Sao Paulo, September 17, 2011—On the final day of his ten-day visit to Latin America, His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a public talk on ‘Harmony through Universal Responsibility’ to 6,500 people at West Pavillion of the Parque das Convencoes do Anhembi in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This event was co-hosted by the office of Mayor of Sao Paulo City.
As soon as his motorcade arrived at Convention Center, His Holiness was received by Mr. Gilberto Kassab, Mayor of Sao Paulo City, Dom Odilo Scherer, Archbishop of Sao Paulo, Mr. João Grandino Rodas, Dean of Sao Paulo University, and Chief of Security. After having a brief private meeting with them, His Holiness was ushered on the stage, where Mayor Gilberto Kassab welcomed and introduced His Holiness to the public.
After the introduction, His Holiness began his public talk on ‘Harmony through Unviersal Responsibility’.
His Holiness told the crowd that the concept of war and use of force is out dated. He said, in the past, nations remained isolated from each others and therefore, defeat for your neighbor and victory for you. But, today, he said, we live in a much interconnected world, therefore, he said, the destruction of your neighbor is destruction of yourself. In order to make the life in 21st century more peaceful, harmonious and stable, he said, we must learn to resolve all differences and problems through dialogue and for that, he said, younger people who are very much part of the 21st century should pay more attention to inner values or secular ethics and learn to respect others even if there are serious differences over the belief system and ideology. After he finished his talk, His Holiness also attended to many questions from the public.
His Holiness’ talk was also attended by many disabled people on wheel chairs as well as others who have hearing and speech problems.
In the afternoon, His Holiness gave a teaching primarily focused on cultivating constructive and positive emotions at the Golden Hall of the World Trade Center. He suggested the audience to pay more attention to study rather than merely caught up in the ritual. He told that knowledge and practice must go hand-in-hand.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s last event in Sao Paulo was attended by around 5,000 people. Many could not get the seat as the seating capacity of the Golden Hall in the World Trade Center where the teaching was has only 4,000 sitting capacity and therefore chose to seat on the floor without chair or cushion.
At the end of event, Prof. Lia Diskin, Co-founder of Palas Athena Association and host of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Brazil, thanked His Holiness, on behalf of the Brazilian people, for his kind visit and sharing his wisdom. Prof. Lia Diskin requested His Holiness to return to Brazil next year and while she narrated these words, the crowds gave standing ovation and many could be seen crying with excitement.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama left Sao Paulo for Frankfurt as soon as he finished the last event in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
