Dalai Lama to visit Assam, Arunachal in April

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama will visit Assam's main city Guwahati on April 1 to deliver a series of public talks and then go to Arunachal Pradesh to spread Buddhist teachings.

While the Dalai Lama will deliver the first public talk at Guwahati on April 1 as part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of The Assam Tribune, he is expected to deliver the second public talk at IIT Guwahati on April 2 jointly organised by Lawyer's Book Stall and IIT Guwahati.

During his second day's programme, the Dalai Lama is also expected to inaugurate an Assamese translation of his book, "My Land and My People".

Officials said the spiritual leader will give talk on world peace.

The Tibetan leader will visit Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh from April 5 to 7 and teach on Kamalashila's "The Middling States of Meditation" and Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo's "37 Practices of a Bodhisattva".

He will confer the Rinzin Dhondup Initiation at Yiga Choezin.

The Dalai Lama will also speak on Geshe Langri Thangpa's "Eight Verses of Training the Mind" and "Guru Yoga" and confer the Avalokiteshvara Permission at Thupsung Dhargyeling Monastery at Dirang on April 10.

China has bitterly opposed the Indian government hosting the Dalai Lama and is particularly against the Tibetan leader's visit to Arunachal Pradesh. Beijing considers Arunachal a part of Tibet.

India says the Dalai Lama is a revered guest and is free to visit any place in the country.

The Dalai Lama has lived in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959.

--IANS

ah/mr