Dalai Lama's Loch Ness wish on Inverness visit

HISTORY will remember today as the day His Holiness the Dalai Lama came to Inverness.

The spiritual leader of Tibet is due in the city to deliver his sold-out speech “Be the Change” at Eden Court Theatre.

The visit is part of a tour of Scotland, which has seen him give talks in Dundee and Edinburgh.

His Holiness is expected to be in the city for 22 hours, and aides recently revealed his desire to see Loch Ness.

Tickets for the speech, which is aimed at encouraging young people to take responsibility, sold out in just over 24 hours.

Those with tickets have been issued with instructions and told that mobile phones and bags will not be allowed into the auditorium.

Security around the convoy is expected to be tight throughout the day, and organisers expect large crowds of people who are not attending the talk outside the venue, alongside the 1,300 ticket-holders.

Eden Court will be open to the public from noon, and those who have booked tickets must bring reference numbers on the day in order to pick tickets up from the Highland Council building.

Nairn Academy pupil Amy McCann will introduce His Holiness onto the stage, and chair a question and answer session, where the he will respond to the questions of young people.

Fresh from studying Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies at school, Amy was chosen because of her debating skills.

The 18-year-old said: “Being given the chance to meet and introduce His Holiness is a tremendous honour. The philosophy of Buddhism was very rewarding to study and I have gained insight into some of the philosophical background that shapes the ideology of His Holiness.

“He is a fascinating man and brings an inspiring message of non-violence, compassion and universal responsibility. I am hugely looking forward to his speech “Be the change”.”

Amy will write a piece about her day with the Dalai Lama for the Highland News.

The Dalai Lama will leave the UK to meet commitments in mainland Europe.

THE DALAI LAMA

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of Tibet, although he describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk,

He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in Taktser, Amdo, northeastern Tibet. At the age of two the child, who was named Lhamo Dhondup at that time was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity.

Now living in exile in India, The Dalai Lama is a Nobel Peace prize Laureate as well as being one of the most known, loved and revered religious and spiritual leaders in the world today.

He has travelled to more than 62 countries spanning six continents. He has met with presidents, prime ministers and crowned rulers of major nations. He has held dialogues with the heads of different religions and many well-known scientists.

Since 1959, he has received numerous awards, honorary doctorates, prizes, etc., in recognition of his message of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion. He has also authored more than 72 books.

See this week’s Highland News for full coverage of the visit.