Tibetan Community of Switzerland & Liechtenstein celebrated commemoration of the 33rd Anniversary of the conferment of Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the14th Dalai Lama

Bülach: 17th December 2022: Tibetan Community of Switzerland & Liechtenstein organized  33rd Nobel Peace Prize celebration in Bülach City Hall. The Programme began by welcoming the Portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the altar on the stage with Dhung and Gyaling by the dignitaries. Offering of Mandala and Khatak to His Holiness the Dalai Lamas’ Portrait, for his long life and well-being was done. Tibetan National Anthem led by Swiss Dhoekar (Tibetan Folklore Ensemble of Switzerland) followed by a minute of Silence for all the Martyrs of Tibet was observed. A prayer session led by Khen Rinpoche and Monk was also observed.

After the Prayer session,Tashi Sholpa by Swiss Dhoekar , Ghashey by Toepa Welfare Association Switzerland and Nobel Peace Prize  Song by Swiss Dhokar were performed.

The chief Guest of the ceremony was Ms. Thinley Choekyi , Representative of  Tibet Bureau, Geneva. Other Dignitaries present on the occasion were Ven Thupten Legmen, Khen Rinpoche, Tibet Institute Rikon, former Chitues, Mr. Thomas Büchli, President of Swiss Tibetan friendship association, Mr. Philip Hepp, managing Director, Tibet Institue Rikon, other dignitaries and Representatives of various  NGOs.

Ms.Karma Choekyi, President of the Tibetan Community of Switzerland & Liechtenstein opened the Ceremony with a welcome Speech and thanked all for their presence. She remarked that the Nobel peace prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama was conferred for his truth and non-violent approach to China’s oppression of Tibet. We should all remember and work towards the fulfillment of His holiness’ principle commitments and work towards our cause in unity. She urged the Tibetans specially younger generations to get more involved in Tibetan issues and participate in Tibetan community work.

We should show gratitude as Buddhists for the kindness of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and our older generations for their sacrifices. She also asked Tibetans to complement the teachings in our daily lives. We should apply his teachings in our daily life. We have a good name in Switzerland because of the older generations, which we should keep alive.

In Tibet, children are separated from their parents and sent to camps with the aim of destroying our culture, language and religion. We the  tibetans in switzerland have the opportunity to maintain and preserve our language and culture by sending our own children to weekend tibetan school and dhokar.So please make use of this opportunity and send your children to the weekend Tibetan school. She also reminded the Tibetans to know our real enemy and work for the cause of Tibet.

Ven. Thupten Legmen, Abbot of Rikon Tibet Institute stated that main reason to offer Nobel  peace prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his guidance not only to the humanity of this universe to the path of non-violence and peace but also transforming the nature of the Tibetan freedom movement into a complete non-violent  Endeavour. We should repay his Holiness gratitude by carrying his wishes with a sincerity of purpose. Especially new generation should learn different languages and learn modern education but at the same time should preserve and maintain our rich Tibetan culture and language, which represents Tibetan identity among others.

To have a peaceful community, it is important to have love and compassion as this is the source of a peaceful community. It would be like darkness instead of the Moon and the Sun. It would be like blindness when it is bright because you cannot see the light.

His Holiness has steadily undertaken the commitment to emphasize the importance of inculcating compassion, tolerance, and kindness  to achieve  peace and harmony among all human beings. While stressing the importance of religious harmony, he has advocated dialogue as a means to resolve any conflict. Even in theface of persecution, his holiness has led the world with examples through his undeterred efforts to resolve the issue of  Tibet non-violently.

He also thanked all those who have worked for the community and urged Tibetans to respect the members who work for the community. As the abbot of Tibet Institute Rikon, he took the opportunity to thank all those who support Tibet Institute Rikon with their kind support in running the institute. He also  thanked Mr. Philip, who will retire next year, for his hard work for the benefit of the Tibetan Institute Rikon for a long time.

Chief Guest, Ms.Thinley Choekyi,Representative of Tibet Bureau Geneva  briefed the gist of 16^th Kashag’s Statement issued on the celebration of the occasion and stressed out the importance of shouldering collective responsibility for the common cause. She further urged Tibetan parents to nurture their children with strong grounding in one’s own culture and language. Such efforts would ensure continuity and survival of the Tibetan freedom movement irrespective of how long it may take, she added

Later stated Ms. Choekyi : This was an  international recognition for his  Holiness the Dalai Lama’s unwavering and continueing work and believe in peace and nonviolent solutions  for the  resolution of Tibet China conflict.

On this day I would like to submit my gratitude to all the supporters of the Tibetan movement. Without you, I must say this struggle would have been very difficult. You have made it much easier, with your presence, with your support, and with your inspiration.

As I was saying in Tibetan we are coming to the end of 2022 and next year will have a resolution but this year, specially December, it is time to reflect on what we have done and what we have achieved. On my personal level, I took over the charge as Representative in July and it has been very six months now and I have had my own learnings.

The first learning is that whereever i went and we have 22 countries under our Jurisdictions, i visited germany thrice,chech Republic thrice, Austria once and italy twice and whereever i went i was received with much respect and much honour . It was not my doing, it was because of the relentless work and support of his holiness the dalai Lama and all the elders and the civil servants who have really put their life at stake to make an institutition like CTA and this platform that i have recieved is their hardwork and because of their blessings and therefore i have sincere gratititude to not only for Dalai Lama ofcourse but also to all the civil servants .

The second learning i had is that, we cannot effort to give up now, when the world is coming to its realizations that china does not only have authority even to rule inside china it also had imperialistic aspirations to rule the world. What you have seen with the protest that happening inside  China inside Tibet is nothing but awakening across china as well as the world that you cannot live peacefully under the Communist regime. And i think it is time for Tibetans and supporters to come together and really work together to find peaceful resolutions for China Tibet Conflict.

Swiss Dhoekar, Tibetan Folklore Ensemble, three Provinces of Tibet, Weekend Tibetan Language School Children, Associations and sections in Switzerland performed varieties of lively cultural Programs on the auspicious occasion.

Vote of thanks by Mr. Tenzin Wangdue, vice President of the Tibetan Community of Switzerland & Liechtenstein. He thanked everyone for their support which contributed to the success of this event. After observing the participation of the younger generations in the Tibetan cultural dances, he thanked all the family members for encouraging the younger generations to preserve and maintain our rich culture and tradition in Switzerland.

Tibetans from all corners of  Switzerland with Tibetan traditional Costumes attended the Ceremony with full enthusiasm. The stalls of Tibetan books and goods on the corridor attracted scores of Tibetans of all ages.

In the end, the stage was open for Gorshay –A traditional Tibetan folk dance, led by Nelung Tomlak and Swiss Dhoekar.

So this festive Event ended successfully at about 21.20 PM

Nyima Arya