Dalai Lama's Visit To Australia: When And Where?

when is the dalai lama coming to australia

The Dalai Lama has visited Australia numerous times, with sources citing visits in 1982, 1992, 1996, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2013, and 2015. During these visits, he has travelled extensively throughout the country, offering religious teachings and participating in various events. His most recent visit in 2015 included a 12-day tour, during which he visited Sydney, Brisbane, Uluru, and Perth. While in Australia, the Dalai Lama has addressed a range of topics, from inner values and secular ethics to the importance of protecting Indigenous culture and language. His visits have attracted both supporters and protesters, and he has met with Australian prime ministers and other dignitaries.

Characteristics Values
Number of visits to Australia 10
First visit 1982
Most recent visit 2015
Next visit None found
Purpose of visits Delivering religious teachings, public talks, meeting aboriginal communities, giving interviews, etc.
Cities visited Sydney, Leura, Blue Mountains, Brisbane, Uluru, Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra

shunculture

The Dalai Lama's 2015 visit to Australia

The Dalai Lama has visited Australia several times since his maiden visit in 1982. In 2015, the Dalai Lama embarked on a 12-day tour of Australia, his tenth visit to the country.

The Dalai Lama arrived at Sydney Airport on the morning of June 4, 2015, and was greeted by over 300 people, including about 200 Tibetans who offered him a traditional welcome with the 'Chema Changpu'. He then travelled to the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, where he gave the opening talk of his tour in Leura. Around 150 Tibetans, many in traditional costume, carrying flags and banners, welcomed him to the region. The Dalai Lama was also met by protesters from the Shugden Buddhist community, who claimed that he had encouraged Buddhists to shun their minority group.

During his visit, the Dalai Lama emphasised the importance of protecting Indigenous culture and language in Australia and worldwide. He visited the sacred site of Uluru in the Northern Territory, where he paid his respects to the elders of the Anangu people and interacted with the local Aboriginal community.

The Dalai Lama also spoke about the need to train future generations in secular ethics and humane values based on common experiences and scientific findings. When asked about how this applied to extremely violent groups, he stressed that violence inevitably leads to more violence, and that we need to talk to these people to understand their anger and fear.

shunculture

The Dalai Lama's 2007 visit to Australia

The Dalai Lama has visited Australia 10 times since his maiden visit in 1982. His 2007 visit was particularly notable as the then Prime Minister, John Howard, decided to meet with him despite staunch opposition from China. Howard had previously met the Dalai Lama during his visit in 1996 but did not meet him in 2002.

The Dalai Lama's visits to Australia have often inspired spiritually and sometimes courted controversy. During his visits, he has delivered religious teachings and public talks, highlighting his commitment to promoting peace, freedom, and non-violence based on Buddhist philosophy. He has also emphasised the importance of protecting Indigenous culture and language in Australia and across the world.

During his 2007 visit, the Dalai Lama received a warm welcome from the Tibetan community in Australia. About 200 Tibetans gathered at the airport to greet him, offering him a traditional welcome with the 'Chema Changpu'. He then travelled to the Blue Mountains, where he was greeted by about 150 Tibetans, many of whom were in traditional costumes and carrying flags and banners.

The Dalai Lama's visits to Australia have had a significant impact on the country's spiritual and cultural landscape. His teachings and public talks have inspired many Australians and contributed to a growing interest in his message of peace, compassion, and non-violence. The Dalai Lama's visits have also played a crucial role in raising awareness and support for the protection of Indigenous cultures and languages, both in Australia and worldwide.

shunculture

The Dalai Lama's 1992 visit to Australia

The 1992 visit was driven by the Dalai Lama's wish to deliver religious teachings across seven major Australian cities. However, he also ended up meeting the then Prime Minister, Paul Keating, in Canberra. Keating stated that he was meeting the Dalai Lama to acknowledge his prominence as a “religious figure” and a “distinguished Nobel Laureate”.

The Dalai Lama's public speaking engagements were sell-outs, with special arrangements having to be made to cater for overflow crowds as he travelled across the country. The Kalachakra ('Wheel of Time') is one of the most significant and elaborate Buddhist teachings conferred by the Dalai Lama. Towards the end of 1996, the Dalai Lama gave such a teaching at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion. It was the first-ever Kalachakra initiation in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Dalai Lama returned to Australia several times in the 2000s due to increased interest among Australians in his teachings and public talks. His 2007 visit made headlines as Prime Minister John Howard decided to meet with him, despite staunch opposition from China. The Dalai Lama also made a surprise appearance on the Australian reality TV cooking show MasterChef in 2011.

shunculture

The Dalai Lama's 1982 visit to Australia

The Dalai Lama, also known as His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, first visited Australia in 1982. This was one of his earliest trips abroad after fleeing Tibet in 1959 and living as a refugee in Dharamsala, India. The Dalai Lama's 1982 visit to Australia was low-key, with little media attention, and he stayed in the private home of a student and supporter in Melbourne.

The Dalai Lama has since returned to Australia numerous times, including in 1992, 1996, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2013, and 2015. His visits have often been a source of spiritual inspiration for many Australians, but they have also occasionally sparked controversy. The Dalai Lama's 1992 visit, for example, was focused on delivering religious teachings in seven major Australian cities, but he also met with then-Prime Minister Paul Keating, who acknowledged his prominence as a "religious figure" and a "distinguished Nobel Laureate" following his receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

The Dalai Lama's 2007 visit also attracted attention due to then-Prime Minister John Howard's decision to meet with him despite opposition from China. In 2011, the Dalai Lama made a surprise appearance on the reality TV cooking show MasterChef, tasting dishes prepared by contestants but refraining from judging them due to his limited knowledge of fine dining and his principle of not showing preference. During his 2013 visit, he was invited to lecture at the University of Sydney as part of his 'Beyond Religion: The benefits of living ethically' speaking tour, sparking criticism of the university for allegedly compromising academic integrity amid political pressure.

The Dalai Lama's most recent visit to Australia in 2015 included a trip to the sacred site of Uluru in the Northern Territory, where he interacted with the local Aboriginal community and emphasised the importance of protecting Indigenous culture and language. He also gave a brief interview to Waleed Aly, co-host of Network Ten's 'The Project', discussing how to handle extremely violent groups and the importance of training future generations in secular ethics and humane values.

shunculture

The Dalai Lama's other visits to Australia

The Dalai Lama first visited Australia in 1982. At the time, he was not a well-known figure in the country, and the visit was low-profile with minimal media attention. He lodged at a student and supporter's private home in Melbourne.

The Dalai Lama returned to Australia in 1992, by then a Nobel Peace Prize recipient for advocating peace and freedom through non-violence, based on Buddhist philosophy. He had garnered a huge international following, and his visit was driven by delivering religious teachings across seven major Australian cities. Despite this, he met with then-Prime Minister Paul Keating, who acknowledged his prominence as a "religious figure" and a "distinguished Nobel Laureate". Towards the end of 1996, the Dalai Lama gave a Kalachakra ('Wheel of Time') teaching at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion. It was the first-ever Kalachakra initiation in the Southern Hemisphere.

In 2007, the Dalai Lama made another visit to Australia, meeting with Prime Minister John Howard despite staunch opposition from China. Howard had previously met the Dalai Lama during his 1996 visit but did not meet him in 2002. In 2011, the Dalai Lama made a surprise appearance on the hit reality TV cooking show MasterChef. He tasted the food cooked by contestants but refused to make any comments, citing his limited knowledge of fine dining and his principles against preferring one dish over another.

During his most recent visit to Australia in 2015, the Dalai Lama visited the sacred site of Uluru in the Northern Territory. He paid his respects to the elders of the Anangu people and interacted with the local Aboriginal community. He highlighted the importance of protecting Indigenous culture and language in Australia and across the globe.

Frequently asked questions

The Dalai Lama first visited Australia in 1982.

The Dalai Lama has visited Australia 10 times.

The Dalai Lama has delivered religious teachings, met with the Prime Minister, and visited sacred sites such as Uluru. He has also appeared on the reality TV cooking show MasterChef and given lectures at universities.

The Dalai Lama's most recent visit to Australia was in 2015.

Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment