by Tenzin Nangsyal

New Delhi, September 6: The eyes were moist and the voices quivering. Everyone in the hard-core group of professionals - from sharp-tongued lawyers to scissor-handling doctors, strong-willed administrators to hard-working entrepreneurs – was emotional. Probably His Holiness does that to everyone, involuntarily.

On Sunday over 40 Tibetan professionals from New Delhi got an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdong Rinpoche at the Taj Mahal Hotel.

The professionals are the members of Global Tibetan Professional’s Network [GTPN], a growing group of Tibetan professionals with chapters in India and North America. The audience was facilitated by Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Empowering the Vision Project at New Delhi. The objective of the audience was said to be to introduce and update His Holiness of the activities of GTPN.

Talking to the gathering, His Holiness said, “As Tibetans in your respective fields, it is your duty to represent your people. Tibetans are considered very honest and people trust them. You must uphold this trust.”

His Holiness went on to add that being honest must become a way of life for the professionals. “You will be met with disappointment initially – you might suffer losses for being honest at the outset. But in the long run, this honesty will pay. So, all of you must lead an honest life.”

Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdong Rinpoche also harped on the need to be good professionals. He said, “Money should not be the only factor for you to work or to choose a particular kind of work. Fulfilling the need of the community if looked at, would serve all well. You must be sincere and dedicated towards your work.”

Rinpoche and His Holiness also stressed on the need to imbibe both “Tibetanness” and modern knowledge in order to become a complete and responsible Tibetan.

“I am proud of the fact that I am a Tibetan and so should you. Tibetans who live in Tibet tell us that no matter what the Chinese do to us, we will never give up. When they are so strong, then how can we give up? It would be a shame. Wouldn’t it? So, be proud of being a Tibetan,” His Holiness said.

The short meeting ended with a group photograph with His Holiness and the Kalon Tripa. A meeting of GTPN also took place