The Dalai Lama (Credit: Lindsay Oliver/CBS)
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CHICAGO (CBS) — A crowd was expected at Loyola University in the Rogers Park neighborhood Thursday for a talk by the Dalai Lama.
Hus Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama was set to speak at two events. At 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning, he was to speak to the public about nonviolence at the Gentile Arena, in a ticketed event benefiting the TIBETCenter arts and cultural organization.
The Dalai Lama’s appearance was to be preceded by sacred chants and musical performances, the publication reported. Also on the docket was a ceremony honoring three winners of a high school essay contest who will get to read their compositions to the Tibetan spiritual leader.
At 1:30 p.m. Thursday, the Dalai Lama will talk to a closed audience of Loyola students, faculty, staff and alumni about interfaith collaboration. At the sold-out event, the Dalai Lama will be awarded an honorary degree from the Jesuit Roman Catholic university.
Security is tight for the events, and the 1100 block of West Loyola Avenue on the edge of the campus has been closed to traffic, the Edgeville Buzz reported.
The Dalai Lama also appeared in Chicago Wednesday evening as part of a panel of Nobel Peace Prize laureates. He appeared along with former Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev and professors Jody Williams and Muhammad Yunus at a discussion titled, “World Peace and Nonviolence: Never Give Up.”
The Dalai Lama, 76, whose worldly name is Tenzin Gyatso, fled Tibet in 1959 after the Chinese quelled a popular uprising. He is still widely revered in Tibet, though he is now based in Dharmsala, India, where he heads a government in exile.
He was proclaimed the 14th Dalai Lama at age 5 and became Tibet’s leader at 15.
The Dalai Lama describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk, but has been recognized with a Congressional gold medal of honor for his advocacy of nonviolence for Tibetans in the face of Chinese oppression.
He appeared in July of last year for a talk at the UIC Pavilion titled “Bridging the Faith Divide,” which drew about 7,000 people. He also held a discussion with other religious leaders at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park.
