His Holiness the Dalai Lama may never travel abroad for events from now on hints the recent circumstances of that we have seen getting unfolded lately. He appointed official emissaries who will speak on his behalf at international events earlier last month and today His Holiness even suggested the very thing himself.
Dalai Lama told a group of international youth leaders in Dharamsala that his fatigue had increased significantly. “I’m 82 years old, and since last year [my] feeling of tiredness has been much increased,” he said at the meeting.
Tibetan Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay and former PM Samdhong Rinpoche will be acting as official emissaries of the Dalai Lama. The two leaders will speak on behalf of His Holiness at international events saying that the two are his trusted friends who understands his thinkings.
Though the Tibetan Prime Minister in exile, Dr. Sangay earlier in stated in an interview that His Holiness will definitely continue to attend to international events reaffirming that the Dalai Lama is the best face of the Tibetan issue and the best spokesperson, His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself while speaking to media after returning from meeting the former president Obama in New Delhi said that he may never travel to United States due his health concerns. His Holiness stated that he went to meet Barack Obama who has come to Delhi because he may never travel to the United States due to his body conditions. Besides there are no any foreign events scheduled in the official website of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as of now!
“Our work, continuously, should be more active [and internationally engaged], so in these two persons,” he was quoted as saying. The Dalai Lama also told USIP President Nancy Lingborg that if there was any concern regarding the emissaries, they can choose one from the two.
Penpa Tsering, from the Office of Tibet in Washington earlier said, “I think this was more of a general statement. His holiness is sometimes too tired to travel, and his April visit to the United States has been suspended indefinitely, but he will continue to travel in India, and Europe is only a seven hour flight.”
However, others have expressed consternation regarding the decision. One suggested that the Dalai Lama’s international travel schedule should be shortened instead of cancelling it indefinitely. “So much of the goodwill and attention Tibet receives in the world is due to his holiness, and specifically due to his personal interactions with world leaders and with the large audiences he draws around the world. His deep wisdom, his humor and charisma, his serious attention to pressing world issues, and, of course, his model of compassion and leadership, make a deep impression on people,” Carole McGranahan, a professor at the University of Colorado, said.
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