SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, April 4, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Utahns are snapping up tickets to see the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet speak at the University of Utah this summer.
The University of Utah said a limited number of tickets to the June 21 talk went on sale for U of U students, faculty and staff at 10 a.m. April 1. A total of 1,500 student tickets sold out in just over two hours.
A representative of the Ute ticket office said an additional 6,500 tickets went on sale Monday at 10 a.m., and by noon they were 90 percent sold out.
Tickets are $35, and there is a four-ticket limit per person. There are a limited number of obstructed-view tickets available for $30 per ticket. The obstructed view seats may not have a view of the Dalai Lama, but will have a clear view of a screen on the center Jumbotron.
The Dalai Lama, who is 80, was scheduled to visit the U back in October 2015 but was forced to cancel when doctors advised him he needed rest for at least a month following prostate treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. General admission tickets to that event sold out in 10 minutes.
The theme of the Dalai Lama’s presentation will be compassion and universal responsibility, and will be followed by a question and answer session. Guests are encouraged to submit their questions prior to the event. Those who submitted questions prior to his scheduled visit last October do not need to submit their questions again.
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.
The spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, 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 non-violence.
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,” Pema Chagzoetsang, Utah Tibet Foundation board member, said in a prepared statement.
“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 does not charge a speaking engagement fee, and no aspect of his visit is being used to profit financially. 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.
You can purchase tickets at utahtickets.com, or by calling the Rice-Eccles Stadium ticket office at 801-581-8849.
