The Dalai Lama led over 17,000 Buddhists in a two hour assembly to pray for blessing for the hundreds of Taiwanese who lost their lives in land, mud and rock slides and floods triggered by the torrential rains of Typhoon Morakot in southern Taiwan in early August.
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1046035&lang=eng_news&...
The service was attended by opposition Democratic Progressive Party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen, DPP Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chu, who issued the invitation for the Dalai Lama`s visit along with six other DPP mayors, Taiwan High - Speed Railway Corporation Chairwoman Yin Chi and other notables.
Tsai and the Dalai Lama, together with Kaohsiung city mayor had a brief ``natural encounter`` just before the prayer meeting began at 9:30 am in the VIP meeting room, according to DPP spokesman Cheng Wen-tsan.
The DPP spokesman related that the Dalai Lama had reaffirmed that his visit to Taiwan was for the sake of praying for the victims of the disaster and to ``bring hope and encouragement for the survivors`` to help rebuild their homes and because of his friendships with many Taiwanese.
After the prayer meeting, Tsai told reporters that she had expressed her gratitude for the Dalai Lama`s visit at this time to ``show humanitarian compassion and help heal the wounds in the hearts of the Taiwan people`` in the wake of the August 8 disaster.``
Tsai added that the visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader would not necessary have a negative impact on cross-strait relations if the PRC government ``could appreciate that he has come at this difficult time to bring a message of healing and compassion.``
In addition to strong condemnation by the PRC Taiwan Affairs Office against the DPP for inviting the Dalai Lama and the Taiwan government of President Ma Ying-jeou for issuing his visa, the Tibetan leader has been faced with vocal protest by pro-China groups upon his arrival at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, his arrival at the THSR station and outside the Garden Villa Hotel in Kaohsiung City.
About 30 protestors gathered outside the Kaohsiung Arena who belonged to the ``Correct Awareness Educational Foundation`` and stated that the Dalai Lama had had engaged in sexual rights and was an ``impure`` and ``heretical`` monk whose prayers were ``could not have effect.``
Tsai expressed to the Dalai Lama her hope that he understood that ``the absolute majority of the Taiwan people welcome his visit and the message that he brings,`` added Cheng, who noted that ``today over 17,000 persons have gathered to hear the Dalai Lama`s message of humanitarian compassion.``
Cheng also criticized certain news media for ``manufacturing news`` to create an impression that the Dalai Lama`s visit was the result of ``political manipulations.``
The Dalai Lama entered the auditorium to the music of Tibetan horns dressed in gold and red robes to applause from the audience and offered a traditional greeting with closed palms to the audience.
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