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At the Wisconsin State Legislature in Madison, Wisconsin
Photo: Jeremy Russell OHHDL

His Holiness the Dalai Lama just finished a two-week teaching trip to the United States, visiting five states and speaking primarily with students. His Holiness stressed that the journey toward peace must start with education.

Maryland

The University of Maryland in College Park invited His Holiness to present the Anwar Sadat Lecture for Peace on Peace Through Compassion: Connecting a Multi-Faith World on May 7. After donning a visor with the university’s mascot and rubbing noses with the Maryland governor, His Holiness stressed to a record audience of 15,000 that we must learn compassion, tolerance, and forgiveness before attempting to solve political problems.  Later in the day he led a panel discussion. University President Wallace Loh called the visit a ‘special opportunity’ to see and hear His Holiness in person, as ‘he represents what we all aspire to as a civilized society’.

At the Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association in Portland, Oregon
Photo: Jeremy Russell OHHDL

Oregon

Maitripa College, a Tibetan Buddhist institution in Portland, welcomed His Holiness on May 8. After a meeting with staff and Tibetan students at the Global Leadership Initiative, he led an interfaith gathering of 4,300 at the University of Portland and was greeted by the local Tibetan community, which is 600 members strong.  ‘This morning’s session, in the spirit of religious brotherhood, was very good,’ His Holiness said after the event. ‘We need to repeat this in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East.’  He was awarded an honorary degree by Maitripa College, and a President’s Medal from the University of Oregon, where he spoke to an audience of 10,000 people, focussing on the environment and the necessity for dialogue among future generations in order to procure a peaceful world.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to Tibetan students in Madison, Wisconsin
Photo:Jeremy Russell OHHDL

Wisconsin

On May 15, His Holiness joined other thought leaders at the University of Wisconsin in Madison  to discuss neuroscience, environment, economics, and healthcare and how  they can combine to make the world a healthier, happier place.  ‘Whether king or queen or high Lama or high sort of special leader like Dalai Lama and beggar, we are the same’, His Holiness said.  He also gave a teaching on Je Tsongkhapa’s Praise to Dependent Origination (tendrel toepa) at the Deer Park Buddhist Center.

Young Tibetans in traditional dress Madison, Wisconsin
Photo: Jeremy Russell OHHDL

Louisiana

His Holiness arrived in New Orleans on May 17, five days after a parade shooting in the city sent 19 people to the hospital. He spoke on strength through compassion and connection at two universities.  One of his panel discussions, Trauma Resolutions and Healing Through Compassionate Means, was an appropriate topic in the city struck by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  ‘His talks are very profound’ said monk Lobsang Dhondup, ‘he has a way to get big messages across in simple ways. It’s emotional and intellectual’.  His Holiness was also present at the Tulane Unified Commencement Ceremony where he received an honorary degree and delivered the keynote address. He then answered questions in a talk at the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena.

Kentucky

Children offered His Holiness a traditional Tibetan welcome at the Drepung Gomang Institute. He then performed consecration prayers in the temple, and offered to have a copy of the Kangyur and Tengyur delivered to the institute. He also encouraged the creation of academic courses to accompany religious teachings.  His Holiness attended a three-day event (May 19-21) called Engaging Compassion and was later introduced to a crowd of 14,000 people at the KFC Yum Center as ‘a man radiating peace and joy’. He commended the city of Louisville for adopting the Charter of Compassion, and called for action beyond prayer to achieve compassion and peace.

Kentucky Center for Arts
Photo; Jeremy Russell OHHDL

On his last day in Kentucky, His Holiness met with a group of Vietnamese Buddhists. He clarified features of the Buddhist teachings and complimented the assembly on the preservation of the Vietnamese culture. He then met with a group of middle and high school students and spoke about avoiding anger, and reinforcing our compassion by using our intelligence.