LOUISVILLE —
Once-in-a-generation opportunities, by definition, don’t come around
very often. But according to Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, residents
throughout Kentucky and Indiana will have this exact chance when His
Holiness the Dalai Lama comes to the city this May.
At a special interfaith ceremony held Wednesday at Louisville’s Tibetan
Buddhist Center, the Drepung Gomang Institute, representatives from
various cultural, academic and religious groups gathered to celebrate
and preview the upcoming visit.
“We’re just delighted to be participating here as a city in the visit
by the Dalai Lama,” Fischer said. “I just feel like this is a
once-in-a-generation opportunity for people in Louisville and the
surrounding region; the opportunity to hear and learn from the world’s
most iconic figure, a true leader in his quest for peace, for justice,
for compassion.”
As the 14th and current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso has been officially
recognized since 1950 as one of the main leaders of the Gelugpa line of
Buddhism. In addition, until his recent retirement in 2011, he served as
the head of the exiled Tibetan government. In 1989, he won the Nobel
Peace Prize for his peaceful advocacy of Tibetan liberation from China.
In addition, His Holiness also is renowned for his dedication to
promoting inter-faith dialogue, a key component to his May visit.
Indianapolis resident and Sikh representative K.P. Singh has met the
Dalai Lama on several separate occasions. Singh said His Holiness’
teachings transcend any particular religion.
“He is compassionate and loving of every faith, tradition, culture and
community,” Singh said. “He said learning about other faiths is a
reaffirmation about who you are and what your faith is all about. And if
there are some elements in there that strengthens your own faith and
your own tradition, then by all means certainly learn from that.”
Singh also stressed the Dalai Lama’s connection to Indiana. His
Holiness has traveled to the Hoosier state seven times, predominantly to
Bloomington. His older brother and fellow Lama Thubten Jigme Norbu
taught at Indiana University and founded the now named Tibetan-Mongolian
Buddhist Cultural Center in the city.
Although Norbu died in 2008, the Dalai Lama still has nephews who reside in Bloomington and carry on his brother’s legacy.
Lisa Morrison, director of media and public relations for the event,
said the family will travel to visit their uncle while he’s in
Louisville.
“I have to remind our honorable mayor of Louisville that he has a lot
of catching up to do with the city of Bloomington because every square
inch of Bloomington is hallowed ground,” Singh said. “Momentarily, I
felt a little jealous of the city of Louisville that he would not be
visiting Indiana, but then I realized that his spirit has the power to
shine deep within us each time we even think about him.”
Franklin University Professor David Carlson also stressed that the
importance of the Dalai Lama’s visit extends to the whole of the
Midwest.
“What happens in Louisville affects us very deeply north of you across the Ohio River,” he said.
Carlson also said communities, as living organisms, are interconnected
and that revitalization of society rests on a basic concept.
“The secret of renewing communities is not a mystery. All religions
know that compassion is the healing medicine,” Carlson said. “May his
visit and celebration of this city as a city of compassion lead other
cities and other organizations to take a similar step not only elsewhere
in Kentucky but throughout the entire region we know and claim today as
America’s heartland, its living center.”
Featuring three days of activities, the Dalai Lama’s stay in the city
will include several teaching opportunities, the largest of which will
take place on May 19 at the Yum Center. Expecting a crowd of 15,000 in
attendance, Fischer said this two-hour presentation will focus on how
people can engage with compassion regardless of their religious
orientations.
On May 20, the Dalai Lama will give two separate public talks at KFC
Yum! Center concentrating on Buddhist teachings. Wrapping up his visit,
he will also speak to previously selected school children about
nonviolence and compassion May 21 at the Kentucky Center for the Arts.
Anticipating a great number of guests attending the events, Fischer
said the impact on the community and on individuals themselves will be
dramatic.
“The Dalai Lama, as I mentioned, is such as iconic figure for peace and
justice and compassion that he’s going to inspire people in ways we
don’t know about. So our mission should be to get as many people to hear
what his message is,” Fischer said.
Tickets for the May 19 and 20 events are on sale at the Yum Center’s
box office and online at ticketmaster.com. For more information on these
and other happenings leading up to the visit, drop by the official
event website at dalailamalouisville.org
No comments:
Post a Comment