SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb. 12, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — The University of Utah has announced the visit from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet canceled last fall has been rescheduled for this June.
The U of U and the Utah Tibet Foundation announced in a news release the visit will take place at 1:30 p.m. June 21 at the Huntsman Center, 1825 S. Campus Drive.
The Dalai Lama, who is 80, was scheduled to visit the U in October 2015 but canceled after doctors advised him to take complete rest. An official statement from the office of the Dalai Lama states that following prostate treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and a period of rest for approximately one month, the Dalai Lama will resume his regular engagement schedule in March.
A limited number of tickets will go on sale for University of Utah students, faculty and staff at 10 a.m. April 1. Tickets for the general public will be available at 10 a.m. April 4. Tickets will be available at utahtickets.com or the Rice-Eccles Stadium ticket office, 801-581-8849.
Tickets for U students are $10, with a limit of two per UCard; faculty and staff tickets are $20, with a limit of two per UCard; and reserved tickets are available to the community for $35, with a limit of four tickets per purchase. There will be a limited number of obstructed-view tickets available for $30 per ticket.
The theme of the Dalai Lama’s presentation will be compassion and universal responsibility followed by a question-and-answer session. Guests are encouraged to submit their questions online prior to the event. Those who submitted questions prior to his scheduled visit last October do not need to resubmit their questions.
“It is a great honor and pleasure to welcome the Dalai Lama back to the University of Utah,” said David W. Pershing, president of the U. “His health and well being are of utmost concern, and we are happy he is doing well and we will have the opportunity to hear from him.”
The news release said Dalai Lama has committed his life to three major principles: the promotion of basic human values in the interest of human happiness, the fostering of inter-religious harmony, and the preservation of Tibet’s Buddhist culture of peace and nonviolence.
Exiled from Tibet in 1959 during the uprising of Tibetans against the Chinese army, the Dalai Lama escaped to India and established the Central Tibetan Administration to meet the needs of refugees and seek to maintain their culture.
He has since traveled the globe promoting peace and compassion, and in 1989, he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent struggle to free Tibet.
“His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet is a gift to the world. I am so grateful that His Holiness is in great health,” said Pema Chagzoetsang, board member of the Utah Tibet Foundation.
“In today’s world, his message of seeking personal spiritual awareness to reflect compassion and kindness is more needed than ever. He has impacted millions of people worldwide through his teachings on human values, tolerance, harmony, peace and the genuine practice of loving kindness. The Dalai Lama has stepped outside traditional roles to make this world more conscious of our humanity.”
Prior to his address at 1:30 p.m., a cultural program will be presented by the Utah Tibetan Association. Doors to the Huntsman Center open at 11 a.m.
All local proceeds from the event will go to the Utah Tibetan Association to benefit the Tibetan Community Center, a gathering place to celebrate and encourage the preservation of Tibetan culture.
