Dundee lord provost Bob Duncan publicly welcomed the Dalai Lama to Dundee on Friday after a week in which the religious leader’s visit was nearly overshadowed by political controversy.
The 76-year-old Tibetan Buddhist monk’s visit to Dundee sparked a row after it emerged the city’s civic leader had withdrawn from giving a speech at the event and the council had removed its logo from a brochure to be presented to the Dalai Lama on his visit.
Mr Duncan, who said he was forced to cancel the speech because he was attending a family funeral, was among dignitaries including Dundee University rector Brian Cox and principal Professor Pete Downes to greet the Dalai Lama when he arrived in City Square yesterday afternoon.
The Dalai Lama was in Dundee to deliver the Margaret Harris Lecture on Religion for Dundee University.
Tickets for the talk at the Caird Hall, which has a capacity of more than 2,000 people, sold out within two hours of going on sale in January, but that did not stop a crowd of about 300 people without tickets gathering in the City Square to catch a glimpse of the Dalai Lama as he arrived.
Although he arrived in Dundee nearly two hours later than scheduled, the crowd was eventually rewarded for its patience.
Ticket-holders had already entered the venue but the remaining crowd gave a huge cheer as the Dalai Lama climbed the stairs into City Square.
He responded by putting on a tartan scarf before delivering a speech from the stairs of Caird Hall where he urged the crowd to use their ”marvellous minds” to rise above negative emotions such as anger and jealousy.
Although he did not refer specifically to the controversy surrounding his visit, he did say people do not need the permission of the Chinese to hear him speak as he claimed to have received permission to protest from Chairman Mao himself.Click here for a full photo galleryCompassion was the theme he returned to when delivering his main speech in Caird Hall.
After being introduced by Dundee University chaplain the Rev Dr Fiona Douglas, the Dalai Lama explained how he believes humans learn compassion from a young age because they require the care of others to survive infancy.
He said humans differ from the rest of the animal kingdom, however, because our intelligence allows us to extend that compassion outside the immediate family circle.
He said such compassion has both short and long-term benefits for people, emotionally and physically.
The Tibetan spiritual leader, who has been exiled from his home country since 1959, said: ”I think as human beings we also have potential to show love and compassion to strangers but it is harder for our enemies.
”But the enemy is a human being with the right to achieve a happy life, too. In that sense we can be concerned about their well-being.
”Human beings can give that powerful affection or love because of their intelligence.”
During his speech, the Dalai Lama discussed how he believes all religions can help make their followers more compassionate.
However, he warned against religious fundamentalism and said there should also be respect between believers and non-believers alike.
He also discussed research that is being carried out in the USA and India to discover ways of teaching compassion.
The Dalai Lama said people must understand their emotional reactions and processes.
”Our emotions are like the Scottish weather,” he said. ”There will be a few moments of sun, then there will be cloud and then rain for a few moments.”
After his speech, the Dalai Lama answered questions submitted by Dundee schoolchildren before leaving the stage to a standing ovation from the audience.
Speaking after the talk ended, Mr Duncan said: ”It was always planned I would meet him. The only bit that wasn’t planned was that I was going to give a speech.
”As soon as the funeral finished I came down, just as planned. It was an excellent afternoon and a privilege to meet the man.”