Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived yesterday in Maribor, Slovenia's second largest city, where he gave a sermon on Ethics for the New Millennium
During the lecture, which was the highlight of His Holiness' three-day visit to Slovenia, the Tibetan spiritual leader said that he crossed into India in April 1959 "not because of civil war or disaster, but a new guest came to Tibet without invitation and controlled everything".
Reaffirming his position on Tibet and his Middle Way approach, His Holiness said "We are not seeking separation but are committed to remain within PRC." In response to a question that was asked, "What is the purpose of life?" he replied "A happy life. [The] future is uncertain but we remain with hope. Once hope is lost, our very life is shortened. Hope means something good. The very purpose of life is happiness."
The following morning, Tibet's spiritual leader met with Maribor mayor Franc Kangler and was presented with the keys to the city. At Maribor City Park, His Holiness planted the Tree of Peace and told the crowd, "violence, bloodshed and war is out of date. The 20th Century was the century of bloodshed and 21st century should be a century of dialogue".
His Holiness also addressed over 1,000 eager students of the Maribor 1st High School on human values, and met with opposition leader of the Slovenian Democratic Party and former Prime Minister, Mr. Janez Janša.
His Holiness is set to participate in the XX Mind and Life Conference on Altruism and Compassion in Economic Systems - A Dialogue between Economics, Neuroscience and Contemplative Sciences, which will be held in Zurich, Switzerland from April 9 to 11.
