MUNCIE – A Ball State University professor will join a host of international figures, including the Dalai Lama and boxing legend Muhammad Ali, at an event in Bloomington next week.
Professor Larry Gerstein, along with many other religious and political leaders, will attend the dedication of the Chamtse Ling Temple on Sept. 7 at Bloomington’s Tibet Cultural Center.
The Dalai Lama has visited Indiana three times earlier, but next week’s event will mark the first time he has met with Ali, who now lives in southwestern Michigan.
Gerstein said the dedication was “not a political or religious event, but an interfaith celebration of peace and compassion for people of all cultures.”
Gerstein, co-founder of the International Tibet Independence Movement, first became involved in the Tibetan cause after attending a 1998 seminar led by Taktser Rinpoche, eldest brother of the Dalai Lama.
“The slides of Tibet, shown at the seminar, were very interesting,” said Gerstein, “The beauty and devastation of Tibet lead me to begin studying Tibetan Buddhism and making trips to the Tibetan Cultural Center in Bloomington.”
Since then, Gerstein has met the Dalai Lama on many occasions in the United States as well as in India.
“It has always been a profound, humbling, electrifying, and energizing experience. It is hard to fully describe being in his presence,” Gerstein said.
Event organizer Jigme Norbu, a nephew of the Dalai Lama, said he was exited about the message this event will sent to the rest of the world.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, to be able to see the Dalai Lama, Muhammad Ali and many other religious and political dignitaries gather together,” Norbu said. “People are killing everyday in the name of religion, but this is one day different religions gather to promote peace. We are all brothers and sisters, human beings, and we need to get along. We interpret things differently, but basically we all want the same thing. Peace.”
Contact correspondent Kim House at 213-5754.
Tickets still available
Tickets are still available for the Sept. 7 dedication of the Chamtse Ling Temple in Bloomington and a variety of cultural, spiritual and educational events. The U.S. State Department will be in charge of security for the day. Those expected to attend include The Dalai Lama, Muhammad Ali, actor Richard Gere, U.S. Rep. Julia Carson and Gov. Frank O’Bannon.
For ticket information visit: www.tibetancc.com or call (812) 334-7046.
Historical perspective
China’s Liberation Army began its invasion of Tibet in 1949. In 1950, the 15-year-old Dalai Lama was forced into full leadership of Tibet, but fled with thousands of supporters after a failed uprising against China. Since that time more than 1.25 million residents of Tibet have been killed and over 6,000 monasteries have been destroyed.
For information on the International Tibet Independence Movement, founded by Larry Gerstein and Thubten Norbu, visit their website: www.rangzen.org.
