Formally recognized as the 14th incarnation in 1950 at the age of 15, the Dalai Lama was last in Boulder in 1997 when he spoke at both CU Boulder and Naropa University. During his last visit, the he delivered the keynote address at a groundbreaking conference at Naropa on spirituality and education, which some say catalyzed the global mindfulness movement in education and the workplace in Boulder and beyond.
The spiritual leader first visited Boulder in 1981, when he spoke before about 4,000 people at the events center. Leaders from the Tibetan Association of Colorado helped introduce the Dalai Lama for the morning teaching, as did U.S. Rep. Jared Polis and Boulder Mayor Suzanne Jones.
“His Holiness’s visit is a privilege to our community yet also a challenge to our community,” Polis said, noting that we must be men and women “at peace” so we can be more forceful advocates for peace.
Jones said said it has been a lifelong dream to meet the Dalai Lama and participate in one of his teachings.
“Here he is blessing us with his presence in Boulder,” she said, noting the city’s strong connection to Buddhism dating back to the 1970s and the founding of Naropa University and the Shambhala Center.
Colton Lyons, one of three CU Student Government presidents, expressed how meaningful it was to CU-Boulder students to have the Dalai Lama here. Lyons, a political science major from Aurora, said the event was three years in the making. He praised the Dalai Lama for his commitment to non-violence in the face of extreme aggression and seemed very impressed that the Dalai Lama had visited 67 countries on six continents, won 150 awards and written 110 books.
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Post authored by CU News Center