American University Honours His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Promoting Universal Human Values[Wednesday, 19 May 2010, 11:11 a.m.]

University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen, left, and Gloria Gibson, center, present His Holiness the Dalai Lama, right, a honourary diploma before the keynote speech by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to students, faculty, and guests at the McLeod Center on the University of Northern Iowa campus Tuesday, 18 May 2010, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. (RICK TIBBOTT/ Courier Staff Photographer)

Cedar Falls, Iowa: The
University of Northern Iowa on Tuesday conferred His Holiness the Dalai
Lama with an honourary degree “for his life of commitment to teaching
and embodiment of universal human values such as compassion,
forgiveness, tolerance and love.”Earlier in the day, His
Holiness participated in a panel discussion on “Educating for a
Non-violent world” at the McLeod Center of the University of Northern
Iowa.Gloria J. Gibson, executive vice president and provost at
the University of Northern Iowa, moderated the session. The other
panelists were Art Erickson, founder and CEO of Urban Ventures
Leadership Foundation (UVLF), who has been working with young people,
facilitating community development, and forming collaborations and
networks; Judy Jeffrey, former director of Iowa Department of
Education; Jackson Katz Founder and director of Mentors in Violence
Prevention; and Lee Rainey, president of C-Level Consulting who has
been involved with rehabilitation work in Minneapolis for many years.The
panelists discussed violence in schools, communities, and the
workplace.  They talked about ways in which we, as individuals and as a
society, can address issues of violence, promote civility and enhance
understanding through education.  The panelists first made
presentations about their personal involvement in efforts to educate
the youth and less privileged members of the society.  They then posed
questions to His Holiness on his perception, including on the
incorporation of the value of compassion in outreach to the community. His
Holiness said it was his first time in Iowa and he was glad to be
participating in a serious discussion. He greatly appreciated the
personal experiences of the panelists.  He said it was his basic belief
that it was only a minority of the people in the world who were
involved in violence or similar action.His Holiness talked
about the need of education of the heart in addition to the education
of the brain.  He said there was need to incorporate the study of moral
ethics in the education system.  His Holiness concluded that a
compassionate and warm hearted individual invariably would be a healthy
individual, which would lead to a healthy family, which would in turn
lead to a healthy community.Since His Holiness was wearing a
visor with the symbol of Indiana University on the stage (which is his
custom to shade his eyes from the bright light), the moderator
suggested that he should have one of Northern Iowa University.  When
such a visor was brought and His Holiness wore it on his head, there
was general applause.After lunch, some members of the
Theosophical Society called on His Holiness and briefed him about their
projects within the Tibetan community. Thereafter, the Tibetan students
studying in the University of Northern Iowa had an audience with him
during which he advised them on their study and briefed them on the
importance of reaching out to the Chinese community. His
Holiness then gave an interview to Ms. Mary Wald of community.com, who
has launched a two year campaign to raise awareness on the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).  That interview was a part of the
campaign of 30 video spots with Nobel Peace Prize winners and
internationally recognised artists on the articles of the UDHR. Others
who have been interviewed include actors Morgan Freeman and Anne Archer
and fellow Nobel laureates Archbishop Tutu and Jose Ramos-Horta. His
Holiness responded to questions about his feelings on the significance
of the Universal declaration and how it has evolved.The
afternoon public talk programme was at the same McLeod Center and began
before His Holiness came on the stage with performances by the Northern
Iowa Wind Symphony and young members of the Tibetan American Foundation
of Minnesota, who had been especially invited to perform for the event.Thereafter,
His Holiness came on the stage with University President Benjamin
Allen.  In his introductory remarks, President Allen recognised former
Iowa Lt. Governor Joy Cole Corning whose support had enabled the
University to establish the Joy Cole Corning Distinguished Leadership
Lecture. His Holiness’ public talk was a part of this lecture programme.Referring
to His Holiness, President Allen said, “As an institution strongly
committed to the education of future teachers, today we are honoured to
host one of the world’s most revered teachers, thinkers and
philosophers.”He also announced a scholarship for Tibetan
students from money set aside from ticket sales and other funds raised
for the visit.  President Allen said that University will continue to
partner with The Tibet Fund that has a programme under which Tibetan
students come to study at the University of Northern Iowa.  He
recognised Tibet Fund President Rinchen Dharlo who was present at the
talk saying, “Thank you for providing our campus with outstanding
students.”President Allen then introduced an original musical
piece entitled “Follow” that was composed by University’s Professor of
Theory and Composition, Jonathan Schwabe. Prof. Schwabe was inspired by
the verse on “Joy” in the Buddhist scripture, Dhammapada.  The combined
ensembles of the University’s Concert Chorale, singers, Children’s
Choir, Varsity Men’s Glee Club and the Wind Symphony performed the
composition under the direction of conductor Ronald Johnson.  His
Holiness called the performance “touching” and suggested that the
meaning of the lyrics should be put into practice in our daily life.
Prof. Schwabe presented the original score of “Follow” to His Holiness
thereafter.University Executive Vice President and Provost
Gloria J. Gibson then joined President Allen in conferring His Holiness
the Dalai Lama with an honourary degree “for his life of commitment to
teaching and embodiment of universal human values such as compassion,
forgiveness, tolerance and love.”President Allen said, “Since
leaving his Tibetan homeland, the Dalai Lama has been embodied symbol
of the Tibetan people and culture.  His efforts earned him the Nobel
Peace Prize in 1989.”“A belief in education and a commitment to
teaching is a consistent element in the life of the Dalai Lama,” the
President said.  “As an educator and religious scholar His Holiness
consistently blends his work as a world and spiritual leader with his
commitment to teaching,” he added.After the honourary degree
was conferred, President Allen invited His Holiness to address the
gathering saying, “Ladies and Gentleman, I am honoured to present His
Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.”His Holiness began by
saying that at the basic level all human beings were the same, from the
President to a beggar, from a king or a queen to an Aids patient or a
prisoner.  He said the difference regarding colour, gender, income,
education, etc. were secondary to this basic oneness of humanity.He
cautioned the audience, who numbered more than 5000 people, not to have
high expectations from his speech saying he had only come as a fellow
human being and to find new ideas for a happier life. He also said he
did not have any magical or healing power saying his gall bladder
surgery in 2008 was a scientific proof of this.  He said he was
generally skeptical of anyone who claimed healing power.His
Holiness explained his two commitments of promoting human values and
promoting religious harmony.  Talking about religious harmony, His
Holiness referred to his meeting with the late Trappist Christian monk,
Thomas Merton, from whom he had learnt the real value of Christianity.Referring
to the topic of the public talk, His Holiness in the early period of
human life education did not play a role.  As there was technological
advancement education began to play a role.  His Holiness then quoted a
Buddhist scripture to convey the importance of education. It said
learning is like a lamp that dispels the darkness, a reliable friend
that will not waver, and a friend that will show you the path.His
Holiness, however, cautioned that education alone is not a guarantee
for bringing happiness to oneself or the community.  He said for
education to be constructive there needs to be a sense of
responsibility based on a sense of concern for the wellbeing of others,
which in turn is based on the oneness of all human beings.His
Holiness then explained the importance of developing moral ethics to
promote inner peace.  He said in this there were two options, one based
on faith, in which case the complication arose as to which religion to
choose. The other is a non-religion path, in which moral ethics are
promoted on the basis of common experience, common sense and through
scientific findings.  His Holiness called this the promotion of secular
ethics. His Holiness said his definition of secularism is not rejection
of religion but something that India promotes namely equal respect to
all religions.During the question and answer session, in a
response to a question on whether all religions were the same, His
Holiness said they were not. He said that while all religions had the
same message; that of compassion, love, forgiveness, tolerance, etc.,
at the philosophical level they were different. He said even within one
religion like Buddhism there were different philosophical viewpoints. 
He said such variety was needed to meet the need of different
dispositions of the individuals.His Holiness received a
standing ovation as he finished his program and as President Allen
thanked him for taking the time to be here.The Cedar Falls TV
stations covered His Holiness’s events in great details with some TV
even posing trivia questions on the life of His Holiness to entice the
interest and to test the knowledge of the viewers. TV news reports
carried reactions of the public to His Holiness’s talk and they were
greatly impacted by the simplicity and the practicality of his message.His Holiness leaves Cedar Falls for New York City on 19 May 2010 on the last leg of his current tour of the United States. –Report filed by Bhuchung K Tsering of ICT