The University of Utah and the Utah Tibet Foundation are pleased to announce that His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet will speak at the University of Utah Huntsman Center, 1825 S. Campus Drive, Tuesday, June 21, at 1:30 p.m.
The Dalai Lama 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 His Holiness 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 Friday, April 1, at 10 a.m. Tickets for the general public will be available, Monday, April 4, at 10 a.m. 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 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 Q&A 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 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 interreligious 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.
U co-sponsors include the Office for Global Engagement, the Asia Center, Global Health/Health Sciences, the Hinckley Institute, Tanner Center for Nonviolent Human Rights Advocacy and the Tanner Humanities Center.
In accordance with federal security guidelines, no guns or other weapons will be permitted at the venue for the Dalai Lama’s visit to the U campus. Visitors will be required to pass through metal detectors and have their bags checked before entering the seating area. It is recommended that guests leave personal belongings at home to streamline the process. Guests are encouraged to arrive early.
