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FRIDAY 10 OCT ALEXANDER NORMAN "Why we love the Dalai Lama"? 7.30pm (click for map etc.) The Dalai Lama is arguably the one spiritual leader who appeals strongly to the secular West. Why is this so? What is it about the Dalai Lama that enables him to connect with believers and non-believers alike? There is no straight-forward answer. Part of his appeal undoubtedly rests on the perception that Buddhism is a peaceful, broadly non-judgemental faith tradition. At the same time, for many, the Dalai Lama's appeal derives from his association with Tibet, a country often thought of as a repository of ancient wisdom and of wonder-working holy men and women which, until recently, preserved an authentic link with a semi-mythical past. Excluded from either perception is any sense of Tibet's history, and the role of successive Dalai Lamas in that history. Yet it turns out that there are better reasons for admiring the present Dalai Lama than even some of his most ardent supporters imagine. In this talk, Tibet expert Alexander Norman explores the Dalai Lamas' meaning for the world today. Alexander Norman has known and worked with the Dalai Lama for more than twenty years. Most recently, he was the instigator of the Tibetan leader's successful visit to Oxford. He has worked closely with the Dalai Lama on a number of literary projects and is a member of the Dalai Lama's Special Review Committee. His book on the history of the institution of the Dalai Lamas, Holder of the White Lotus (2008), has been widely praised. £8.00 (Friends £3.00) |