Release date: Oct. 22, 2007
Contact: Nancy Seideman at 404-727-0640 or nseidem@emory.edu

Emory Sponsors Free Public Talk by Dalai Lama Oct. 22

• WHO: His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, Presidential Distinguished Professor at Emory University

• WHAT: Emory sponsors a free public talk by the Dalai Lama on "Educating the Heart and Mind: A Path to Universal Responsibility"

• WHEN: 1 p.m.- 6:15 p.m., Monday, Oct. 22. Gates open at 1 p.m. Musical entertainment begins at 3 p.m. The main program begins at 4:30 p.m. and ends at 6:15 p.m. The event will take place rain or shine.

• WHERE: Centennial Olympic Park, downtown Atlanta

• COST: The event is free and open to the public.

Emory presents an afternoon with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, Presidential Distinguished Professor at Emory, who will deliver a public talk on "Educating the Heart and Mind: A Path to Universal Responsibility." The event also will include special musical guests and activities. For complete, updated information, go to dalailama.emory.edu.

This event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required. Gates open at 1 p.m. Music and entertainment begin at 3 p.m., including performers from the "Mystical Arts of Tibet" touring group. The program and talk by the Dalai Lama is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. If time permits at the end of the event, the Dalai Lama and other panelists may take audience questions. Because of the size of the audience, these questions must be submitted ONLINE prior to the event at dalailama.emory.edu.

Guest entrances to the event into Centennial Olympic Park are located at either end of Andrew Young International Boulevard off of Marietta Street or Centennial Olympic Park Drive. Attendees are encouraged to carpool or take MARTA. Food and drink will be available for sale, along with a Tibetan Bazaar.

The following rules will be observed during the event:

* NO BAGS, LARGE PURSES, COOLERS or CHAIRS of any kind will be allowed in the area. No recording devices, laptop computers or metal folding seat cushions will be allowed into the park. There will be no place to check these items.

* All seating is lawn seating. Seat cushions and blankets are permitted.

* Attendees may bring personal cameras, but no camera bags, tripods or detachable lenses.

* No umbrellas are allowed. In the event of rain, attendees should bring ponchos.

* The park is wheelchair accessible. This event will feature American Sign Language interpreting. See an usher for directions to the appropriate seating area.

* All attendees are required to clear security and are subject to search upon entry. All guests should bring government-issued photo identification.

* Cell phones are permitted, but must be turned off.

* Concessions will be available at the park. Attendees may bring bottled beverages and food they can carry by hand.

About the Emory-Tibet Partnership

Emory is the first university appointment accepted by the Dalai Lama, 1989 Nobel Peace Laureate and leader of the Tibetan exile community. The Dalai Lama’s appointment is the most recent outgrowth of the Emory-Tibet Partnership, which was founded in 1998 to bring together the best of Western and Tibetan Buddhist intellectual traditions.

Emory is recognized as one of the leading centers of study of Tibetan philosophy and religion in the West, primarily due to the university’s extraordinary relationship with Tibetan Buddhist institutes of higher learning based in India, including the Drepung Loseling Monastery and the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile. One of the most ambitious projects of this partnership is an historic initiative to develop and implement a comprehensive science education curriculum for Tibetan monastics.

As Presidential Distinguished Professor, the Dalai Lama will continue to provide private teaching sessions with students and faculty during Emory’s study-abroad program in Dharamsala, as well as provide opportunities for university community members to attend his annual teachings. He also will make periodic visits to Emory to participate in programs. Emory will establish a fellowship in the Dalai Lama's name to fund annual scholarships for Tibetan students attending Emory undergraduate and graduate schools.

Emory University is one of the nation's leading private research universities and a member of the Association of American Universities. Known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate college of arts and sciences, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities, Emory is ranked as one of the country's top 20 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to its nine schools, the university encompasses The Carter Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, the state's largest and most comprehensive health care system.

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