XPost: alt.philosophy.zen, alt.religion.buddhism.tibetan, cn.culture.buddhism   
   XPost: talk.religion.buddhism, uk.religion.buddhist   
   From: peter.terpstra7@gmail.com   
      
   25 years ago today, on December 10, 1989, His Holiness the Dalai Lama accepted   
   the Nobel Peace Prize.   
      
   I was lucky enough to be in Oslo, Norway that day when His Holiness accepted   
   this prestigious award.   
      
   The Norwegian Nobel Committee’s recognition of the leader in exile was a   
   tribute to the Dalai Lama's tireless campaign to end oppression in Tibet, his   
   homeland.   
   The Committee stated in its decision that His Holiness "consistently has   
   opposed the use of violence," and "advocated peaceful solutions based upon   
   tolerance and   
   mutual respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of   
   his people."   
      
   In his acceptance speech His Holiness said:   
      
   “I pray for all of us, oppressor and friend, that together we succeed in   
   building a better world through human under-standing and love, and that in   
   doing so we may   
   reduce the pain and suffering of all sentient beings.” He continued, “Ours   
   has been a long struggle. We know our cause is just because violence can only   
   breed   
   more violence and suffering. Our struggle must remain nonviolent and free of   
   hatred. We are trying to end the suffering of our people- not to inflict   
   suffering upon   
   others.”   
      
   Later on that cold afternoon, I joined the throng of international supporters   
   carrying lit candles through the streets of Oslo to His Holiness the Dalai   
   Lama’s hotel   
   where we spontaneously serenaded him. We sang in many languages but our song   
   became one…a choir of peace, hope and deep yearning that good things were   
   truly possible. Graciously, optimistically, His Holiness came down to the   
   square and joined us. It was an incredible outpouring of love and solidarity   
   that those of us   
   there will never forget. I hope you might have the chance to watch it here.   
      
   While His Holiness remains a most-prominent voice for nonviolence and a   
   staunch advocate for peaceful solutions, too little has changed since that day.   
      
   As our commitment to nonviolence becomes increasingly valuable in the world,   
   as we celebrate December 10, 2014 as the United Nations’s Human Rights Day, I   
   hope you will remain steadfast in continuing or increasing your generous   
   support of ICT so we can accomplish our ultimate goal: Tibetans living the   
   lives they   
   choose, in peace, in their homeland.   
      
   Thank you.   
      
   With best wishes through this holiday season to you and your family,   
   Richard Gere, Chairman   
   ICT Board of Directors   
      
   http://youtu.be/mVDfW7WFhuQ   
   http://youtu.be/mVDfW7WFhuQ   
   http://youtu.be/mVDfW7WFhuQ   
   http://youtu.be/mVDfW7WFhuQ   
   http://youtu.be/mVDfW7WFhuQ   
   http://youtu.be/mVDfW7WFhuQ   
   http://youtu.be/mVDfW7WFhuQ   
   http://youtu.be/mVDfW7WFhuQ   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)