Dispatches from the Front

Shambhala Delegation Discusses Enlightened Society Initiatives with HH Dalai Lama's Secretariat

(Dharamsala, India: 20 November, 2002) -- Sakyong Mipham, Rinpoche, has invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama to visit The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya at Shambhala Mountain Center. Shambhala President Richard Reoch delivered the invitation to Mr. Tenzin Geyche, Secretary for External Affairs to His Holiness, at the seat of the Tibetan-Government-In-Exile. Peter Volz, Shambhala Director of the Office of International Affairs, also was present at the meeting.

Mr. Reoch confirmed that the Sakyong has accepted an invitation from the Office of Tibet in New York to join the Advisory Board for the First Conference of Tibetan Dharma Centers in America. The conference will take place in New York City in September 2003. Shambhala will be represented at this gathering by Mr. Reoch and a senior acharya.

During the meeting, Mr. Reoch explained that the Shambhala Buddhist tradition emphasizes the importance of working to create Enlightened Society. He raised the possibility of increased cooperation in the Buddhist world in areas of social service, humanitarian action and conflict resolution.

After a lengthy and lively discussion, Mr. Geyche volunteered to cooperate in taking these ideas forward. He offered to arrange a future meeting with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, when Mr. Reoch is in India next year assisting the Indian National Human Rights Commission with a major torture prevention initiative.

For the Shambhala News Service