Dalai Lama at Miami

Yesterday, Miami University was graced with the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet. While he interacted with students, faculty, staff, and trustees in various settings, his lecture on "Ethics in the Modern World" was delivered to a sold out crowd in Miami's Millett Hall and sold out remote viewing locations, totaling close to 12,000 viewers.

His messages were powerful, to say the least. But what I was most anxious to share with you was his reflection on the 20th Century, and his hope for the 21st Century. He indicated that the former was a century that will be remembered by bloodshed, concentrating on the violent "solutions" to human differences that were employed in this time. But he looked forward, too. He charged us, the younger generation, to ensure that the next century is one of dialogue. He stressed that we have ninety more years to make this century into what it will be remembered for. Dialogue, he stressed, is how we can take difference of opinion, policy, religious affiliations, and come to a productive understanding that is mutually beneficial.

As he sat with his shoes off and his legs curled under him, he talked about the root of happiness and internal peace. Genuine affection, both showing and receiving, can allow us to flourish as humans. He called on the audience to remember how we feel when we are treated with affection and love, and how we feel when we are treated with mistrust and fear. Without ever using the term "karma," he was clear in his message that we receive what we put out in the universe.

Miami has made a commitment to provide a global education, primarily achieved through opportunities like Study Abroad. His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to Miami is indicative of the ways in which the Miami education provides a global experience right here in Oxford, Ohio. To learn more about the Dalai Lama's visit and the many opportunities for students to interact with him, visit www.muohio.edu/dalai-lama.