The Dalai Lama Foundation-Canada

UCSB Gets Free Lesson in Ethics

Daily Nexus
University of California, Santa Barbara

By Richard Lau / Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, January 21, 2009

http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=18087

Issue 60 / Volume 89

Over 2,500 free copies of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s book, Ethics for the New Millennium, will be distributed in the Davidson Library today to kick off the third annual UCSB Reads.

All students are invited to the main lobby of the library beginning at 8 a.m. to try and score a complimentary copy. Discounted books will also be available at the UCSB Bookstore.

An annual project spearheaded by the Davidson Library, UCSB Reads is a program that distributes copies of a book selected for its relevance to UCSB’s academic strengths and priorities. Since “Ethics. Beyond ourselves.” is the official theme of this year’s UCSB Reads, Ethics for the New Millennium was chosen to demonstrate the application of ethics in modern life. Additionally, the book will compliment His Holiness’ visit to UCSB on April 24 for two lectures.

At the project’s kick-off ceremony last week, Wade Clark Roof, a professor of religious studies, said both the book and the program address important questions raised by what ethics should mean to a citizen of the world.

“The challenge in our global world is to cultivate consciousness of our relationships with other people,” Roof said. “We need to ask ourselves, are we genuinely connected as human beings? How can we build these deeper human bonds?”

Kimberly Thompson, Davidson Library director of development and outreach, said this year’s campaign topic and selected work were chosen in part to coincide with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s upcoming trip to UCSB.

“His visit here is a great honor for our campus and our community,” Thompson said. “The book dovetailed nicely with a theme we felt was of utmost importance.”

Co-chair of the UCSB Reads committee Janet Martorana said the strength of this year’s theme was its broadness, as it applies to and draws expertise from a wide variety of academic fields on campus.

“Interdisciplinary research and teaching is an emphasis of our campus, and the discussion of how ethical concerns apply to broader areas in education, science, business, law, etc., is a part of that,” Martorana said. “With this year’s theme, we can again draw upon broad faculty expertise in diverse fields such as philosophy, religious studies, global studies, environmental studies and the life sciences, and bring the faculty into the community to discuss relevant issues around this theme.”

In a statement at the kick-off ceremony, Executive Vice Chancellor Gene Lucas referred to the UCSB Reads program as a unique opportunity for students to engage with a reading that focuses on humanities rather than the sciences.

“It is not a book on religion or politics,” Lucas said. “It is a book on social conscience and life philosophy,”

In addition to the Dalai Lama’s lectures and free book, UCSB Reads will also feature a series of open conversations at Davidson and other libraries in the area. A schedule of upcoming events can be found online at http://ucsbreads.library.ucsb.edu/index.html.

Montreal, 21 September, 2008 (WTN)

At ceremonies in Montreal recognizing the United Nations International Day of Peace, a Tibetan Canadian – Thubten Samdup – was named Pacifist of the Year.  Mr. Samdup, National Chair of the Dalai Lama Foundation Canada, received the honour in recognition of his two decades of work for the well-being of the Tibetan people, and for his tireless devotion to peace and nonviolence.

During ceremonies this past Sunday, an enthusiastic crowd enjoyed the beauty and tranquility of Montreal’s famous Mount Royal Park, while listening to speeches by dignitaries and peace activists, as well as performances by musical artists, all of whom extolled the virtues of peace and the need to practice it both in our personal lives and in the actions of our nations.

Partway through the festivities, after a minute of silence was observed and 21 doves (representing September 21st being the Day of Peace) were released, lead organizer Jean Trudel of the organization Cercle de Paix announced that Mr. Samdup had been named Pacifist of the Year, and congratulations were given by Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay.

Speaking both in French and in English, Mr. Samdup humbly accepted the award, and spoke of the Tibetan people as exemplary seekers of peace, whose nonviolent struggle and whose deeply-ingrained values are models for the world.

A proud Tibetan, proud Canadian, and proud Quebecer, Mr. Samdup also announced that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be visiting Montreal next year, in recognition and support of exciting changes within the Quebec educational system that should help to create a generation of young Quebecers who value peace, social harmony, and inter-dialogue, consistent with His Holiness? own teachings and philosophy.

Before heading the Dalai Lama Foundation Canada, Mr. Samdup founded the Canada Tibet Committee, and he continues to be a social and economic entrepreneur whose recent initiatives include the launching of a newly invigorated effort on “”Electing the Next Kalon Tripa,” and the creation of Tibet Innovations, which aims to provide economic opportunities for young Tibetans in South and Central Asia.

Krisy Gashler
Ithaca Journal
11 October 2007

At Cornell University the Dalai Lama spoke about peace.

“Genuine peace comes through inner peace,” he said. “Internally, if you’re full of hatred, full of suspicion, full of fear, then through that way, it is impossible to achieve genuine peace.”

The Dalai Lama told his university audience that they could help alleviate inequality and suffering in developing countries by educating students from these countries.

“Bring or welcome more students from these poorer countries,” he said. “Give them vision, give them self-confidence, give them skill.”

“Instead of sending soldiers, send more students,” he said. “America is part of humanity, Africa, same human family. Brothers, sisters who have prosperity, go to these areas and bring more prosperity.”

To view the complete article please go to [http://www.tibet.ca/en/newsroom/wtn/199]

Martin Luther King Jr.

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.