His Holiness the Dalai Lama hosted by Maitripa College, Portland 2013
May 11: His Holiness the Dalai Lama Participates in an Environmental Summit and Talks about Compassion in Portland
Portland, Oregon, USA, 11 May 2013 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama began his fourth day in Portland, Oregon by giving a short interview to be included in an environmental documentary being created by Maitripa College. He expressed a concern not just for those alive today, but for future generations, suggesting that ecological problems may not affect us, but they will affect them if we don’t act. Asked how compassionate thought can change the world, he said:
“One of my dreams, perhaps an impossible dream, is to harness the solar potential of places like the Sahara desert and to use the power to run desalination plants that will produce clean water. It’s a project that would have widespread benefits and would function on a scale that would require global co-operation.” To a question about what makes him happy, he replied, “Seeing other people smile.”
May 10: Life after Life Symposium at Maitripa College and Talk on Path to Peace and Happiness in Eugene
Portland, Oregon, USA, 10 May 2013 – Maitripa College is a Tibetan Buddhist College founded in 2005 in Portland, Oregon. Since 2008, it has been able to award degrees and today His Holiness the Dalai Lama was the special guest during such a commencement ceremony. The sunlit streets outside were filled with well-wishers who waved and called out to His Holiness as he was met at the door by founding President Yangsi Rinpoche. Escorted briskly around the college, he was shown the various facilities before entering the Jokhang or main hall where he viewed the sacred images and paid his respects before taking his seat. Oregon Office of Degree Authorization representative Jennifer Diallo gave a short welcoming talk in which she introduced Maitripa College and explained the criteria for proper authorization of degrees.
May 9: A Meeting of Faiths and Concern for the Outer and Inner Environment
Starting his first full day in Portland, the ‘City of Roses’, His Holiness the Dalai Lama drove to the Chiles Center of the University of Portland where he was given a traditional Tibetan welcome by members of the 600 strong Tibetan community who live here. He was received by University of Portland President, Father Bill Beauchamp and Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, Tina Kotek. They escorted him to an interfaith gathering before an audience of 4300, the theme of which was ‘Spirituality and the Environment’. In her introduction, Speaker Kotek quoted His Holiness’s advice at the time of the Rio summit to “think of the one world to which we all belong.”
Invited to offer a few introductory words, His Holiness said: “Spiritual brothers and sisters, brothers and sisters, I am very happy to be here for this, my first engagement on this visit to this beautiful city.
> READ COMPLETE REPORT; VIEW PHOTOS (OFFICE OF HIS HOLINESS OFFICIAL WEBSITE)
May 8: His Holiness the Dalai Lama Meets with Tibetan Students in Portland, Oregon
Shortly after arriving in Portland today, having flown from one side of the United States to the other, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met staff and Tibetans students participating in the Global Leadership Initiative. He recalled that as early as the time of his predecessor, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, there had been efforts to introduce modern education in Tibet. Then, soon after coming into exile in India, priority was given to setting up schools to educate children. Those have largely been successful, he said, but what is needed now is for Tibetans acquire expertise and specialized training.
> READ COMPLETE REPORT; VIEW PHOTOS (OFFICE OF HIS HOLINESS OFFICIAL WEBSITE)
“. . .We must think of these matters if we are to be truly concerned about the environment, not only for this generation, but for future generations as well. . .” —His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama Environmental Summit Guidelines May 2013
Because the purpose of the Dalai Lama Environmental Summit is to promote awareness and individual responsibility regarding both the external and internal environment, we, the event hosts, strive to follow these principles whenever possible . . . continue to read