By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – The University at Buffalo will play host to the Dalai Lama in September 2006. The visit will culminate a ten year effort to bring the religious leader to UB.
An agreement to bring the Dalai Lama to UB was reached last month but was announced Thursday. UB President John Simpson calls it "a great honor for the university." Steven Dunnett agrees. Dunnett, the vice provost for international education at UB, played a key role in finalizing the agreement. He said it's a major event, not only for UB, but for all of Western New York.
"The Dalai Lama is revered around the world as a great spiritual teacher, Dunnett said. "Tibetan Buddhism has a large following in North America, and His Holiness attracts large numbers of people wherever he goes. There is a very active Buddhist community in Western New York for whom the visit will be a landmark event."
Details haven't been worked out yet. But it's expected the Dalai Lama will speak to a large gathering as part of UB's Distinguished Speakers Series. An interfaith service with representatives of the local religious communities is also planned. Dunnett said other, smaller events will be held over the course of the two day visit.
"He sees the purpose of a visit to UB as primarily educational in nature, and is keen to speak to our students and faculty in a direct and personal way as a teacher," Dunnett said. "In fact, he made a special request that a private audience be arranged with our international students."
The Dalai Lama will be here September 21st and 22nd, 2006. A steering committee will be created to oversee the complex planning and logistics surrounding the visit.