For some students, the coming of the 14th Dalai Lama will be a time of great reconciliation and learning from a beloved teacher. For others, the importance of His Holiness' visit is evident on campus, but the meaning or the events scheduled are still unclear.
Officials hope that the interfaith ceremony, Day of Learning, public speech and law conference live broadcast will help to expand students' understanding of both the figure and his teachings.
John Wood, associate vice-provost for international education, said that the reason for the cancellation of classes on Tuesday extends far beyond encouraging people to attend the lecture. He hopes that students will take advantage of the years of preparation surrounding the event.
"Participating in programs on the Day of Learning will help students better understand the Dalai Lama's visit," he said.
Wood added that events are going on all day, and students should plan accordingly.
There are twenty individual programs taking place throughout the Day of Learning, beginning at 8 a.m. with a Community Meditation and ending with a Tibetan Feature Film at 8:15 p.m.
Activities will include music performances, an exhibit of Tibetan artifacts, a poetry reading by a Tibetan poet, a preparation for and analysis of the Dalai Lama's speech led by Lama Surya Das, as well as several events surrounding the Tibetan practice of painting, followed by deconstruction of the "sand mandala," a large work of art made of colored sand.
"I didn't know there were so many events," said freshman history and Spanish major Ryan Fleming.
Fleming echoed the response of many UB students in regards to the upcoming events-one of a lack of knowledge.
"I'm not surprised, because this is such a momentous occasion for the UB community," Fleming said. "But I definitely lacked specifics on all the events."
Senior Engineering major Jayce Grefrath said that he would have liked to see more on the Day of Learning and other events.
"I live on campus, so it's not like I don't see the advertisements," Grefrath said. "I just wish there was more advertising of the events (surrounding) the Dalai Lama's visit, not the speech itself."
Discussion panels, designed to bring together experts, professors and community leaders, constitute several of the events. One specific to Buffalo will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. in Clemens Hall, titled "Nonviolent Conflict Resolution in the Buffalo Community: From Prevention to Intervention." This is expected to appeal to Buffalo-area residents new and old, including Seth Hurley, a psychology major.
"Violence is so prominent, and it's such a shame. Intervening and preventing violence is a benevolent task," he said. "It's worth listening to what works and has been accomplished just in the local community. It's also appealing because it features interdisciplinary professions and so many speakers with experience on the subject."
Another panel coincides with the fifth anniversary of September 11th, titled "Putting 9/11 in Perspective: The Prospects for Peace."
Discussions are just a part of the effort to connect the Dalai Lama's teaching to concerns and interests of students and the community of UB according to Wood.
Many events have been scheduled at the same time, in order to give students many options to choose from.
"Three days of events is really remarkable," said Wood. "We are really fortunate and privileged to have him for that long."
Monday at 4 p.m. in Alumni Arena there will be an interfaith service hosted by UB's Campus Ministries Association. The Dalai Lama himself requested the service, as interfaith gatherings are one of the hallmarks of his work, according to Wood.
The service will include observations by the Dalai Lama as well as a large number of local religious leaders. Several UB students will also read passages from various religion traditions.
"I am a big fan of interfaith-related things," said Hurley, who plans on attending the event. "The Buddhist practices directed by the Dalai Lama should be really interesting."
Weekly meetings have been conducted since April, according to student committee member Laurel Flynn. A sophomore BFA Musical Theatre student, Flynn has been selected to give the Unitarian Universalist passage.
"It is a chance for people of all ethnicities and religions to come together and share our goal and desire for world peace," she said. "(It's) also a chance to get a small glimpse of other religions which may for the most part be unknown to us."
Wednesday, Sept. 20 marks the first time the Dalai Lama will participate in a U.S. law school conference.
The conference can be watched through simultaneous video broadcast in the UB Law School, rooms 102, 104, 106 O'Brian Hall. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.
The law conference will be held in the Law Library, located on the 2nd floor of O'Brien.
It is a two-day event, with the Dalai Lama participating from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, continuing without him until 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, the second day of the conference, is open and coffee will be served beginning at 8:30 a.m. The Dalai Lama will not attend the second day, but it is open to students from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
One of the organizers, Melinda Saran, vice dean for student affairs at the Law School, believes students will find the conference interesting and informative.
"It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," she said, "particularly important now with the election, for students will be future voters and lawmakers. This (event) could make you a better, more educated citizen."
The discussion will examine how religious laws operate in society and how law shapes society from a number of different perspectives. Topics include, "Democracy and Attachment: The role of capitalism in Buddhist democracies" as well as "Karmic Consequences of Legal Decisions."
"The conference will be fascinating because it will be a conversation with the Dalai Lama, experts on property law, constitutional law," Saran said. "(It will be) a unique chance to see legal experts discussing how law shapes society."
Charles McLaud, a senior majoring in social sciences interdisciplinary with a focus on legal studies, said he plans to attend the conference.
"I'm always intrigued by a new perspective on legal issues," he said.
All the events on the Day of Learning are free and open to the community (with the exception of the program of music and performances, and the Dalai Lama's lecture) and a complete listing can be found at www.buffalo.edu/dalai_lama/day_of_learning.html.
The interfaith service is $15 a ticket. The Law conference is free and available for students to view through simultaneous video broadcast. To register or find more information on this event, go to www.law.buffalo.edu/baldycenter/dalailamaconv06.htm.
"I'm going to that interfaith ceremony, his speech," Hurley said. "I'm not too sure what other options are available."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
