News and Views on Tibet

His Holiness the Dalai Lama to visit New York City

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Visits New York City – September 17 – 21
Public Talk in Central Park, Teachings at the Beacon Theatre, Benefit Concert at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center

New York, NY – His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and religious and secular leader, will make a rare visit to New York City, September 17-21, 2003. The Dalai Lama’s last visit to New York was in 1999. Events will include a public talk in Central Park, four days of teachings at the Beacon Theatre, and an address at a benefit concert dedicated to peace and reconciliation at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. The Tibet Center and The Initiatives Foundation, founded by Richard Gere, co-sponsor this visit. Healing the Divide presents the concert, co-hosted by Richard Gere and the composer Philip Glass.

Central Park: “A Public Talk for New York – 2003” will be held in Central Park in the East Meadow (97th Street and Fifth Avenue) at noon on Sunday, September 21. The Dalai Lama will speak on compassion, practices that encourage a peaceful mind, and positive ways to live during difficult times. At his last appearance in Central Park in 1999, His Holiness spoke before an audience estimated to be as many as 200,000. Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe looks forward to welcoming the Dalai Lama back to Central Park for this highlight event of 2003. The address is open to the public free of charge.

Beacon Theatre: The Dalai Lama will lead four days of teachings at the Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway at 74th Street, Wednesday, September 17 — Saturday September 20. Entitled “Training the Mind, Opening the Heart – 2003,” the teachings are based on two classic Buddhist texts. His Holiness will speak on how to transform habitual selfish tendencies into compassion, selfless love, and wisdom, through practical methods applied in meditation as well as in daily life. The teachings will be held from 10:00 AM to noon and 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM each day.

Tickets for the Beacon Theatre teachings are available through Ticketmaster (212-307-7171 in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut; 800-755-4000 outside of those areas; and www.ticketmaster.com/venue/11) or at the Beacon Theatre Box Office (212-496-7070). Tickets may be purchased for the entire four-day series or for individual days. Seating is limited and expected to sell out, so early reservations are recommended. In addition to regular seating, preferred “Sponsor” and “Friend” seats are available. For these tickets only, please call 212-777-0606 or visit the website at www.dalailamanyc.org.

Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center: His Holiness will speak at the “Concert for Reconciliation and Peace” to be held Sunday, September 21, at 7:00 PM. Jessye Norman, Anoushka Shankar, Philip Glass, Kronos Quartet, R. Carlos Nakai, Nawang Khechog, Foday Musa Suso, and the Gyuto Tantric Choir are scheduled to perform. Proceeds will benefit Healing the Divide, a new organization focusing on the preservation of culture, education and community development through the creative use of technology across the Himalayan Region. Tickets are available online at www.lincolncernter.org, www, healingthedivide.org, in person at the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office (Monday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm, Sunday, noon to 6pm), or through CenterCharge, – 212-721-6500.

Visit Sponsors: The Initiatives Foundation, founded by Richard Gere, identifies individuals and organizations pioneering new ways to promote social and economic progress in disadvantaged communities, with a particular focus on the Tibetan refugee community, and the issue of HIV-AIDS in India The Foundation develops collaborative partnerships and new models that can be replicated in areas with similar needs. The Tibet Center, founded in 1975 by scholar and Tibetan teacher Reverend Khyongla Rato Rinpoche, is the oldest Tibetan Buddhist center in New York. Venerable Nicholas Vreeland is the Director. The Tibet Center provides a space for members and the public to explore Buddhist teachings and practices. The Center also hosts programs with leaders from other faith traditions. The Tibet Center is located at 107 E. 31st Street.

The Dalai Lama’s Visit to the United States: In addition to New York City, the Dalai Lama will visit San Francisco, Bloomington (Indiana), Washington, D.C., and Boston during September. New York City is his last stop in the United States during this tour.

General Information: For information on the full New York schedule, please visit the web site: www.dalailamanyc.org.

Contact: Josh Baran – 212-779-2666
jcbaran@aol.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *