The Dalai Lama Arrives
Published: Saturday, 20 October, 2007
Atlanta, GA, USA, 19 October 2007 (By Chris Megerian, The Emory Wheel) - The
Dalai Lama arrived at the Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead on Friday, marking
the beginning of a weekend celebrating his new association with the
University.
With a smile stretching from ear to ear, the Tibetan political and
spiritual leader stepped out of his limo and turned to University
President James W. Wagner, saying, "So now I am your professor?"
Wagner laughed, then introduced Provost and Chief Academic Officer Earl Lewis, saying, “Yes, and this is your boss.”
Wagner, Lewis and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Ben Johnson were on hand to welcome the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who will be officially installed as a presidential distinguished professor on Monday.
After greeting Buddhist devotees who had been waiting to catch a glimpse of him, the Dalai Lama reviewed the first presentation of a science curriculum designed by Emory faculty specifically for Buddhist monks.
"I am really impressed," the Dalai Lama said. "I think the effort from concerned people has created a concrete plan. It is wonderful."
The meeting, attended by only a small number of top Emory administrators, science faculty, journalists and monks — several of them wearing Emory lanyards over their red robes — was the official debut of the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative.
"It is daunting in its scale, and not without unseen challenges," Emory Assistant Dean for Science Preetha Ram said as she introduced the curriculum. "But we are confident it will succeed."
The Dalai Lama arrived in Atlanta after a flight from Washington, D.C., where he made national headlines when he received the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress' highest civilian honor. The award infuriated the Chinese government, which views the Dalai Lama as a separatist for his efforts to create an independent Tibetan state.
Outlining the Initiative
Emory administrators and Tibetan spiritual leaders have high hopes for the science initiative, which is designed to merge Eastern and Western modes of thought.
"[The Dalai Lama’s] visit signifies that systems of knowledge are most powerful when they're blended," Provost and Chief Academic Officer Earl Lewis said.
The Dalai Lama emphasized that each discipline can greatly benefit the other. He said that he visited one prestigious school with great facilities and programs, but was saddened by the school's chancellor.
"Deep inside, very unhappy person," he said. "Buddhist science really deals with our inner world, our mind or emotions. I think in modern education, I think that's lacking."
On the other hand, he said, Buddhists can also gain from the external focus of modern science.
After the presentation of the science curriculum, Ram asked the spiritual leader if modern science could be detrimental to Buddhist traditions.
The Dalai Lama waved off the concern, saying that not all Buddhist texts should be taken at face value. For example, one ancient belief states that the sun revolves around the earth.
"I don't believe that," he said. “I feel positive as we get closer to reality."
The Dalai Lama said Buddha emphasized the need to form beliefs based on exploration and discovery, saying, “He gave us liberty to investigate his teachings."
Of course, the Dalai Lama joked, there would be a downside if the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative introduced nightclubs to Buddhist culture.
"If that is part of science education, then some negative impact," he said.
The science initiative will educate between 30 to 50 monks in its first year. Emory has agreed to finance the program for five years, but Chair of the Emory-Tibet partnership Geshe Lobsan Negi said they are looking to create a $10 million endowment to sustain the initiative.
Greeting His Holiness
Dean of the College Robert Paul was part of a six-person Emory delegation who greeted the Dalai Lama at the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. He said that the Dalai Lama’s arrival in Atlanta and his upcoming installation as a professor have surpassed all of his expectations.
"I never dreamed we would be in the Ritz Carlton with His Holiness," Paul said.
Provost Lewis had met the Dalai Lama once before, but said this visit was special because his appointment includes a public speech in Centennial Olympic Park on Monday.
"It is a gift we not only get to have, we get to share," he said. "In that sense it is very unique and special."
More people than just Emory administrators anticipated the Dalai Lama’s arrival. At least two dozen members of the local Tibetan and Buddhist communities lined up to pay their respects to their spiritual leader.
For Buddhists, it is a profound privilege to be in the presence of the Dalai Lama, believed to be the reincarnation of the Buddha of compassion.
Sonan Yangchen Doma told her 88-year-old mother months ago that the Dalai Lama was visiting the city. She became so excited she began counting the days.
As he was greeting devotees in the Ritz-Carlton, the Dalai Lama clasped her hands in his and patted the side of her face. Her wrinkles creased into a smile and she trembled as her daughter eased her back into her chair.
For Grady Memorial Hospital internist Rinku Chatterjee, the experience of meeting the Dalai Lama was something she had been waiting for her “whole life."
"It is just a great honor to be in his presence," she said. "It gives you goosebumps.”
Her husband, Kencho Tenzin, had seen the Dalai Lama before when he worked in India.
"When you're caught up in everyday life, your energy goes down," he said. "When you see him, it goes back up. It's always exciting.”
— Executive Editor Rachel Zelkowitz contributed reporting to this article.
Wagner laughed, then introduced Provost and Chief Academic Officer Earl Lewis, saying, “Yes, and this is your boss.”
Wagner, Lewis and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Ben Johnson were on hand to welcome the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who will be officially installed as a presidential distinguished professor on Monday.
After greeting Buddhist devotees who had been waiting to catch a glimpse of him, the Dalai Lama reviewed the first presentation of a science curriculum designed by Emory faculty specifically for Buddhist monks.
"I am really impressed," the Dalai Lama said. "I think the effort from concerned people has created a concrete plan. It is wonderful."
The meeting, attended by only a small number of top Emory administrators, science faculty, journalists and monks — several of them wearing Emory lanyards over their red robes — was the official debut of the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative.
"It is daunting in its scale, and not without unseen challenges," Emory Assistant Dean for Science Preetha Ram said as she introduced the curriculum. "But we are confident it will succeed."
The Dalai Lama arrived in Atlanta after a flight from Washington, D.C., where he made national headlines when he received the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress' highest civilian honor. The award infuriated the Chinese government, which views the Dalai Lama as a separatist for his efforts to create an independent Tibetan state.
Outlining the Initiative
Emory administrators and Tibetan spiritual leaders have high hopes for the science initiative, which is designed to merge Eastern and Western modes of thought.
"[The Dalai Lama’s] visit signifies that systems of knowledge are most powerful when they're blended," Provost and Chief Academic Officer Earl Lewis said.
The Dalai Lama emphasized that each discipline can greatly benefit the other. He said that he visited one prestigious school with great facilities and programs, but was saddened by the school's chancellor.
"Deep inside, very unhappy person," he said. "Buddhist science really deals with our inner world, our mind or emotions. I think in modern education, I think that's lacking."
On the other hand, he said, Buddhists can also gain from the external focus of modern science.
After the presentation of the science curriculum, Ram asked the spiritual leader if modern science could be detrimental to Buddhist traditions.
The Dalai Lama waved off the concern, saying that not all Buddhist texts should be taken at face value. For example, one ancient belief states that the sun revolves around the earth.
"I don't believe that," he said. “I feel positive as we get closer to reality."
The Dalai Lama said Buddha emphasized the need to form beliefs based on exploration and discovery, saying, “He gave us liberty to investigate his teachings."
Of course, the Dalai Lama joked, there would be a downside if the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative introduced nightclubs to Buddhist culture.
"If that is part of science education, then some negative impact," he said.
The science initiative will educate between 30 to 50 monks in its first year. Emory has agreed to finance the program for five years, but Chair of the Emory-Tibet partnership Geshe Lobsan Negi said they are looking to create a $10 million endowment to sustain the initiative.
Greeting His Holiness
Dean of the College Robert Paul was part of a six-person Emory delegation who greeted the Dalai Lama at the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. He said that the Dalai Lama’s arrival in Atlanta and his upcoming installation as a professor have surpassed all of his expectations.
"I never dreamed we would be in the Ritz Carlton with His Holiness," Paul said.
Provost Lewis had met the Dalai Lama once before, but said this visit was special because his appointment includes a public speech in Centennial Olympic Park on Monday.
"It is a gift we not only get to have, we get to share," he said. "In that sense it is very unique and special."
More people than just Emory administrators anticipated the Dalai Lama’s arrival. At least two dozen members of the local Tibetan and Buddhist communities lined up to pay their respects to their spiritual leader.
For Buddhists, it is a profound privilege to be in the presence of the Dalai Lama, believed to be the reincarnation of the Buddha of compassion.
Sonan Yangchen Doma told her 88-year-old mother months ago that the Dalai Lama was visiting the city. She became so excited she began counting the days.
As he was greeting devotees in the Ritz-Carlton, the Dalai Lama clasped her hands in his and patted the side of her face. Her wrinkles creased into a smile and she trembled as her daughter eased her back into her chair.
For Grady Memorial Hospital internist Rinku Chatterjee, the experience of meeting the Dalai Lama was something she had been waiting for her “whole life."
"It is just a great honor to be in his presence," she said. "It gives you goosebumps.”
Her husband, Kencho Tenzin, had seen the Dalai Lama before when he worked in India.
"When you're caught up in everyday life, your energy goes down," he said. "When you see him, it goes back up. It's always exciting.”
— Executive Editor Rachel Zelkowitz contributed reporting to this article.
