17 FEB 2006

The National Headquarters of the TS in Australia received a very special visitor on 17 February, Adyar Day. The Venerable. Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government in Exile. He was accompanied by Mr Tenzin Phuntsok Atisha, representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Australia, plus organizers of Prof. Rinpoche’s tour to Australia. They were welcomed by our National President, Linda Oliveira. Members of the National Executive Committee and of Blavatsky Lodge were also in attendance.

Ven. Rinpoche answered a number of questions, including the present status of negotiations with the People’s Republic of China on autonomy for Tibet within the constitutional framework of PRC; his deep interest in Gandhi’s ideas and practices since before he came to India in 1959; his early contact with Krishnamurti in Benares, India, in 1971, through the agency of Achyut Patwardhan, who was a close friend of Krishnamurti; and also about his membership of the Theosophical Society in India.

Those of us who were present could not help feeling we were in the presence of a profoundly spiritual person who radiated warmth, selflessness and compassion. We wish Ven. Samdhong Rinpoche every success in his great work for his country, his people and humanity.