NEWS

HH the 14th Dalai Lama to Visit Florida in September 2004

Boulder, CO - Osel Dorje Nyingpo (ODN), a non-profit organization headquartered in San Rafael, CA, announced today events that it is organizing for the upcoming visit of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, to South Florida.  The events scheduled for September 19 - 22, 2004 are co-sponsored by Florida International University and the University of Miami.  Events open to the general public include a talk on Sunday, September 19 (3:00 - 5:00 PM), by the Dalai Lama entitled "World Peace through Inner Peace." On September 20 and 21 (9:30 - 11:30 AM and 2:00-4:00 PM) he will conduct two days of Buddhist teachings on the "Instructions on the Garland of Views," and a traditional Empowerment.  This will be the first time that His Holiness conducts these particular Buddhist teachings, which derive from an important text that expresses support for all world cultures, religions and races.

This will be the last scheduled visit of His Holiness to the United States this year and his first visit to Florida since 1999.  The exiled Tibetan leader and Nobel Laureate attracts ever-larger audiences who seek out his message of non-violence, compassion and hope.  In 2003, his talk in New York City's Central Park attracted an enthusiastic crowd of more than 100,000.  More recently, in April 2004, his public appearance in Toronto filled the Sky Dome to a capacity of over 29,000.

H.E. Khempo Yurmed Tinly Rinpoche, founder of ODN, states "ODN is very honored and humbled to co-host His Holiness in Florida this year. ODN was established in accordance with His Holiness's message of world peace, and we feel these events are among the most important to support his ability to teach compassion as a means to peace."  In 2000, His Holiness the Dalai Lama sent a high level Tibetan delegation to the United Nations Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders and H.E. Khempo Rinpoche was sent as a member of that delegation from the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

The Dalai Lama is also scheduled to address the students, faculty and staff of each of the host universities.  Dr. Donna E. Shalala, President of the University of Miami, was the former Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Clinton administration, and Dr. Modesto Maidique, President of FIU, was appointed in 2000 by then President-elect George W. Bush to serve on the President's Education Advisory Committee.

The public talk, 'World Peace through Inner Peace', will be held at the Office Depot Center located at One Panther Parkway, Sunrise, Florida.  The Buddhist teachings will be held at the University of Miami Convocation Center, 1245 Walsh Avenue, on the University's Coral Gables campus. Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster in the very near future.

States ODN President Dana Schwartz, "ODN is dedicated to the greater need for peaceful and respectful relations between diverse peoples and nations, as are these teachings given by His Holiness.  Southern Florida stands out as a culturally diverse region, and as such, is an important place to make these teachings available to the public.  The message that the Dalai Lama will deliver is one that we aspire to live by and to share with people of all cultures, races and religions."

For general information, email ODN at hhdlmiami@odn-usa.org, call ODN at 415-472-1866 or visit ODN's website at www.odn-usa.org and www.dalailamamiami.com. For more information about becoming an event sponsor, contact Gloria at 305-460-3363 or Danielle at 303-883-3445.