Dharamshala: TibetPost-21-April-2009-Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will visit Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Boston and New York during his visit to the United States for 16 days from 24 April - 9 May, the exile Tibetan official media, Tibet.net, said. His Holiness left Dharamshala on 19 April and arrived at Narita International Airport in Narita city in Japan today.The highlights of His Holiness's US visit will be meetings with China experts and Chinese democratic activists, and a series of public talks on ethics, compassion and Buddhism.
During his previous visits in US, President Bush, Bill Clinton and met with Tibetan leader, in 2007, President W. Bush met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the White House in official level, presented the U.S. Congress' highest civilian honor, calling the monk a "universal symbol of peace and tolerance." But it is still unclear whether the President Barack Obama will meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
According to the report, "His Holiness will meet the press and Chinese democratic activists on 24 April. On the same day, His Holiness will give two public lectures themed as "The Nature of Mind" and Ethics for Our Time" at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)."
"On 25 April, the Tibetan leader will visit the University of California in Berkeley, where he will deliver a talk on "Peace through Compassion". In the afternoon, Buddhists from Himalayan region and Mongolia will be granted an audience.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai lama's visit in Massachusetts; he will speak to the students of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) followed by question-answer session on 29 April.
On 30 April, His Holiness will inaugurate a new centre at Harvard University to be named as "Centre for Ethics". Following the ceremony, he will give a public talk on "Ethics and Enlightened Leadership". His Holiness will participate in a panel discussion on "Compassion and Psychology' to be organized by the Harvard Medical School on 1 May. In the afternoon, His Holiness will meet with China experts and Chinese scholars.
His Holiness will deliver a talk on "What is Buddhism and Commentary on the Four Noble Truths" for the Buddhist community on 2 May. The Tibetan Association of Boston will organize the talk at Gillette Stadium.
During his visit to New York, His Holiness will meet Mrs Mary Robinson, the former Irish President and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. They will speak on "Wisdom and Compassion for Challenging Times" which will be moderated by Pico Iyer. The Tibet Fund will organize the meeting at Town Hall on 3 May.
Following the meeting, His Holiness will give a public talk on "The Essence of Buddhism and Being a 21st Century Buddhist" to be organized by the Tibetan Association of New York and New Jersey at Madison Square Garden.
On 5 May, the Tibet House will organize a public talk at which His Holiness will speak on "Quintessence of Compassion".