DHARAMSHALA, May 6: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama left his exile hometown of Dharamshala, north India, for a fortnight’s visit of the United States of America on Sunday.
The Dalai Lama has been invited by various universities, colleges, and organisation to interact with students and give a series of lectures, public talks, discussions, and teachings on topics ranging from compassion to global environment.
The 77-year-old Tibetan leader is scheduled to begin his public engagements in Madison with the ‘Anwar Sadat Lecture for Peace on Peace Through Compassion: Connecting a Multi-Faith World’ organised by the University of Maryland on May 7. In the afternoon, the Dalai Lama will participate in ‘A Meeting of Two Oceans: Dialogue on Sufism and Buddhism’ organised by the Roshan Institute of Persian Studies. Live webcast of the two events is available here from 10:00am – 11:30am EDT and 1:30pm – 3:30pm EDT.
His Holiness will then travel to Oregon State, where he is scheduled to take part in various discussions and talks in Portland and Eugene at the invitation of the University of Portland, Maitripa College, and the University of Oregon. On May 11, the Dalai Lama will take part in an environmental summit on ‘Universal Responsibility & the Global Environment,’ during which the popular American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers will be performing for the Dalai Lama.
His Holiness will then visit Wisconsin State and give teachings on Je Tsongkhapa’s ‘Praise to Dependent Origination (tendrel toepa)’ on May 14 in Madison followed by a panel discussion on ‘Change your Mind Change the World’ at the University of Wisconsin-Madison the next day.
The Tibetan leader will then head to Louisiana State and take part in a panel discussion on ‘Trauma Resolution and Healing Through Compassionate Means’ organised by Tulane University on May 17 in New Orleans. This will be followed by a public talk on ‘Strength Through Connection’ the next day at the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena.
On the final leg of his five-state US visit, His Holiness will travel to Kentucky State and give a public talk on ‘Engaging Compassion’ on May 19 followed by a one-day teaching on Atisha’s ‘Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment (jangchuo lamdron)’ at the YUM! Center in Louisville the next day.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is scheduled to wrap up his public assignments with a talk to middle and high school students at the Kentucky Center for the Arts in Louisville on May 21.
