sydney last week came at a politically more significant time than any of his five previous visits to Australia- less than two months before the Beijing Olympics and following a period of unprecedented unrest across Tibetan areas and international concern over continuing human rights abuses. Uncertainty continues over the future of the Tibet-China dialogue, with no date announced for a seventh round of formal talks, originally expected to commence on 11 June, the day of His Holiness’s arrival in Sydney.

The Australia Tibet Council kept a daily blog of events during the visit, including commentary on any meetings with senior Australia political figures. See daily summaries below.

Day 5 - Sunday 15 June - Chenrezig Initiation
Day 4 - Saturday 14 June - Public Talk
Day 3 - Friday 13 June - Chinese Outreach
Day 2 - Thursday 12 June - Dalai Lama’s Press Conference
Day 1 - Wednesday 11 June - Dalai Lama Welcomed To Sydney

It is less than two months before the Beijing Olympics and follows a period of unprecedented unrest across Tibetan areas and international concern over continuing human rights abuses. There is also uncertainty over the future of the Tibet-China dialogue, with no date announced for a seventh round of formal talks, originally expected to commence on 11 June, the day of His Holiness’s arrival in Sydney.

Day 5 - Sunday 15 June - Chenrezig Initiation
The day began early at 8.30 with preparation prayers for the Chenrezig Initiation. Around 6,000 monks, lay Buddhists and non-Buddhists made a series of Bodhisattva Vows as part of the initiation. The Dalai Lama took time to carefully explain to non-adepts the meaning and background to the complex rituals and visualizations involved in the initiation.

At the end of the teaching the Dalai Lama delighted the crowd by confirming that he will be returning to Australia late next year. His Holiness will be attending the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne in December 209. Other details of the visit are yet to be confirmed.

In his closing comments Ian Green, Chairman of Dalai Lama in Australia Ltd., noted that people from 12 countries had attended the teachings, which had been translated into English, Tibetan, Chinese, Vietnamese and sign language. In addition to the 6,000 attending the teachings themselves, a further 4,500 came to a public talk on Saturday. The Dalai Lama also spoke with 200 members of Australia’s Chinese community, 600 members of Australia’s Tibetans and Mongolian communities, 200 Australian and Chinese journalists and 120 eminent and influential Australians including 12 Federal Parliamentarians.

After a final vote of thanks from Ian Green, Chairman of Dalai Lama in Australia Ltd., His Holiness left Sydney for Perth where he was due to meet Foreign Minister Stephen Smith late in the evening.

Day 4 - Saturday 14 June - Public Talk
At lunchtime, following the morning teaching session, the Dalai Lama spoke to members of Australia’s Tibetan and Mongolian communities. Hundreds of Tibetans from Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra along with 150 Mongolians packed a large meeting room at Sydney Olympic Park.

In the late afternoon the Dalai Lama gave a public lecture to around 6,000 people. In the talk, titled ‘finding purpose in life’, the Dalai Lama began with the premise that all humans are fundamentally the same, all sharing the common goal of happiness. Our own happiness, he explained, depends upon us developing compassion and a sense of universal responsibility. Talking for almost two hours, His Holiness used many examples and personal stories to illustrate the inextricable link between compassion, selflessness and individual happiness. He even described how one’s physical wellbeing is improved by living a compassionate and purposeful life.

Religious harmony and respect for the diversity of human beliefs formed another key element of the talk. The Dalai Lama stressed that universal values of love and compassion were central to the theistic religions as well as to Buddhism, Jainism and other non-theistic belief systems. Further, he explained how common experience and modern scientific enquiry also inevitably incline us towards compassion.

When it came to question time His Holiness addressed topics as diverse as vegetarianism, marriage, population growth, trust, depression, food and, importantly, how people in the West can help build a better future for Tibet. The priority here, he explained, is educating about the real situation in Tibet. In particular, he said, it is important to ensure that Han Chinese people receive objective information about Tibetan culture and history. Secondly, he emphasized again the value of forming Tibet-China friendship groups as a way of building bridges and overcoming the differences in perspective between Tibetans and Chinese.

Tomorrow the Dalai Lama will conclude his five-day teaching and meet with Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, the most significant political meeting of this visit. In the morning he will be giving a Chenrezig initiation.

Day 3 - Friday 13 June - Chinese Outreach
This morning the Dalai Lama met Immigration Minister and Acting Prime Minister Chris Evans. Senator Evans described his discussions with the Dalai Lama as open and instructive. He says he conveyed the Australian Government’s enthusiasm for continued talks between Chinese officials and envoys of the Dalai Lama.

At lunchtime His Holiness spoke to two hundred members of Australia’s Chinese community. The need to build trust, empathy and understanding between Tibetans and Chinese has been a key theme the Dalai Lama’s visit. After the meeting His Holiness spoke to a group of Chinese journalists, including a journalist from Xinhua, the official Chinese state news service. Arriving a few minutes late for the afternoon teaching, His Holiness apologised for the delay and explained the importance of his meeting with the Chinese journalists.

Tomorrow His Holiness will deliver the fourth day of his teaching on Kamalashila’s ‘Stages of Meditation’. On Sunday he is expected to meet with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith.

Day 2 - Thursday 12 June - Dalai Lama’s Press Conference
The day began with a press conference. About one hundred members of the Australian media were present, including journalists and crews from all the major networks.

“We must develop a sense of community –understand that we are one human family.”

“For each human being, a happy life depends on that of the other 6 billions people. Your future much depends on the rest of the world. If we can promote peace and happiness elsewhere, then Australia too benefits.”

Asked whether he was disappointed in the progress of the Tibet-China dialogue, specifically the delay to the anticipated seventh round of talks, the Dalai Lama said he had been encouraged by the informal talks in early May, in particular the seriousness with which Chinese officials were willing to discuss the Tibet issue. He appeared confident that the next round of talks would go ahead, albeit probably next month. However, he also took the opportunity to emphasize that the recent unrest reflected nearly 60 years of oppressive policies and that China must be more realistic in its approach.

Finally, asked whether he saw any positives in the current circumstances, the Dalai Lama said he is optimistic. He praised China’s response to the Sichuan earthquake and said he believes China is changing and becoming more open.

In the afternoon His Holiness met with Senator Bob Brown, leader of the Australian Greens and co-convener of the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet.

In the evening His Holiness gave interviews to two of Australia’s most influential political commentators - Kerry O’Brien for the 7.30 Report (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) and to Greg Sheridan of the Australian.

View Kerry O’Brien’s interview on ABC’s 7:30 Report

Tomorrow (Friday) His Holiness will meet with Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Chris Evans will also be in the role of Acting Prime Minister, with both Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard overseas.

ATC Calls on Foreign Minister to Discuss Options with Dalai Lama
With the Dalai Lama now half way through his visit, the Australia Tibet Council is increasingly concerned that the Australian Government is failing to sustain the active support for the Tibet-China dialogue that it showed back in April.

We’re all aware that the small window of opportunity which exists in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics to set Sino-Tibetan negotiations onto a firmer footing is shrinking at an alarming rate. Today we have written to Foreign Minister Stephen Smith again, urging him to make a clear, unequivocal public statement following his meeting with the Dalai Lama calling for the resumption of dialogue this month, the establishment of new and more robust arrangements prior to the Olympics, and a commitment that Australia will maintain an active and ongoing interest in the progress of negotiations. We have made further practical suggestions for how Australia can help resolve the Tibet issue.

Day 1 - Wednesday 11 June - Dalai Lama Welcomed To Sydney
Despite having been delayed in Singapore overnight, the Dalai Lama was greeted at the Sydney airport before sunrise by around a hundred members of Sydney’s Tibetan Community. The morning teaching session began as scheduled with around 4,500 gathering to hear His Holiness.

At lunchtime His Holiness spoke to a private meeting of 120 influential and eminent Australians, including federal and state politicians, academics, journalists, community leaders and business leaders. The meeting was organized by the Australia Tibet Council and the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet.

“It is a critical time for Tibet and we are eagre that Australia do everything it can to help ensure substantive and positive outcomes from the Tibet-China dialogue” said Simon Bradshaw, ATC’s Campaign Coordinator.

“The Dalai Lama is here for only five days and has very little time outside of a rigorous teaching schedule. So we figured we’d try and get the hundred or so most influential people we could into a private meeting with him so they could hear directly from His Holiness about the current situation, put questions to him and share new ideas for how Australia can help bring about a better future for Tibet.”

His Holiness explained the background to the current situation in Tibet and the prospects for a peaceful resolution. After talking for forty minutes, describing in depth the recent developments in the Sino-Tibetan dialogue, the Dalai Lama took several questions. Though His Holiness was as animated as ever, sharing many of his characteristic jokes, he was showed visible sadness when describing the deterioration inside Tibet since his last visit to Australia. He emphasized the need to develop trust between Tibetans and Chinese, correct misunderstandings and find the common ground on which to move forwards. He appealed for further support from Australia in achieving these aims. In particular he encouraged people to set up of Tibet-China ‘friendship groups’, helping Tibetans and Chinese to meet, form friendships and overcome differences in perspective.

The meeting was opened by Alex Butler, Acting Chair of the Australia Tibet Council and Michael Danby MP, Convenor of the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet. Those present included 12 members of the Federal Parliament (representing all major political parties in Australia), two Ministers from the Parliament of New South Wales, leading Australian academics and China experts, representatives of the Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Jewish communities and several influential Australian journalists and political commentators.

After the afternoon teaching session His Holiness met with Dr. Brendan Nelson, Leader of the Opposition in the Australian Parliament. Tomorrow he will meet with Senator Bob Brown, leader of the Australian Greens.