TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Daoed Joesoef, the nation's Education and Culture Minister in 1978-1983, welcomed five special guests in his residence last weekend, among them was Khenpo Norbu Gyeltshen, a special envoy from Tibetian spiritual leader Dalai Lama.
Khenpo met Daoed to deliver a letter of appreciation and gratitude from the Dalai Lama. “Dalai Lama wishes to appreciate and thank Mr. Daoed for his attempts to restore and preserve Borobudur Temple,” said Khenpo.
In the letter, issued by the Dalai Lama Office on January 23, Dalai Lama expressed his belief that the only way to achieve harmony in inter-religion life was by interaction among one another, such as visiting a religious place like Borobudur. “As a tourism destination, Borobudur plays an important role in this purpose,” the letter says.
The letter came from personal efforts by some Buddhists in Indonesia, who were aware of Daoed’s dedication to Borobudur. “I want the people to know that Mr. Daoed’s struggled to restore and preserve Borobudur,” said Melly Kiong, one of the people who first proposed the letter.
Three months ago, Melly and her colleagues delivered a letter to several Buddhist teaching centers in Thailand, Myanmar, and other countries, including Tibet. In the letter, they retold Daoed’s attempts to salvage Borobudur Temple. Dalai Lama Office turned out to be the quickest in responding the letter.
RATNANING ASIH | HP
