By Alfred De Tavares

[Photo] The Dalai Lama's popularity in Sweden has prompted observers to draw comparisons with Mahatma Gandhi and Maharishi Yogi who both enjoyed considerable following in the country. (Photo: Mayank Chhaya)

Stockholm --

Many Swedes are saying that the Dalai Lama, Tibetans' spiritual leader, is making the kind of impact on them that Mahatma Gandhi did.

They are taking to his teachings in a big way and see him as a role model for an ethical and compassionate life style. Moreover, they believe that his impact has extended all over Scandinavia and Europe, and that he could soon rival the popularity of Indian guru Maharish Yogi in the 1960s.

The Dalai Lama will visit Sweden May 22-24 in connection with the "Dalai Lama's Perspective," an ambitious project conducted by the Tibetan Buddhist foundation, The Alternative Way.

The project was established last year with the aim of introducing "vital models (patterns) within the frameworks of peace, ethics and environment in Sweden." The Dalai Lama is the inspiration for the pilot project, which is expected to spread to many other societies.

"We are in need of inspiration and positive models," Jessica Nordmark of The Alternative Way told India Abroad. "The Dalai Lama is one such model".

"The Dalai Lama embodies a perspective that is all too often lost in our practical and extrovert society. Not since Mahatma Gandhi has there emerged a popular leader with such deep insight and feeling on what peace signifies."

On May 23, the Dalai Lama will hold a mammoth workshop in Stockholm's gigantic indoors sports arena, The Globe. In preparation for the event, throughout the past year, various participants, including entertainment and literary stars - Annika Dopping, Lill Lindfors, Kay Pollack, Anders Wijkman etc. - have gone around high schools and places of work explaining "in word, picture, song or verse how to develop 'Another Life'," she said. Each school will select a winner and four of these will receive a stipend from The Dalai Lama.