SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – September 28, 2015 (Gephardt Daily/ CNN) – The Dalai Lama is at Minnesota’s Mayo Clinic for medical evaluation, CNN is reporting.
Ginger Plumbo declined to talk about why he was there or for how long.
The upcoming talk by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet at the Huntsman Center was cancelled on Friday, September 25.
The University of Utah was notified by the Office of Tibet in Washington D.C. in a statement that “the Dalai Lama arrived in the United States earlier this week for a medical evaluation. Upon completion of the evaluation, the doctors have advised that His Holiness take complete rest. As a result, His Holiness will be returning to India next week and will not be able to visit the United States next month. We deeply regret cancellation of the visit.”
The talk on Sunday, Oct. 18 sold out in half an hour back in July. As part of his visit to Salt Lake City this fall, the Dalai Lama would have also given the keynote speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions held at the Salt Palace Convention Center on Oct. 17.
As of yet, the event has not been rescheduled. More information will be sent to ticket holders as it becomes available.
The university community and the Utah Tibet Foundation said they wish the Dalai Lama a speedy recovery.
The Dalai Lama’s first visit to the U. campus was in May 2001.
The 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 non-violent struggle to free Tibet.
“His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet is a gift to the world,” 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.”
The Dalai Lama, 80, was also scheduled to make appearances in Boulder, Colo. and Philadelphia next month.
