CBSnews.com/news; Seth Auberon, Pat Macpherson, Wisdom Quarterly
Tibetan Association of Colorado and CU-Boulder will co-host October visit by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
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| VIDEO: The Dalai Lama turns 80 in 2015 |
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota - The Dalai Lama canceled his
U.S. appearances for the month of October after doctors at Minnesota's
Mayo Clinic advised him to rest, his office said Friday.
The 80-year-old Tibetan Buddhist leader was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester this week for what was described as a routine check-up.
"The
doctors have advised His Holiness to rest for the next several weeks,"
his office said in a statement on its website Friday. "We deeply regret
the inconvenience caused by this decision and apologize to all the
people who have worked so hard in organizing the visit as well as to the
public."
The statement gave no more details about the Dalai
Lama's condition and representatives did not immediately respond to an
email from The Associated Press seeking additional comment.
The University of Colorado and the Tibetan Association of Colorado had announced earlier Friday that the Office of Tibet in
Washington, D.C., informed them a planned visit would be canceled. The
Dalai Lama had been scheduled to appear at the university October 20-21.
Besides
the trip to the school in Boulder, Colorado, the Dalai Lama's schedule
had listed appearances in Salt Lake City and Philadelphia next month.
Mayo Clinic, where the Dalai Lama has made regular visits in past years [and why not if he is a former CIA operative], on
Thursday confirmed his most recent visit for evaluation but released no
details, as is routine. Mayo spokeswoman Ginger Plumbo said Friday she
had no further information to release and would not confirm whether he
had left the clinic.
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| "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible," says the 14th Dalai Lama. |
A secretary to the Dalai Lama, Chime Rigzin,
told AP on Thursday that the Dalai Lama had been to the clinic and had
had no health complaints. Rigzin told AP test results were fine and the
Dalai Lama would soon be returning to [his Himalayan home in exile in] Dharamsala, India.
The Dalai
Lama had been scheduled to make two appearances at the University of
Colorado on Oct. 20 and 21. The first was an event open only to
students, faculty, and staff, and the second appearance was a public
teaching and talk on training the mind and compassion.
University
of Colorado event planners were notified by the Office of Tibet about
the cancellation Friday morning, university spokesman Ryan Huff said.
The visit had been in the works for nearly two years.
"We're
certainly saddened by this news, but we also hope the Dalai Lama's health
improves very quickly and someday he may be able to come to campus,"
said Huff, who acknowledged that it would take a long time to plan
another visit.
The Dalai Lama also was scheduled to receive an
award from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Oct. 26.
The center's president and CEO, Jeffrey Rosen, said officials are
working with the Dalai Lama's office to see if a representative can
accept the award in his absence.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dalai Lama as he recovers his strength," Rosen said.
Lobsang
Tsering, president of the Utah Tibetan Association, said the Salt Lake
City visit from Oct. 17-19 included an invitation to a world relations
conference, a public talk at the University of Utah and a dedication of
the new Tibetan Association Community Center.
Tsering said when he
learned of the cancellation, "my heart dropped." But he said that for
Tibetan people, "the most important thing is the well-being of His
Holiness. And we all know he needed a rest." More
2015 Dalai Lama visit postponed
- For more event info: DalaiLamaColorado.com
A schedule of events at CU-Boulder is still being finalized. The
schedule and ticket information will be announced as they are finalized.
Events will include an address by His Holiness to students, a teaching
on the Eight Verses of Training the mind, and a public talk by His
holiness. In addition, a multi-day Festival of Tibet featuring a Tibetan
market, food, and performances of music and dance will be held for
everyone’s added enjoyment. More
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