"Today, the world is getting smaller," the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet said in English. "We really need closer understanding of each other. It's essential."
The discussion was part of a weekend of events at Emory University with the Dalai Lama, who has accepted a distinguished professorship at the school. His visit will also include a free public talk at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta on Monday and the first of many lectures to the Emory community.
Thousands filled Emory's gymnasium throughout the weekend to listen in on panel discussions and hear the exiled leader of Tibet -- for which he continues to seek autonomy from China -- talk about topics as diverse as neuroscience and Buddhist meditation.
The Dalai Lama was presented Sunday with the Gandhi Foundation USA's "peace pilgrim" award by several members of the Gandhi family. The Tibetan leader said he has always considered himself a follower of Mohandas Gandhi, who led a nonviolent uprising that eventually resulted in India's independence.
Earlier in the day, the Dalai Lama delivered a lesson on the basics of Buddhism from atop a wide, golden chair, flanked by Tibetan monks and followers of other types of Buddhism. He described being tutored starting at age 6 on Buddhist practices and philosophies.
"At that time, [I had] no interest," he said, laughing. "When my tutor came, I used to feel like the sun was setting and it was getting dark. As a young student, I always preferred play."
Laura Pavicevic-Johnston, a 20-year-old Tulane University student, drove from New Orleans for the weekend of events with one of her professors. She had visited the Dalai Lama's headquarters in Dharamsala, India, a couple of years ago, but the spiritual leader was out of town.
"I think it's amazing," she said of the Dalai Lama's visit. "Hopefully he will come back to Emory often."
On Friday, the Dalai Lama was presented with a science curriculum designed by Emory faculty and translated into Tibetan. Emory faculty members plan to teach the curriculum to thousands of Tibetan monks in India starting in January, part of a program requested by the Dalai Lama to improve monastic education.
On Saturday, the Dalai Lama and researchers held a day-long symposium about the effects of Buddhist practices on depression.
Although the Dalai Lama has honorary professorships at universities across the globe, Emory is the only place he has accepted a teaching professorship.
The Dalai Lama joins a prestigious group of high-profile professors at Emory, including former president Jimmy Carter and author Salman Rushdie.
His appearance brought with it high security, including a Secret Service detail. Attendees at the weekend's events had to pass through metal detectors and have their bags screened to enter the building.
2007 WashingtonPost.com
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