SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, will be the keynote speaker at the University of California San Diego All Campus Commencement where he will share with a record 9,000 graduating students and more than 15,000 guests “The Value of Education, Ethics and Compassion for the Well-Being of Self and Others” at 10 a.m., June 17, 2017 on RIMAC Field.
At the invitation-only Commencement, Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla will confer degrees by academic division upon graduates gathered as one student body. The event will kick off UC San Diego’s graduation weekend, June 16-18. Following the ceremony, the campus’ six undergraduate colleges, two professional schools and various graduate programs will host personalized graduation events where undergraduate and graduate students will walk across stage as their names are read.
The Dalai Lama describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. But to the world he is a renowned peace advocate, a beacon of hope for humanity, sharing inspirational messages with international audiences that range from young students to world leaders. In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. His Holiness also became the first Nobel laureate to be recognized for his concern for global environmental problems.
As one of the top 15 research universities in the world and recognized for its contributions to the public good, UC San Diego partnered with The Friends of the Dalai Lama Foundation to host the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism for the campus-wide event. Founded by Ven. Lama Tenzin Dhonden, the Personal Emissary for Peace to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which oversees the creation and planning of elite and large-scale events held at public and private venues throughout the United States for the Dalai Lama.
“We are honored to host His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at UC San Diego and thankful that he will share messages of global compassion with our graduates and their families,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “A man of peace, the Dalai Lama promotes global responsibility and service to humanity. These are the ideals we aim to convey and instill in our students and graduates at UC San Diego.”
Lama Tenzin Dhonden added, “His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been invited to speak at most major universities in the U.S. because his global message of universal responsibility, kindness and compassion is loved and appreciated by people all over the world, and applicable to every field of study.”
The selected student speaker for Commencement is Richard “Ricky” Alexander Flahive, who is graduating with a double major in political science and sociology. He will share his personal story with students—the first chapters might have suggested his life would have taken a different direction entirely. With a childhood that included living in a motel for seven years, he largely missed out on elementary school. At San Diego City College, he made up for lost time. He was on the Dean’s List his last two years before transferring to UC San Diego. The majority of UC San Diego’s commencement events take place June 17 and 18 on RIMAC Field.
I noticed this is a LGBT publication and can not withhold the sense of pure irony.
Here is a direct quote from the Dalai Lama:
A sexual act is deemed proper when the couples use the organs intended for sexual intercourse and nothing else.
The author of this article has very smartly avoided any references to, ‘Tibet’ Tibetan or spiritual leader as protested by those Chinese student, bowed down to Chinese pressure.