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Stephen C. Dunnett is professor of foreign language education and vice provost for international education. He co-chairs the steering committee planning the visit by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sept. 21-23, 2006.
Who is the Dalai Lama?
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, is one of the world's most respected and recognizable spiritual leaders—certainly the most recognizable figure in world Buddhism, a religion of 500 million adherents that has seen dramatic growth in the West recently, thanks in part to the Dalai Lama. The head of state in exile of Tibet and leader of the Tibetan people, the Dalai Lama has devoted his life to the defense of human rights and the promotion of peace and mutual understanding among the peoples and countries of the world. Since leaving Tibet in 1959 at the age of 24, the Dalai Lama has resided in India and traveled the globe informing the world of the plight of the Tibetan people and serving as a witness to the universal human values of peace, tolerance and compassion that he himself exemplifies. The recipient of the 1989 Nobel Prize for Peace, His Holiness has been honored with innumerable awards for his efforts, both as a leader and teacher, to foster a culture of tolerance, mutual respect and compassion. Acknowledged at age 2 as the reincarnation of his predecessor, the 13th Dalai Lama, His Holiness underwent rigorous monastic training, achieving the highest scholastic qualifications in Tibetan Buddhism. Much more than a spiritual figure, the Dalai Lama is a highly accomplished scholar, as well as a best-selling author of books on such topics as Tibetan Buddhism, meditation and the intersection of contemporary science and Buddhist practice.
Why is UB hosting the Dalai Lama, and what is the significance of
his visit?
The visit is the culmination of an effort over a
number of years to bring the Dalai Lama to Buffalo. His Holiness is in
constant demand throughout the world as a speaker, spiritual advisor and
teacher. He receives thousands of invitations annually, but can accept
only a very small number each year. Most of his visits to universities
last only a few hours or a day. UB is therefore privileged to host His
Holiness for several days. In fact, the Dalai Lama's visit to UB will be
a landmark event for both the university and the community. While UB has
hosted former presidents and other dignitaries, it has never before
received a spiritual leader of His Holiness' stature. The closest
analogy is a visit by the Pope. Many UB alumni around the world already
have learned of the visit from the foreign press, where the travels of
the Dalai Lama are covered much more extensively than in the U.S. media.
The international alumni are especially pleased and proud that their
alma mater has been singled out for the high honor of receiving His
Holiness. Particularly in Asia, where there are large numbers of
Buddhists and others who take an interest in the Dalai Lama's travels,
the visit is seen as a real coup for UB. UB will join the likes of
Cornell, Harvard, Stanford and the University of Toronto in playing host
to the Dalai Lama for an extended period. In addition to the prestige
that the visit will confer on UB, it will greatly enhance the visibility
of the university's Asian Studies Program and UB's many institutional
and academic ties to Asia. The visit will greatly elevate UB's profile
in Asia and advance the university's recruitment efforts in that part of
the world. The visit also creates exciting development opportunities for
UB's programs at home, including sponsorships of Asia-related programs
and activities.
What is the purpose of the Dalai Lama's visit?
His
Holiness has indicated that the primary purpose of his visit to UB is
educational. As a focus for his visit, he has chosen the theme
"Promoting peace across borders through education." Of course, this has
been one of His Holiness' own personal missions in life, but it also has
great significance for those of us who see international education and
exchange as a way to reduce the ignorance and intolerance that divide
nations and peoples. One of the reasons UB was chosen for a visit by His
Holiness is the fact that we enroll such a large and diverse community
of international students, two thirds of whom are from Asia. In addition
to a small number of Tibetan students who have received scholarships
from UB under the auspices of the Tibet Fund and the Fulbright Program,
we have more than 2,000 from other parts of Asia. Many of these students
are Buddhist. When he is here, His Holiness will have a special audience
with some of our international students.
What events are planned?
His Holiness' visit will include
not only a major public address in the UB Stadium as part of the
Distinguished Speakers Series, but also an unprecedented interfaith
service bringing together the religious leaders from across Western New
York. Special teaching audiences with students and faculty also are
planned. In addition, numerous events are
being planned in conjunction with the visit, including sand mandala
painting and performances by Tibetan monks with the Mystical Arts of
Tibet, exhibitions of Tibetan art and photographs, and a major
conference on Buddhist law in the UB Law School. In the months leading
up to the visit, a number of activities are planned to educate the
community about the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism. One is a special
Asian Studies course during the spring semester titled "Tibet: Myth and
Reality," coordinated by Thomas Burkman, director of Asian Studies.
Another is the "Tibet-in-Buffalo" film series at the Market Arcade Film
and Arts Center in March and April.
Who is planning the visit
and where can one find updated information about the visit and related
activities?
The university has appointed a special steering
committee to plan the visit by His Holiness and to coordinate related
activities. The committee comprises members from the university and
local communities. Publicity about the visit and related events will be
carried in the Reporter and other campus media. A special Web
site has been created at www.buffalo.edu/
dalai_lama to provide updated information about His
Holiness, the visit and related activities. The site allows visitors to
join a mailing list to receive program information, event tickets and
schedules, etc.
What question do you wish I had asked, and how would you have
answered it?
I wish you had asked what the Dalai Lama is like in
person. I had the privilege of meeting His Holiness last year during an
audience in Toronto when we had the opportunity personally to invite His
Holiness to UB on behalf of President Simpson and the university
community. Regardless of one's personal beliefs, meeting the Dalai Lama
is a revelation. There is an unmistakable aura about him, an impression
one gets of great serenity and good will. At the same time, he is
utterly simple and unpretentious, a man of great warmth and good humor.
As is often observed, His Holiness strikes one as a human being fully
alive, fully there. I came away a great admirer of the Dalai Lama
and even more gratified that UB will have the privilege of receiving
him.