The Dalai Lama will visit UC Irvine on May 4 for a public talk, “Compassion & Global Leadership,” to mark the sixth anniversary of UCI’s XIV Dalai Lama Endowed Scholarship and thank the scholars for their efforts to foster peace, ethical leadership and positive global relations.
The spiritual leader of Buddhism and recipient of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize will be joined onstage by Tibetan singer Yungchen Lhamo. The appearance is part of the university’s Living Peace Series of lectures.
The Dalai Lama’s scheduled appearance has inspired three days of related events around campus.
On May 3, Professor Robert Thurman of Columbia University, a friend of the Dalai Lama for more than 40 years, will speak. Thurman has cultivated a worldwide awareness of Tibet through his academic and popular writing and translation of Buddhist texts.
Meanwhile, starting May 3, the monks of India’s Gaden Shartse Monastery will create the White Tara sand mandala in honor of the Dalai Lama’s visit. A mandala is a cosmic diagram that represents the dwelling place or celestial mansion of a deity. Upon completion on May 5, the monks will perform a special ritual to bless and consecrate the mandala.
It is the Dalai Lama’s second visit to the university. In April 2004, he came to the campus to discuss ethical leadership and personal responsibility in the new millennium. This inspired the creation of an annual scholarship in his name – endowed by private citizens – recognizing UCI undergraduates with a record of honesty, integrity, fairness and service to others. Applicants must outline a project promoting ethics, peace, compassionate leadership or local and global responsibility.
Sponsored by UC Irvine and Center for Living Peace Orange County, the Living Peace Series features high-profile speakers from around the globe who are committed to making the world a more healthy, sustainable and compassionate place. This is the third in a series, which has also included Charlize Theron and Sir Richard Branson.
General-seating tickets (limit two) are available for $15, $30, $60 and $90 through the Bren Events Center box office and Ticketmaster.
