Tickets for UC San Diego’s June 16 Dalai Lama Public Address Available May 1

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Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

The University of California San Diego will host His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at a public event June 16, 2017 where he will speak about “Embracing the Beauty of Diversity in our World” to an estimated 25,000 attendees on the campus’s RIMAC Field.  On May 1 at 10 a.m., general tickets will be released for the June 16 public address.

There is a $15 service charge per ticket; an optional parking permit is $10. A maximum of four tickets per transaction will be allowed. Please visit compassion2017.ucsd.edu to purchase tickets and parking passes, as well as access FAQs regarding security, parking and more. 

The UC San Diego public event featuring His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on Friday, June 16, 2017 will begin with entertainment and festivities on RIMAC Field at 9 a.m. The one hour public address by His Holiness begins at 10 a.m., followed by a half hour Q&A session. Attendees are asked to arrive early as UC San Diego expects a large audience. Parking and entrances to the campus will be impacted, and all guests entering RIMAC Field are subject to a metal-detector screening.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. But to the world he is a renowned peace advocate, a beacon of hope for humanity, sharing inspirational messages with international audiences that range from young students to world leaders.

“We are indeed fortunate to host His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, a world-renowned spiritual leader and Nobel Prize winner, at UC San Diego on June 16 for a public address,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “Hearing His Holiness’s message of compassion and inclusion will be an experience that will last a lifetime.”

In addition to the public address on June 16, on June 17, the Dalai Lama will deliver the keynote speech to all UC San Diego graduates, their families and friends from on from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at UC San Diego’s invitation-only All Campus Commencement. The talk will focus on the value of education, ethics and compassion for the well-being of self and others.

UC San Diego is the first stop on the Dalai Lama’s 2017 U.S. tour. The events are presented in partnership with The Friends of the Dalai Lama Foundation, which was founded by Ven. Lama Tenzin Dhonden, the Personal Emissary for Peace to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

His Holiness meeting with K-12 students

After the Dalai Lama first visited San Diego in 2012 to speak at events organized by UC San Diego, San Diego State University and the University of San Diego, there has been high interest in bringing him back to our campus. Following the Chancellor’s request, last October, Chancellor Khosla and Lama Tenzin traveled to India to meet His Holiness and extend an invitation—and he accepted.

“His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been invited to speak at most major universities in the U.S. because his global message of universal responsibility, kindness and compassion is loved and appreciated by people all over the  world, and applicable to every field of study,” said Lama Tenzin Dhonden.

In 1989, His Holiness was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. He also became the first Nobel laureate to be recognized for his concern for global environmental problems. His Holiness has travelled to more than 62 countries spanning six continents, receiving over 84 awards, honorary doctorates, prizes and other recognition of his message of peace, nonviolence, interreligious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion. He has also authored more than 80 books.

Note to Media: Press credentials will be required for all reporters and photographers. To register for press credentials, contact Christine Clark at 858-534-7618 or ceclark@ucsd.edu. Security for the Dalai Lama will be managed by the U.S. Department of State, which will determine security guidelines. 

About UC San Diego

At the University of California San Diego, we constantly push boundaries and challenge expectations. Established in 1960, UC San Diego has been shaped by exceptional scholars who aren’t afraid to take risks and redefine conventional wisdom. Today, as one of the top 15 research universities in the world, we are driving innovation and change to advance society, propel economic growth and make our world a better place. Learn more at www.ucsd.edu. 

About Friends of the Dalai Lama

Friends of the Dalai Lama (FODL) is an independent 501(C)3 nonprofit organization founded by Lama Tenzin Dhonden, Personal Emissary for Peace to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The organization is based in California, USA.

Since the year 2000, Lama Tenzin has personally overseen the creation and planning of large-scale and elite events held at public and private venues throughout the United States for His Holiness. He has developed a specific protocol to ensure the proper arrangements for the participation of His Holiness in a variety of events. Based on his extraordinary experience and to fulfill the need for transparent organization of special events, Lama Tenzin has founded Friends of the Dalai Lama to be fully dedicated to assisting His Holiness in sharing his vision and message of peace and compassion with the world.

Friends of the Dalai Lama (FODL) is an organization that facilitates the participation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in public and private events. The organization’s efforts are based on Six Core Value Elements that enable each audience to gain a deeper and actionable understanding of His Holiness’ message on Human Values, Secular Ethics, Inter-Religious Harmony, and Global Peace, for the sake of humanity.

The Friends of the Dalai Lama’s balanced approach focuses on benefiting the organizers, the participants, the attendees and the audience at large by promoting the intellectual and actionable understanding of His Holiness’ global message. The organization’s goal is to inspire society to act in compassionate ways to create a better world. For more information, please visit: FriendsoftheDalaiLama.org.