2004

INDIA, Dharamsala

March 7-21

His Holiness will teach on Zapaltrul Ogyen jigme Choekyi Wangpo's (1808-1887) Kunzang Lama'i Zhal- lung (Words of my Perfect Lama) and Jetsun Milarepa's Spiritual Songs and Semnyid Ngalso (Relaxing the Mind Itself.)

March 26 - April 4

At the request of Loseling Tulku Association, His Holiness will teach on Chakrasamvara Initiation. Those wishing to attend this teaching will have to do the daily practice of the Chakrasamvara Self-Generation of the Body Mandala as the commitment. Contact: Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, P.O. Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala (H.P.) -176219, INDIA Tel: [91-(0) 1892] 221343/221879, Fax: [91-(0) 1892] 221813 E-mail: [email protected]

CANADA

April 25 to May 5

The Dalai Lama will confer the Kalachakra Initiation in Toronto

April 25-27

Kalachakra Ritual Prayers April 28-30

The preliminary teachingsHis Holiness will teach on Chapter 18 (Examination of Self and Phenomena), Chapter 24 (Examination of

Arya Truths) and Chapter 26 (Examination of Twelve Branches of Dependent Origination) from Nagarjuna's Treatise of the Middle Way May 1

The earth ritual dance May 2

The preparation of the students May 3-4

The actual Kalachakra Initiation

May 5

The long life initiation for the public and long life offering to His Holiness

Contact: Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario, PO Box 38, Station C, Toronto, Ontario, M6K 3M7, Canada. /http://www.ctao.org

Contact address of visit coordinator The Office of Tibet, 241 East 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016 (USA) Tel: (212) 213-5010 Email: [email protected]

UNITED KINGDOM

May 28

His Holiness will give a Public Talk in London organized by The Teme- nos Academy whose patron is Prince Charles. For booking tickets, please contact Stephen Overy at Temenos Academy Tel: 01233 813663 E-mail: [email protected] May 29-June 1

His Holiness will give a Public Talk (May 29) and teachings in Glasgow

(Scotland) on Kamashila's Middle Stages of Meditation and Thogme Sangpo's Thirty-Seven Bodhisattava Practices; followed by the Mithrukpa Initiation. For booking tickets and other arrangements in Glasgow, please contact the organiser, Dharma Network 2004, at their website www.dalailama2004.org.uk. Mailing address: Dharma Network 2004, Post Box 1923, Salisbury SP4 6XL (U. K.)

June 2-3

His Holiness will visit Edinburgh and Dunfermline (Scotland) at the invitation of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association and the Tibet Association of Edinburgh. For information about public talk/events and to book tickets, please contact Mr. Victor Spence by e-mail: [email protected]

Contact address of visit coordinator

The Office of Tibet, 1 Culworth Street, London NW8 7AF (U.K.) Tel: 004420-7722 5378 Email: [email protected]

2005

SWITZERLAND (Tentative) August 5 - 12 His Holiness will teach on Shantideva's Bodhicharya- vatara (Living the Bodhisattava Way of Life) and Kamashila's Ehavanakrama (Stages of Meditation) Contact email: teachings-in- [email protected]

Contact address of visit coordinator The Tibet Bureau, Place de la Navigation 10,1201 Geneva (Switzerland) Tel: 0041-22-738-7940 Email: [email protected]

Practical advice for attending H.H. the Dalai Lama's teachings in India

When His Holiness the Dalai Lama gives public teachings in India you would be well advised to bring: a cushion, an FM radio, a cup, and a sunhat and given the security checks that take place, as little else as possible.

Registration

All teachings in India are free and except certain restricted and tantric teachings prior registration is not necessary.

Seating

In the West seating for public events is, likely as not, arranged by ticket and seat number and you keep the seat you are thus assigned. In Tibet and India for many public events seating is on the floor or on the ground. However, the convention amongst Tibetans is that you take your seat on the first day of a series of teachings, mark it with a cushion or a piece of cloth, and thereafter keep to that seat for the duration of the teachings. This is how Tibetans have traditionally avoided hassling each other over who sits where every day. So, following the old adage about when in Rome do as the Romans do, it seems reasonable to suggest that when among Tibetans do as the Tibetans do.

Tea and offerings to the monastic community

It is customary for tea to be served to the gathering, so it is worthwhile carrying your own cup. You will often notice that money is offered to monks and nuns. This is an offering to the spiritual community. Both the tea and offerings are paid for by contributions from patrons and the general public. If you would also like to contribute there is nearly always an office near the teaching location where you can do so. How much you give is entirely at your discretion, but you will be given a receipt.

Shoes

Tibetans tend to keep their shoes on when they are sitting on the ground, or at least keep them on until they sit down. Taking your shoes off and carrying them in your hand through a crowd sitting on the ground means that you carry them right in front of people's faces, which most people prefer to avoid.