Alumni Bulletin - Fall 2008 - (Page 29)

a scholar and a friend Hailed by The New York Times as the “leading American expert on Tibetan Buddhism,” Robert A.F. Thurman has enjoyed a 45year friendship with the Dalai Lama. During the Dalai Lama’s morning and afternoon teaching sessions at Stabler Arena, Thurman—who also delivered this year’s baccalaureate address at Lehigh—had an honored place on the stage. And during breaks, he could be found talking with people in the lobby and autographing copies of his latest book, Why the Dalai Lama Matters. “The Dalai Lama matters in a global sense, because of what he represents among world leaders,” says Thurman, the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University. “He’s a leader without a country. He’s a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, which you could say is his only official rank or status. And yet he moves the minds and hearts of millions of people in the world by standing for nonviolence in the 21st century. “In this moment, here is a man who stands for nonviolence as a reasonable, argued, ethical position and even a sort of enlightened self-interest as a best choice of acts—even in the climate of terrorism,” he adds. “I think people feel that’s very important.” —Becky Straw PHoTo By THeo ANDeRSoN listen, learn, love Lloyd Steffen, professor of religion studies and university chaplain, opened the Dalai Lama’s public lecture with a “moment of gathering,” in which he reflected on the theme for “this very special event in the life of Lehigh University.” As we gather, listen … learn … love. These words have guided us in all we have done to prepare for this event. These words guide us today. Listen. Open your ears in attentiveness to the needs of others, to the suffering of a world in conflict. Listen to the cries for help. Listen to the voices of hope and laughter, the voices encouraging dialogue and negotiation, the voices calling for understanding and peace through nonviolence. Learn. Open your minds to the wonder of the world and the mystery of the human heart. Learn through experience and engagement with others, with the teachers who can present themselves at any moment, even the unexpected one. Learn the simplicity of compassion and the complexity of life as you experience it—physically, intellectually, emotionally, ethically, spiritually. Love. Open your hearts to love. Love—that energy in the universe that moves us in its creative throe for greater unities. To love is to find connection and interconnection and inner connection. Listen. Learn. Love. Hold to these words today. Remember this day through these words. LU PHoTo By DoUgLAS BeNeDICT Fall 2008 29

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Alumni Bulletin - Fall 2008

Alumni Bulletin - Fall 2008 Contents From the President's Desk Mailbox On Campus Research Arts & Culture Sports Cover Story: The Dalai Lama at Lehigh Heart of a Champion Around the World in 80 Years Fighting for Children wth Autism Keepers of the Flame From the Publisher's Desk Alumni News The Last Word

Alumni Bulletin - Fall 2008

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