Emory: His Holiness the Dalai Lama participated in a talk entitled "The Creative Journey: Artists in Conversation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Spirituality and Creativity" with Richard Gere and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker on Tuesday (19th October).
The panelist discussed the topic to a crowd assembled at Emory University, where His Holiness is an honorary professor. They all seemed in ready agreement that the arts play a large role in promoting compassion through-out the world. His Holiness urged the people of world to use their creativity to uphold democracy, liberty and individual freedom. He also discussed admiration of America calling the country the champion of democracy, liberty and freedom. However he discussed the risks of the role America has as the world's leading country staying that "if American's become demoralized it would have a negative impact through-out the world."
Both Richard Gere and Alice Walker talked about His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a role model for them and a source of inspiration. They also discussed the story of the Tibetan saint, Milarepa and the message of despair and redemption that it illustrates. Alice Walker, who won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for her book The Coulor Purple, said that the trials and tribulation of Milarepa echoed the experience of her community. She added that she would be very happy for the story to be known to Americans in the south of the country
At the conclusion, Dr Rosemary Magee, Emory Vice President and Secretary, thanked His Holiness the calling him "Our Professor" and everyone else involved with the programme saying it has been an extraordinary spiritual, academic and scientific journey.
