Dalai Lama to Teach on Classic Buddhist Text in Ithaca College Presentation

by Dave Maley, Ithaca College, Oct 9, 2007

ITHACA, NY (USA) -- Ithaca College will welcome His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, to campus on Wednesday, Oct. 10, as part of his series of local speaking engagements titled “Bridging Worlds.” His presentation, “Eight Verses on Training the Mind,” will take place from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Hill Center’s Ben Light Gymnasium. All tickets for the event have sold out.

Written in the 12th century by Tibetan Buddhist master Geshe Langri Tangpa, “Eight Verses on Training the Mind” is a classic text that provides concise instruction on how to engage with the world in a more compassionate and idealistic way. The verses were taught to the Dalai Lama when he was a small boy, and he has recited them every day as part of his personal practice. He will stress the importance of implementing the teachings as essential practices for cultivating compassion, wisdom, altruism and love.

The Ithaca College event will be streamed live on the Internet beginning at 1 p.m. at www.ithaca.edu/bridgingworlds/webcast. It will also be broadcast on Time Warner Cable channel 16 in the Ithaca area.

The Dalai Lama’s two-day “Bridging Worlds” visit is taking place under the auspices of Ithaca’s Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies, which is the North American seat of his personal monastery. The series will include a public lecture titled “A Human Approach to World Peace” at Cornell University on Oct. 9 and an interfaith dialogue on “Prayers for World Peace” at the State Theatre on Oct. 10. Tickets for those events have also sold out; for information visit www.namgyal.org.

Those attending the Ithaca College presentation are asked to use public transportation via TCAT bus. Cars will be directed to park at the South Hill Business Campus, where a shuttle bus will be provided. Hill Center doors will open at noon, and ticket holders should plan to arrive as early as possible in order to allow ample time for security check-in. Doors will close at 1:45 p.m.; anyone arriving after doors have closed will not be admitted. Once admitted, there will be no re-entry.

Attendees should note that no cell phones, backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, cameras, recording devices, food or beverages will be allowed into the gym. All persons are subject to screening via metal detectors and all bags are subject to search.

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Dalai Lama to Teach on Classic Buddhist Text in Ithaca College Presentation

by Dave Maley, Ithaca College, Oct 9, 2007