His Holiness the Dalai Lama to visit US and CanadaMonday, 21 September 2009, 11:17 a.m.

His Holiness at the international conference on peace, democracy and human rights in Asia, held in Prague, on 11 September/Photo:Tibet Bureau Geneva

Dharamshala:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama left Dharamsala Monday morning for visit to
the United States and Canada, due to begin 23 September. Hundreds of
Tibetans and friends of Tibet, carrying khatas (ceremonial
white Tibetan scarves), incense and flowers, lined the road to pray for
the successful visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.During the
visit, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a series of religious
teachings, public talks, and also take part in dialogue on peace and
education.His Holiness will begin his visit from Memphis,
Tennessee, where he will receive the International Freedom Award from
the National Civil Rights Museum on 23 September, for his “steadfast
commitment to protecting and defending the rights of the oppressed
people of Tibet and elsewhere in the world.” Museum Board
Chairman Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks described His Holiness the Dalai Lama as
a living example of Dr. Martin Luther King and Gandhi’s non-violence in
the face of political oppression and suffering. The Dalai Lama
demonstrates life-long peaceful struggle against brutality and
injustice. As the Tibetan people mark their 50th year in exile, the
Dalai Lama’s struggle serves as an inspiration for social justice
movements everywhere.”His Holiness will also take part in two
other events in Memphis sponsored by The Missing Peace Project. His
Holiness will give a public talk on “Developing Peace and Harmon” at
the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, which will begin with a
short musical program. Later in the evening, a musical concert titled:
“The Missing Peace Concert”, featuring Grammy winner Natalie Cole and
top American country music artist Joe Nichols.From 25 – 26
September, His Holiness will teachings on The Four Noble Truths at the
Long Beach Arena organized by Geden Shoeling Tibetan Manjushri Center
of Westminster, California.His Holiness will leave for Canada.
From 27 – 29 September, His Holiness will participate in the Vancouver
Peace Summit: Nobel Laureates in Dialogue, organized by the Dalai Lama
Center for Peace & Education. The focus of these dialogues
will include the themes of peace, education and women and
peace-building. Nobel Laureates, Jody Williams, Mairead Maguire, Betty
Williams and Murray Gell-Mann, as well as a number of respected
international leaders from the realms of education, the arts, business,
politics and social transformation, will take part in the event. His
Holiness will visit the University of Calgary as an honoured guest at
NOW – a two-day event and conference from 30 September to 1 October.
The event include a public address by His Holiness at the Saddledome,
followed by listen NOW, a private concert featuring Bryan Adams and
k.d. Lang.At the invitation of The Dalai Lama Foundation
Canada, His Holiness will visit Montreal, Quebec, to give a public talk
on “Educating the Heart: The Power of Compassion” on 3 October.His
Holiness will fly back to the United States, where he will give
Buddhist teachings in New York and participate in a Mind and Life
Conference on the theme of “Educating World Citizens in the 21st
Century” in Washington, DC. His Holiness will conclude his visit on 10
October with a half-day morning teaching on “The Heart of Change:
Finding Wisdom in the Modern World” organized by the Conservancy for
Tibetan Art and Culture.