The Dalai Lama spoke at the Duke Energy Center during a sold-out luncheon in his honor this afternoon. Beforehand, he held a private meeting at the Freedom Center with several people chosen to greet His Holiness.
The Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his work to gain freedom for his native Tibet, which was invaded and occupied by China in 1949. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, whose given name is Tenzin Gyatso, is both the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born in 1935 to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in northeastern Tibet. In 1950 His Holiness was called upon to assume full political power after China's invasion of Tibet. But following the brutal suppression of the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa by Chinese troops in 1959, His Holiness was forced to escape into exile. Since then he has been living in India.
Today, wearing a visor to shield his eyes from the bright television lights, he delivered a message about the power of truth, honesty and compassion. He says his main concerns are promoting family values and religious harmony.
The International Freedom Conductor Award was created by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to recognize the contributions of contemporary individuals who, by their actions and personal examples, reflect the spirit and courageous actions of conductors on the historic Underground Railroad. Previous Freedom Center honorees have included civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, South African Bishop Desmond Tutu, Dorothy Height, The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights and, most recently, in 2007, former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
Tomorrow, the Dalai Lama is expected to speak at an event at Miami University. He'll receive an honorary degree and give a lecture on ethics. The event is also sold out.
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