Course offered in preparation for the Dalai Lama

Students interested in learning more about His Holiness the Dalai Lama are encouraged to register for the Spring 2010 course offering “The Dalai Lama: A Sacred Tradition and a Political Institution.”

The Dalai Lama, who serves as the 14th leader and head of state of the Tibetan people, is scheduled to visit the University of Northern Iowa May 18, 2010. The course, which is also open to UNI faculty and the general public, will be taught by two visiting scholars, The Venerable Geshe Thupten Dorjee and Dr. Sidney Burris, both professors at the University of Arkansas. UNI professor Dr. Jeannie Steele will also instruct the course.

According to the UNI Web site, the course will provide “a working knowledge of the cultural, political, aesthetic and philosophical traditions that converge in the Dalai Lama.”

Virginia Arthur, associate provost and head of the subcommittee for the Dalai Lama visit, said it was the course instructors that approached the university about getting involved with the visit and offered to teach the course.

“They really want to help us understand the significance of having the Dalai Lama on campus, and not just pin him as a celebrity,” Arthur said.

According to the tentative class syllabus, the course will center around these questions: “Who is the Dalai Lama?”, “Why is he important to the Tibetan People?”, “What does he stand for?” and “How has he paralyzed his unique significance to the Tibetan people into a more universal appeal that has given him immediate access to practically every country in the world?”

The course will contain various books and films that will serve as a base to answer these questions, including “Ethics for the New Millennium,” written by the Dalai Lama himself. Arthur noted that these materials are valuable in exploring different cultures.

“Students will learn something about a different ethical system.” Arthur said.

Devin Hanson, a junior fine arts major, is excited about the class and the visit.

“It’s really exciting that he’s coming here; it’s a great privilege for UNI,” he said.

“I don’t know if I can take the class, but it’s a great way to give students a better understanding of him, the culture and the religion.”

The course is available to all students, and those that enroll in the class will be guaranteed a seat at the speech in May. Information about the course as well as related events in preparation for the Dalai Lama’s visit are available at www.uni.edu/dalailama.

 

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