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Dalai Lama leaves for week-long Japan visit

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

The Dalai Lama interacts with an Austrian physically challenged person before he attends Peace Jam in Dharamshala, India, on 27 October 2009. The Dalai Lama left Dharamshala for a week-long Japan visit on 29 October.File photo/Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal/India

The Dalai Lama left Dharamshala for a week-long visit to Japan for a science conference, teachings and talks.

On 31 October, he will give a teaching on ‘Three Principle Paths and Generating the Altruistic Mind Enlightenment’ at Ryogoku Kokugikan hall in Tokyo, according to the website of the office of the Dalai Lama.

An interaction session with Japanese scientists to discuss ‘Future of the Earth: A Dialogue between Buddhist Inner Science and Modern External Science’ will be held in Tokyo on 1 November.

Two public talks are scheduled in Matsuyama city on 3 November, and Okinawa on 5 November.

No official meeting has been scheduled. Democratic Party of Japan leader Yukio Hatoyama has been prime minister since 16 September 2009. Hatoyama seeks warmer ties with China, which views the Dalai Lama as a separatist.

Although ties between Japan and China have improved in recent years, their diplomatic relations have been strained by wartime history and territorial disputes.

The Dalai Lama, who lives in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959, is a frequent visitor to Japan where he enjoys an active following. China oppose any leader hosting the Dalai Lama, warning damage to bilateral relations.

Japan has almost always refused high-level official contacts with the Dalai Lama.

Upon returning from Japan, the Dalai Lama will visit Arunachal Pradesh, a north-east Indian state disputed by China as their territory.

The Chief Minister of the state, Dorjee Khandu, has said that the Tibetan leader will be accorded the honour of ‘state guest’.

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