The Dalai Lama is coming! The Dalai Lama is coming!
 roseth@u.washington.edu |
HisHoliness the 14th Dalai Lama will speak with students from regionalpublic and private universities and community colleges from 3 to 5 p.m.April 14 in the Bank of America Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on theUniversity of Washington Seattle campus. This special convocation, partof His Holiness' five-day visit to Seattle for the Seeds of Compassioninitiative, will engage students and the world figure in a discussioncentered on compassion and civic responsibility. This event is intended primarily for students from the region.Online tickets will be available in mid-March. More details will beforthcoming. Questions should be directed to the Office of Ceremonies, ceremony@u.washington.edu. The university will confer an honorary Doctor of Humane Lettersfor His Holiness' humanitarianism, his advocacy of non-violence, andhis promotion of compassion, responsibility, and understanding. "This is a timely opportunity for our campus," said Ed Taylor,dean and vice provost of undergraduate academic affairs at theUniversity of Washington. "Civic engagement and compassion are imbuedin our mission and a part of who we are. Students, faculty, and staffshow compassion and civic engagement daily through service to others,mentorship, tutoring, thoughtful research, and advising that focuses onthe whole student. We're looking forward to this opportunity to connectstudents from the UW and other colleges with His Holiness." "His Holiness the Dalai Lama is pleased to participate in thisimportant dialogue with the college students of Washington", added LamaTenzin Dhonden, co-founder of Seeds of Compassion and the personalemissary for peace for the Dalai Lama. "He particularly enjoys speakingwith students and engaging in a lively discussion. As His Holinessrecently told us, ‘they, the younger generation, are the real basis forour hope.'" His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is both thehead of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born on July 6,1935, to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in Taktser, Amdo,northeastern Tibet. At the age of two the child, who was named LhamoDhondup at that time, was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13thDalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. The Dalai Lamas are believed to bemanifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva ofCompassion and patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are enlightenedbeings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirthin order to serve humanity. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who describes himself as "asimple Buddhist monk," is a man of peace. In 1989 he was awarded theNobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation ofTibet and most recently was awarded the Gold Medal of the US Congress,the highest honor for a non-American. He has consistently advocatedpolicies of non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggression. Healso became the first Nobel Laureate to be recognized for his concernfor global environmental problems. His Holiness has travelled to morethan 62 countries spanning six continents. He has met with presidents,prime ministers and crowned rulers of major nations. He has helddialogues with the heads of different religions and many well-knownscientists. Since 1959 His Holiness has received over 84 awards, honorarydoctorates, prizes, etc., in recognition of his message of peace,non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibilityand compassion. His Holiness has also authored more than 72 books. For complete biographical information on His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, visit www.dalailama.com/page.105.htm. Seeds of Compassion is an initiative dedicated to focusing worldattention on the importance of social and emotional development ofchildren. More information about the Seeds of Compassion events April11 -- 15 with His Holiness the Dalai Lama visit www.seedsofcompassion.org.