The Visit of His Holinesss the XIV Dalai Lama

SPECIAL ISSUE

YOUR SOURCE FOR UNIVERSITY NEWS October 15, 2010

Behind-the-scenes Meditation C r o s s i n g c u l t u r e s , c h a n g i n g p a t h s 3 Preparing for the for health Dalai Lama’s visit A new study is Teaching kids compassion 4 involves many looking at how Religious leaders on happiness 5 hands across the stress can be University. Page 2 mitigated. Page 4 The Dalai Lama on Twitter 6 Personal experiences 7

Science ‘The Professor’ returns initiative melds best of East, West

By Carol Clark

When you’re talking about cells, are you referring to their minds or their bodies? The question from a Tibetan translator temporarily stumped Emory biologist Arri Eisen. In Tibetan, every organism has a mind and a body, and you have to be speaking about one or the other, explained Geshe Dadul Namgyal, a member of the team translating Western scientific concepts into the Tibetan language. “I told him that Westerners don’t usually think of cells as having a mind,” Eisen recalls. These are the sorts of conversations sparked by a groundbreaking program to bring the best of Western science to Tibetan Buddhist monastics, and the insights of Buddhist meditative practices to Western scientists. Launched in 2006, the program recently became officially known as the Robert A. Paul Emory-Tibet Science Initiative (ETSI). It was the vision of Paul, the former dean of Emory College, and His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama Kay Hinton that led to the formation of the Emory Tibet-Partnership and Dalai Lama’s visit affirms the teaching and research of a special partnership the ETSI. “It’s the way globalization By Nancy Seideman tangible ways, from a compre- enhanced the University’s should happen — taking the Inside this issue hensive science curriculum for Tibetan Studies Program, best of different traditions Bringing together the “best Tibetan Buddhist monastics which focuses on Tibetan and creating something new,” As the campus prepares of the Western and Tibetan and student-scholar exchange Buddhist philosophy and con- says Eisen, director of Emory’s to welcome His Holiness the Buddhist intellectual tradi- programs, to compassion medi- templative practices and is sup- Program in Science & Society, XIV Dalai Lama as Presidential tions” to create new knowledge tation studies that have fur- ported by a library of more and one of many Emory science Distinguished Professor on for the benefit of humanity has ther revealed the correlation than 30,000 volumes of Tibetan faculty who are involved with Oct. 17-19, this special issue been the goal of the Emory-Tibet between preventive practice texts. developing the ETSI. of Emory Report chronicles Partnership since its inception and improved health. The Dalai Lama’s second “The enthusiasm and the the contributions of a unique more than a decade ago. Emory’s close relationship visit to Emory in his role as commitment of the science partnership to teaching, This lofty vision — shared with Tibetan institutions of Presidential Distinguished faculty has been a huge gift,” research, scholarship, health by His Holiness the XIV Dalai higher learning and unparal- says Geshe Lobsang Tenzin care and social action. Lama and the Emory commu- leled access to distinguished Ne g i , d i r e c t o r o f t h e E m o r y-T i b e t nity — is being realized in very Tibetan scholars has greatly Please see THE VISIT page 2 Partnership and co-director of the ETSI along with Preetha Ram, associate dean for pre- health and science education. “It’s amazing how smoothly the program has developed,” Tibetan studies abroad program celebrates 10 years Negi says. “The pieces keep coming together as we need By Jen Christensen program in Dharamsala, India, real. And it totally changed my was the first manifestation of them.” the capital of the Tibetan exile focus.” the Emory-Tibet Partnership Emory faculty are developing Stephen “Pii” Dominick was community. And so it has been for many in Dharamsala, according special science curriculum for well on his way to becoming “I guess I didn’t really have students. This is the program’s to Director Tara Doyle. She the monastics, and teaching it a physicist when his decision a strong sense of what I was 10th anniversary. To celebrate, launched the program in 2001 every summer at the Institute to participate in the Emory going to encounter, but I knew 40 of its 120 students are com- after The Coca-Cola Company of Buddhist Dialectics in Tibetan Studies Program in I was interested in the subject,” ing back to campus for a reunion gave Emory a grant to help Dharamsala, India, the seat 2003 changed his life. The Dominick says. “Just a few during the Oct. 17-19 visit of internationalize the campus. of the Tibetan community in Emory student had always had weeks into the program, all of His Holiness the XIV Dalai “We didn’t feel the students exile. The faculty are working an interest in Buddhism, but a sudden there was the Dalai Lama as Emory Presidential held off taking classes in the Lama sharing his teachings Distinguished Professor. subject until he got into the with us. It was totally sur- The study abroad program Please see ANNIVERSARY page 3 Please see ETSI page 6 EMORY REPORT OCTOBER 15, 2010 2 The Visit Online extras: Webcasts, Many hands help prepare for ‘Visit’ events resources By Suzi Brozman

Did you miss out on tickets When His Holiness the XIV to one of the events with His Dalai Lama visited Emory in Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama? 2007, the Office of University You can view webcasts Events faced a gargantuan of any of The Visit 2010 task. They were responsible not programs as they become only for the “on stage” events, available online at www. but every aspect of the visit. emory.edu/dalailama, and Suzanne Eden-Antola and select events will be video- Andrew Shahan, events manag- streamed live on dalailama. ers for the Office of University emory.edu. Events, commented about some While these events are a of the challenges they face this remarkable opportunity to time in what is being billed as highlight many aspects of The Visit 2010. the relationship between the Eden-Antola described the Dalai Lama and Emory, much recruitment and training of of the work of the Emory- some 340 volunteers, who will Tibet Partnership happens be stationed around campus to throughout the year. Visit assist the nearly 20,000 event www.emory.edu/dalailama attendees with everything from for more on the incredible getting them onto the 36 buses programs happening as hired for Oct. 18 and Oct. 19, to a result of this unique helping them find their seats in partnership: the Woodruff P.E. Center. • Learn about the Emory- The excitement for Eden- Tibet Science Initiative and Antola is heightened by antici- the ground-breaking research pation. She is expecting the taking place on compassion birth of her first child just five meditation. days after the Dalai Lama’s visit. • View a sample of the 30,000 Shahan says they are using volumes of Tibetan texts that the experience from 2007, have been translated and “tweaking that and making preserved. it even better.” He notes the • Access iTunesU and try importance of being “ready for a course in the Tibetan virtually any scenario.” language. Ann Borden, executive director of Emory Photo/Video, will • See how Emory science have her team of three photog- faculty and scholars are raphers capturing everything, developing a comprehensive from official events to candid program for educating Tibetan moments backstage and on. monks and nuns in science. She covered the 2007 event and The Dalai Lama visited the campus and the city in 2007. Kay hinton • Listen to Emory faculty remembers, “It was an exciting perspectives on how time. The Dalai Lama is not was hired in 2007 to be the nership member involved Drive, which will be closed to the ancient traditions of distant, but very personable, program coordinator for that is graduate student Brooke general traffic to allow buses to Christianity, Judaism and Islam engaged and friendly.” visit. He also serves as associ- Dodson-Lavelle, who piloted a drop off and pick up attendees. define happiness. Her job is eased somewhat by ate director for Buddhist compassion meditation proram Emory Catering is provid- the stage designed by University Studies and Practice at Drepung for youth in Atlanta’s group fos- ing lunches for volunteers and And Emory Report will Events executive director Loseling Monastery in Atlanta. ter care system with Ozawa-de selling box lunches for the continue to offer ongoing Michael Kloss. It contains eight Ozawa-de Silva will accom- Silva and others, and coordinat- all-day event on Monday. coverage, in articles and stationary unmanned cameras pany the Dalai Lama and ed a comprehensive continuing A recycling team will be on videos, at www.emory.edu/ that will allow closer access the entourage for three days, education certificate program hand to clean up the entirely emoryreport. with less distraction. smoothing the way, keep- for The Visit. compostable boxes and packag- The Emory-Tibet Partner- ing everyone updated at their With the influx of so many ing. ship, with the help of admin- hotel and at events. He calls people on campus for Dalai There will be extra sanitary istrator Jim Wynn, is inte- the schedule “packed, minute Lama events, University Events facilities with running water. grally involved with the Dalai by minute.” He has also been has had to coordinate plans to At the ready will be three sets Lama’s visit, particularly the involved in educating volunteers keep campus life going during of emergency personnel, an International Conference on and coordinating events, includ- work and school days. ambulance, and of course at Tibetan Buddhism taking place ing the Compassion Meditation Classes will continue as nor- Emory, there are always doctors EXECUTIVE EDITOR Nancy Seideman during The Visit. Brendan Conference, for which he is the mal, and buses shuttling visi- in the house. [email protected] Ozawa-de Silva, a doctoral organizer. tors will keep traffic disruptions student and researcher, Another Emory-Tibet Part- to a minimum, except on Dickey EDITOR Kim Urquhart [email protected] DESIGNER Christi Gray [email protected] THE VISIT: Celebrating the relationship ASSISTANT EDITOR Leslie King [email protected] Continued from the cover Dharamsala, will be in Atlanta to celebrate the 10th anniver- PHOTO DIRECTOR sary of the program along with Bryan Meltz 40 Emory students and alumni [email protected] Professor is an opportunity to acknowledge formally the teach- who are returning to campus for SCIENCE WRITER ing and research that has taken a reunion. Carol Clark place as a result of the rela- “The crises and conflicts in [email protected] tionship between Emory and the world are not due to a lack of educated people, but due to Advertise Tibetan Buddhist institutions. Emory Report accepts display But the visit also is an occa- a lack of kind and responsible advertising. For more information, sion to celebrate the deep, per- people,” notes Damdul. “So we contact a sales representative at sonal ties that have been estab- feel that Emory and the IBD 404-727-7146 or david.mcclurkin lished over the years between have made some contribution @emory.edu. two communities that have dis- in producing people who give Emory Report is printed by the Office covered, not surprisingly, that value to humanness, compas- of Communications and Marketing and they share a commitment to sion, truth and peace.” is distributed free to faculty and staff of nurturing human values as well The values of mind, heart Emory University. Send e-mail to emory. as pursuing vigorous intellec- and spirit that are so much of [email protected]. tual inquiry. the Emory ethos are exempli- Geshe Kalsang Damdul, fied in the learning and dis- assistant director of the covery that is emerging from Institute of Buddhist Dialectics bringing together Western and and co-director of the Emory Tibetan Buddhist intellectual Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, His Holiness the XIV Dalai Jon rou Tibetan Studies Program in traditions. Lama and Bobby Paul EMORY REPORT OCTOBER 15, 2010 The Visit 3 ANNIVERSARY: Educating the heart and mind

Continued from the cover It is that immersion that makes it so remarkable, says Doyle. “When you are exposed to refugees were going abroad enough, particularly who risk life and limb to come into exile to nontraditional locations,” says Doyle, to be educated, you recognize what an a senior lecturer in religion. enormous sacrifice it is to learn. It blows The spring semester Emory Tibetan our students’ minds,” Doyle says. Studies Program in Dharamsala – there Emory Law student Elizabeth Ura is a second, a summer Tibetan Mind/ agrees. She enrolled in the semester Body Sciences program — is now con- abroad as an undergraduate in 2005. sidered one of the leading study-abroad “The program shows students how efforts in the country. Students study important it is to be a part of the global language, Tibetan culture, religious community,” Ura says. “Plus, living in a practice and they have an opportunity to refugee community, you certainly learn do Tibet-related research in the commu- not to take things for granted.” nity. The semester-long program fully Ura was so moved by the program, immerses American students in the life she decided to go back as a teaching of the Tibetan exile community. assistant this past year. One of the more Emory partners with the Institute memorable occasions was the audience of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala she got as a student with the Dalai to facilitate the study-abroad partner- Lama. “It’s almost overwhelming,” she ship and exchange program. Institute says. “To be in a class with just him Assistant Director Geshe Kalsang and 20 or so people and to get to ask Damdul notes how both groups of stu- him questions — that kind of access is dents, through studying and living amazing.” together, “have been able to learn each Dominick has been back to Dharamsala others’ way of life, social, culture and four times, which his helped his work educational systems firsthand.” studying — not physics, but comparative “In this kind of human-to-human philosophy for his PhD. “You can visit interaction,” he says, “both sides learned the [Tibetan] community as a traveler, the importance of human values of kind- but you aren’t as easily integrated into ness, hospitality, tolerance and openness the community as we were,” he says. as key to becoming happy individuals “What I encountered — intellectually, Special and good and responsible citizens of the emotionally and spiritually — profound- Emory Tibetan Studies Program alumni will have a reunion during the world.” ly changed me.” Dalai Lama’s visit. Exchanges of cultures puts two students on different paths

Kunjo Baiji Blair Davis Burgess III him interact with people, I wanted to Kunjo Baiji is a Tibetan monk and resi- Only two months into his college know more.” dent of Dharamsala, India. For the next education, Blair Davis Burgess III had The math and political science major nine months, he will be a visiting scholar an experience that would change the from Florence, Ala. decided to take with the Emory-Tibet Partnership. direction of his life. He met the Dalai advantage of Emory’s many opportuni- As a young child, he says he discov- Lama. His Holiness met with each mem- ties to learn about Tibetan culture. He ered he had a real aptitude for science. ber of Students for Free Tibet, including Burgess. enrolled in a few classes and changed his However, the intensive training required study abroad plans. to become a monk kept him from his sci- “I had joined the club for this moment,” Burgess says. “He touched my face when “I thought I would go to Spain and ence studies. “I really missed it,” he says. work on my language skills, but when we met, then he blessed us. As I watched Now on the Emory campus, he’s I learned about this program I knew I enrolled in chemistry and biology classes. needed to go.” When not in the lab applying his knowl- He enrolled in the highly competi- edge to more hands-on work, he is tive Tibetan Mind/Body Sciences summer instructing others on their meditation study abroad program in Dharamsala, practices. (Upper left) Kunjo Baiji Special India. There he studied Tibetan culture In addition to science, the visiting schol- next to the Dalai Lama. and mind-body sciences in the heart of ar program gives monks a rare chance to the Tibetan exile community. He worked learn more about Western culture and professors’ PowerPoint presentations,” alongside monks and nuns in the com- to practice their English. Fortunately, he munity and tutored some of them. His Baiji says. says, he has friends in the Emory Tibetan research project there examined the kinds Mind/Body Sciences Program to help. After Emory, he’ll go back and share of support systems that were in place for “They’ve been so good to me — espe- what he has learned with his fellow refugee children in exile. cially in helping me understand some monks in Dharamsala. “I love teaching, Special “This was the highlight of my aca- of the more complicated English on my especially the young monks.” Blair Davis Burgess III demic career,” Burgess says. —Jen Christensen EMORY REPORT OCTOBER 15, 2010 4 The Visit Study will see if calm mind can mean healthy body

By Kathi Baker

A new study is under way at Emory testing the value of meditation in helping people cope with stress. The Compassion and Attention Longitudinal Meditation Study (CALM) will help scientists deter- mine how people’s bodies, minds and hearts respond to stress, and which specific meditation practices are better at turning down those responses. “Anything that affects the normal functioning and integrity of the body tends to activate a part of the immune system that’s called inflammation,” says Charles Raison, associate professor in Emory’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and principal investigator of the study. “Inflammation includes processes that the immune system uses to deal with virus or bacteria, or anything for- eign and dangerous,” says Raison, clinical director of the Emory Mind-Body Program. “Data show that people who practice meditation may reduce their inflammatory and behavioral responses to stress, which are linked to serious ill- nesses including cancer, depression and heart disease.” Raison and principal contemplative investigator, Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, senior lecturer in the Department of Religion, collaborated on a 2005 study at Emory showing that college students who regularly practiced compassion med- A video looks at efforts under way at Emory to use compassion meditation to respond to stress; visit Corey Broman-Fulks itation had a significant reduction in Emory Report online to watch. stress and physical responses to stress. Negi, who is president and spiritual of an electronically activated recorder Buddhist mind-training practice called director of Drepung Loseling Monastery, (called the “EAR”) that is worn by the “lojong.” Lojong uses a cognitive, analytic designed the compassion meditation participants before beginning and after approach to challenge a person’s unex- “Data show that people practices. completion of the meditation interven- amined thoughts and emotions toward The success of the initial study led the tions. other people, with the long-term goal who practice meditation may pair to embark on the expanded protocol The recorder will be used to evalu- of developing altruistic emotions and reduce their inflammatory for adults. ate the effect of the study interventions behavior toward all people. The CALM study has three different on the participants’ social behavior by Mastering meditation takes dedica- and behavioral responses to components. periodically recording bits and pieces of tion and time. stress.” The main component, which is fund- ambient sounds from participants’ daily “Meditation is not just about sitting ed by a federal grant, is called the lives. quietly,” says Negi. “Meditation is a — Charles Raison “Mechanisms of Meditation.” This aspect The third component involves neu- process of familiarizing, cultivating or of the study compares compassion medi- roimaging of the participants to deter- enhancing certain skills, and you can Raison and Negi hope to show that tation with two other interventions — mine if compassion meditation and mind- think of attentiveness and compassion centuries of wisdom about the inner mindfulness training and a series of fulness meditation have different effects as skills. mind and how to nurture it, combined health-related lectures. Participants are on brain architecture and the function of “Meditation practices designed to fos- with Western science about how the body randomized into one of the three inter- empathic pathways of the brain. ter compassion may impact physiological and brain interact, will be tremendously ventions. Secular compassion meditation is pathways that are modulated by stress helpful to humanity, personal well-being A second component involves the use based on a thousand-year-old Tibetan and relevant to disease.” and health. Teaching kids compassion through meditation

By Leslie King Paideia School, an Atlanta-area private, with deeper and richer conversations. tation had helped them in their relation- independent school. They were invited The kids are better able to show empa- ships. Dodson-Lavelle confirmed that Compassion is not something you by the school’s consulting psychologist thy, better able to show compassion.” one of the participants said the training keep to yourself. Compassion medita- Barbara Dunbar. Both Paideia classrooms were fasci- transformed her relationship with her tion, a systematic method for cultivating The program, says Dodson-Lavelle, nated with compassion meditation’s con- estranged adoptive mother. emotional balance and pro-social behav- was for “children aged 5-8, an in-class cept of “interconnectedness.” Ozawa-de Looking to the future, Dodson-Lavelle ior and highlighting interconnectedness, program to see if we could systematically Silva brought in a sweater to illustrate and Ozawa-de Silva plan to conduct a isn’t either. teach compassionate meditation, which the concept, pointing out all the different scientific study this spring to see what Wanting to share compassion medita- encompasses qualities like empathy, per- people involved in growing the material effect the pilot program had on the The tion and its outcomes, two Emory gradu- spective, impartiality, equanimity.” It for the fabric, getting it to the producers, Paideia School children. ate students developed pilot programs built on the mindfulness meditation the making the sweater, packing it, bringing “We have anecdotal evidence” that on this Tibetan Buddhist contemplative teachers there were already using. it to the store. the teaching has a continuing effect, tradition in two educational settings, “The kids,” Dodson-Lavelle says, “were “The kids saw how you are connected Dodson-Lavelle says. one in a private school and one in the great! They got the concepts instantly.” to so many people through objects. They The pair also wants to make a more Kelly Richards is the lead teacher really grasped that idea,” Petrash says. systematic program and expand it into foster care system. for a class of 7- and 8-year-olds at The The second pilot program, developed the public schools. Brooke Dodson-Lavelle and Brendan Paideia School. She noticed “how big the and implemented by Ozawa-de Silva For the foster care program, “We Ozawa-de Silva used the compas- impact was on the kids; how perfectly and Dodson-Lavelle, Negi and Charles want to bring in a training program for sion meditation protocol designed by comfortable they were with it.” Raison, clinical director of the Emory caregivers” in the foster system, Dodson- Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, director “It really helps children in lots of Mind-Body Program, was in early 2009 Lavelle says. “We see that as a crucial of the Emory-Tibet Partnership, co- ways, to get in touch with their feelings, for youth in Atlanta’s group foster care piece.” director of the Emory Collaborative for to be kind and considerate and to pay system. Compassion meditation is inspired Contemplative Studies and spiritual attention,” Richards says. Six girls, age 13-16, were trained in by His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama’s director of Atlanta’s Drepung Loseling Jonathan Petrash, who co-teaches a a six-week compassion meditation pro- long-held idea for an education of Monastery. class of 5-, 6- and 7-year-olds, says, “I gram, in which the goal, Dodson-Lavelle heart and mind, a vision for education Negi’s protocol uses a cognitive, ana- really think it helps the kids [to] center. says, was to give them a sense of self- that Emory fully shares, says Ozawa- lytic approach to challenge a person’s The biggest impact was around interper- worth and hope. de Silva. unexamined thoughts and emotions sonal dynamics — how to talk to friends, Kids in foster care have “emotional The work will be presented to the toward other people, with the long-term being open and closed, body language problems and behavioral problems, such Dalai Lama during the Compassion goal of developing altruistic emotions and what it tells us.” as connecting with adults, for a lot of dif- Meditation conference on Oct. 18. and behavior toward everyone. “We have tried to make it a part of our ferent reasons,” Dodson-Lavelle says. The work was funded by philan- Ozawa-de Silva and Dodson-Lavelle daily routine,” Petrash says. “There is a The girls later told external reviewers thropist and benefactor Joni Winston collaborated with teachers at The real calm, settled feel in our classroom of the program how powerfully the medi- through the Emory-Tibet Partnership. EMORY REPORT OCTOBER 15, 2010 The Visit 5 Religious leaders take an interfaith look at happiness

By April L. Bogle they believe that they are ‘self-evident truths.’ Surely not: they are highly con- Are human beings supposed to be tentious propositions. At best, aspira- happy? What is happiness? How is it tions.” achieved and supported, measured or CSLR has asked the world’s most mapped? famous happiness expert, His Holiness The Center for the Study of Law the XIV Dalai Lama, to lead the project’s and Religion (CSLR) has been probing capstone event. answers to these questions during its At the “Interfaith Summit on five-year Pursuit of Happiness Project. Happiness” on Oct. 17, the Dalai Lama Through the lenses of historical, liter- will discuss happiness with other ary and religious texts, and through the world religious leaders: The Most rigors of the humane, social and exact Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, the sciences, researchers are shedding new 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal light on these ancient questions. Church; Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks “Originally, ‘happy’ meant ‘fortunate.’ of the United Hebrew Congregations But by Shakespeare’s day it had acquired of the Commonwealth; and George the sense of personal fulfillment com- Washington University Professor Seyyed bined with contentment,” says Philip L. Hossein Nasr, a distinguished scholar of Reynolds, Aquinas Professor of Historical Islam. Theology at Candler School of Theology According to the Dalai Lama, happi- who is the project’s director. ness is what life is all about. “I believe Detailed findings about how happi- that the very purpose of our life is to seek ness comes from forgiveness, compassion happiness. That is clear. Whether one and living a virtuous life, among other believes in religion or not, whether one topics, will be published during the next believes in this religion or that religion, two years in eight new volumes (includ- we are all seeking something better in ing “Intelligent Virtue” and “The Bible life,” he states in “The Art of Happiness” and the Pursuit of Happiness”) and doz- (Riverhead Books, 1998). ens of journal articles. Including an Asian religion in its In the meantime, CSLR experts have spectrum is new for CSLR. “We are been taking the stage to discuss these purposely widening our faith discussions concepts with the Emory community and beyond the West, consulting with the the public at large. On Sept. 21, Patrick wisdom of the Buddhist tradition and Allitt, Emory’s Cahoon Family Professor comparing it with the Abrahamic tradi- of American History, challenged the pas- tions to deepen our understanding of the sage in the American Declaration of pursuit of happiness,” says John Witte The Oct. 17 Interfaith Summit on Happiness caps a multiyear research kay Hinton Independence “that all men…are endowed Jr., Jonas Robitscher Professor of Law project at the Emory Center for the Study of Law and Religion. by their Creator with certain unalienable and CSLR director. rights, that among these are life, liberty The debate continues after the sum- host of NPR’s “Speaking of Faith” and Buddhist teacher and author, will present and the pursuit of happiness.” mit. At 5 p.m. on Oct. 17, CSLR is host- “Being.” full academic papers on happiness from “I don’t suppose anyone here actually ing “Reception and Reflections on the The following day, Jefferts Schori, their respective religious traditions dur- believes all that,” Allitt said to his audi- Summit,” a panel discussion featuring Sacks, Hossein, and The Venerable ing the one-day conference, “Happiness ence in Tull Auditorium. “Even less do CSLR experts and led by Krista Tippett, Matthieu Ricard, a world-renowned in Interreligious Perspective.”

What would you ask the Dalai Lama? What would you ask His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama? Questions representing the breadth and depth of the University’s academic community will be posed by “My experience here has video to the Dalai Lama at the “The Professor’s Office Hours” on Oct. 19. Based on questions submitted by faculty, staff and students, here’s a sampling of what the been great, and I loved the Emory community wants to know: small classes. • How can we stop people using fear to incite extreme political reactions? The academics are the • You were put in charge of a country at the age of 15. How were you able to deal coolest and the teachers are with being in charge of the country at such a young age? my favorites -- they have • How can we address the degradation of the Tibetan natural environment separate this flair about them.” from the fragile socio-political climate and work constructively with the Chinese to address this pressing need? ~ Cale, eighth grader • What type of music do you like to listen to? • What is your message, or advice, for the next Dalai Lama? And could you imagine that the next Dalai Lama, or any Dalai Lama, could ever be a woman? —April Rim The best kind of learning for all children.

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TWEET PEACE

His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama has embraced social media to spread the word of His Holinesspeace. the Some Dalai fun Lama facts: embraces the in 2007, he accepted. The University’s long modern• world.This year He travelsthe Dalai the Lama globe. launched He has a Twitterrelations feed, the with day Tibetans after he have met flowered Twitter in founder Evan Williams. (Williams, of course, tweeted about the encounter: “Met the a website.Dalai And Lama yes, today he contributes in LA. Pitched to Twitter. him on using developingTwitter. He alaughed.”) science curriculum for Tibetan • @DalaiLama now has about 850,000 followers. So when offered an appointment as a monastics. This is what happens when East • The Dalai Lama also has a Facebook page. Presidential Distinguished Professor at Emory meets West: Compassion in Action. • Currently he has almost 1 million fans. • His most popular post? Receiving 39,411 comments on Sept. 7, it read:

Kay HInton “My true religion, my simple faith is in love and compassion. There is no need for Geshe Lhakdor, director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, complicated philosophy, doctrine, or dogma. Our own heart, our own mind, is the looks at one of the early science textbooks created for the program. temple. The doctrine is compassion. Love for others and respect for their rights and dignity, no matter who or what they are — these are ultimately all we need.” Continued from the cover monastics began in 2008. Six monks from this cohort are on the Emory • Follow @EmoryUniversity #thevisit on Twitter the visit for coverage of his Emory scan this code to get full coverage of the dalai lama’s October visit to Emory at Twitter.com/Emoryuniversity. campus this fall, where they will sharpen events. Or visit Emory’s Facebook page for updates. in conjunction with three Tibetan Visit get.neoreader.com to find a barcode reader app for your device. their English skills while gaining more —April Rim translators based at Emory, and five exposure to Western-style science. more at the Library of Tibetan Works “We want to train monastics and and Archives in Dharamsala. Prototype materials were created other science educators in India to in English covering three areas: teach the curriculum themselves, so Minds rulE, physics, neurosciences and the other that the program becomes rooted in life sciences. Work is under way to the community and doesn’t disappear,” HEArTS MATTEr refine the curricula, based on feedback Eisen says. from faculty and the monastics as the Each year, ETSI keeps expanding program progresses. The long-term its reach. Its student body now includes www.emory.edu/tweetpeace goal is to develop and translate five 90 monks and nuns from 19 different primers for each of these three areas, monastic institutions. and eventually integrate the five-year “When ETSI first began, there was science education program into Tibetan quite a bit of skepticism in the monastic monasteries and nunneries throughout community about the idea,” Negi says. India. (The completed texts for the first- “Now we’re seeing a 180 degree shift year primers for neurosciences and for in that attitude. There is huge interest the other life sciences were recently sent and enthusiasm among the major to the printers.) monasteries for making Western science Instruction of the first cohort of 30 part of their education.”

Greeting, eating and other etiquette

University Events has issued a protocol for “do’s and don’ts” for those who may come in contact with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama. • You may say “Tashi Delek. Welcome,” or just “Welcome.” • Making direct eye contact is fine. So is shaking hands, but with two hands, not one. • When addressing the Dalai Lama, say “Your Holiness,” or when speaking about him, say “His Holiness.” After that, you may say you or he. • Pass or receive an item using both hands. kay Hinton • When sitting, if you cross your legs, avoid pointing your feet toward the Dalai Lama. • During meals, wait until the Dalai Lama begins eating or drinking before you do, unless the Dalai Lama specifically requests people to start. • When the Dalai Lama enters or leaves a room, one should stand. • Allow the Dalai Lama to sit first, and then take your seat. • When leaving with the Dalai Lama staying, take a few steps back still facing him before turning to leave, rather than turning your back on him directly. • Be yourself and be natural. The Dalai Lama relates to everyone as they are.

—Suzi Brozman EMORY REPORT OCTOBER 15, 2010 The Visit 7 FIRST PERSON ESSAYS Profound lessons learned in the presence of visionaries By NANCY SEIDEMAN follows, and this is the conclusion, right?” “Well yes, but not exactly,” would invariably be his After five years of immersion in the Emory-Tibet reply as Lobsang proceeded to give me an appreciation Science Initiative — from witnessing its inception to for what is meant by layers and layers of knowledge. I observing Emory faculty teaching monastics in India — learned to remain still and listen. I have learned what it means to be part of a university. I am humbled and moved when Tibetan Buddhist I have had the privilege of being in the presence leaders and teachers unfailingly talk about the goal of of visionaries — not only the Dalai Lama and former creating new knowledge within the context of its ulti- Emory College Dean Bobby Paul — but all of the teach- mate purpose — to benefit humanity. In my everyday ers, researchers, students, staff and monastics I have life, I had never thought of my work being connected to met along the way. such an aspiration. I learned to make connections. I have discovered that Tibetan Buddhist monastics The environment is my passion. Sitting in a are highly analytical and vigorous in their intellectual Dharamsala classroom with Emory faculty and monas- inquiry, creating a truly reciprocal relationship with our tics, I perked up when monastic and science student approach to scientific investigation. “And how do you Geshe Sonam Dakpa talked about his concern regard- know that?” is the constant question posed by monastics ing global warming and what he is trying to do as an of the Emory faculty. individual to conserve resources (including, with mixed The medical journalist in me always wants the facts, success, to convince his fellow monks to turn off the the bottom line. In first writing about the initiative, I water when brushing their teeth). When he tells me that had difficulty in explaining what was meant by “bring- solicitude for global water issues has “seeped into his ing together the best of Western and Tibetan Buddhist heart,” I am reminded of our shared humanity. intellectual traditions.” So when the Dalai Lama referred to the science ini- I asked questions cautiously, embarrassed by my tiative as a “100-year project” in my presence, I smiled Hal Jacobs lack of knowledge, but then more boldly, encouraged by but did not blink. That’s another thing I learned from Nancy Seideman is associate vice president Emory faculty and Tibetan Buddhist scholars. I tried my Emory and Tibetan Buddhist colleagues and friends for University Communications and executive editor of hard to get to “the answer,” particularly with Geshe — to take the long view. Emory Report. Lobsang Tenzin Negi: “OK, so if this is true, then this Monks’ eagerness to learn helps fulfill Dalai Lama’s goal

By P. V. Rao to help us in the teaching. We are now busy writing the reading material suit- Four years ago, when Emory entered into a part- able to serve as a text for the monks. These are trans- nership with Library of Tibetan Works and Archives lated into Tibetan language. When I went to India the in India to develop and implement a comprehensive first year to teach, there was a Tibetan translator to science education curriculum for Tibetan monks and translate whatever I said in English. Only a few monks nuns, I was one of the first few faculty members who in the class knew some English. volunteered to join the Emory Tibet-Science Initiative. Translation is an important key in the project. I The project is inspired by His Holiness the XIV Dalai wish the monks would receive sufficient education in Lama’s conviction that “a dialogue and cross-fertiliza- English language early on in their monastic studies — tion between science and spirituality is essential for then the window of opportunity to learn modern science enriching the human life and alleviating suffering.” will be wider. As a preliminary to participate in this program, I The monks are very alert and eager to learn the went to Himachal Pradesh in India in the summer of new subjects. Their eagerness to ask many questions 2007 to teach elementary particle physics to a group of during the class and outside is a testimony for their monks gathered by the Sager family foundation. That commitment to learn and follow the recommendation of experience has given me the confidence that I can con- the Dalai Lama. In their monastic studies, debate is an tribute to the development of this program. important activity that helps them study their subjects When in January of 2008, His Holiness officially critically and with understanding. I wish some of our inaugurated the Emory-Tibet Science Partnership in a own undergraduates at Emory followed that route in large gathering of Tibetan monks in South India, I was their classrooms! there to deliver the first lecture on cosmology. Our stay in Himachal Pradesh, India, was a very Dr. John Malko and Dr. Jed Brody, my colleagues pleasant experience. We, the faculty who went there, in the physics department, and Dr. David Finkelstein received red carpet hospitality. While enjoying the from Georgia Tech joined me in developing the physics relaxed atmosphere I felt I was participating in a his- and cosmology part of the curriculum. toric process that is beginning to take shape in the lives We now believe that a five-year instruction on this of Tibetan monks who are living in India. and other subjects would be essential to build the neces- Sometimes I wonder whether I was a Buddhist in sary foundation for the monks so that they can have a my previous life, and if I am fulfilling the karma I general view of the scientific knowledge. More recently had accumulated then in this present encounter with Drs. Tad Day, Rick Williamon and Paul Wallace joined Buddhist monks. P. V. Rao is associate professor of physics. special Tibetan translation team busy minting scientific lexicons By Tsondue Samphel The translators, or lo-tsa-was in Tibetan, have to grapple with words as simple as “switch,” which when Since the inception of the Emory-Tibet Science translated into Tibetan not only becomes object-specific Initiative in 2006, a team of translators, based at Emory but rather quite cumbersome; to words loaded with and the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) meanings such as “process” that may seem easy to an in Dharamsala, India, have been busy minting scientific English reader but carries a range of meaning not easily lexicons in Tibetan and translating scientific materials duplicable in a Tibetan translation. prepared by ETSI’s science faculty. Creating names for almost all of the brain parts With a good number of the initiative’s monastic and other anatomical features may seem daunting, students having little, and in many cases minimal, but even more challenging is the coining of names for English language training, translation becomes an the thousands of molecules, chemical compounds and essential part of the initiative’s science education efforts. drugs, which will require developing a very systematic Moreover, given the larger goal of introducing a compre- and thorough method, and a strong dosage of patience. hensive science education into the monastic curriculum, The ETSI translation team has thus far avoided ven- production of scientific literature in Tibetan — includ- turing into this solution (pun unintended) by taking ing textbooks, reference materials, teaching tools and so on — takes an even more central role in this endeavor, the easy path of transliterating the names of chemical which His Holiness the Dalai Lama once called “the compounds. However, this in itself is another bitter 100-year project.” medicine to take. The translation team, consisting of three translators As daunting as it may seem, we can draw inspiration at Emory and four at LTWA, labors hard to provide not from our history and the precedence set by our pio- only literary translations of course materials, such as neering lo-tsa-was, who not only translated and trans- syllabus, lecture notes and handouts of all sorts, but ported entire Buddhist thoughts from Indian languages also in-class and on-the-spot translation of lectures, dis- and in the process created a whole new set of vocab- cussions and dialogues. The team has thus far translat- ulary, but were highly successful in capturing the ed materials for six textbooks and three primers, all of Buddhist thoughts perfectly. We take comfort in the fact Tsondue Samphel is a research assistant and Ann Borden which will eventually be used in majority of the Tibetan that Tibetan language is a very flexible and creative translator for the Robert A. Paul Emory-Tibet Science Buddhist monasteries and nunneries in India. language. Initiative. EMORY REPORT OCTOBER 15, 2010 8 Events Schedule Lessons in the sand Teaching to the Buddhist Community In a fascinating tradition of art and ceremony, a mystical representation of Sunday, Oct. 17, 9:45–11:15 a.m. the universe, known as a mandala, is painted from colored sands. A mandala is Woodruff P.E. Center a circle, often enclosing a square. The mandala’s creation takes three to five days Witness a teaching to the region’s Buddhist community. of painstaking work. A consecration ceremony concludes the creation, during The Dalai Lama will explain the nature of compassion and which time the mandala is dismantled. The monks sweep up the colored sands the practices for cultivating it as understood in the Tibetan to show the impermanence of all that exists. Buddhist tradition. These photographs were taken of mandala sand painting at the Carlos Museum during Tibet Week; this year the mandala sand painting live exhibition took place at the Drepung Loseling Monastery in Atlanta.

Interfaith Summit on Happiness Sunday, Oct. 17, 1:30–3:30 p.m. Woodruff P.E. Center His Holiness the Dalai Lama will open the forum with an address followed by responses from The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church; Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth; and George Washington University Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr, a world-renowned scholar on Islam. Krista Tippett, host and producer of the public radio program “Speaking of Faith,” will moderate a discussion among the Dalai Lama and other panelists immediately following their presentations.

Conference on Compassion Meditation Monday, Oct. 18, 9:30–11:30 a.m. and 1:30–3:30 p.m. Woodruff P.E. Center This event will bring together researchers from leading universities to map the current field of compassion meditation research and to chart future directions as well as to discuss implementing this knowledge in educational and clinical settings. The Dalai Lama will participate fully in both sessions.

International Conference on Tibetan Buddhism Monday, Oct. 18 -Wednesday, Oct. 20 Emory Conference Center The first of its kind and scope, the International Tibetan Buddhism Conference will bring together the preeminent leaders, teachers, scholars and translators of Tibetan Buddhism from both traditionally Tibetan Buddhist areas and Western countries to engage in substantive discussion about the current state of Tibetan Buddhism in the modern world and how best to move forward collectively. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will inaugurate the conference and preside over the opening session.

The Professor’s Office Hours Tuesday, Oct. 19, 10–11:30 a.m. Woodruff P.E. Center Emory students, faculty and staff gather for a town- hall style conversation with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, Presidential Distinguished Professor. Questions, representing the breadth and depth of Emory’s academic community, will be posed to the Dalai Lama. President Jim Wagner will moderate the conversation.

The Creative Journey Tuesday, Oct. 19, 1:30–3:30 p.m. Woodruff P.E. Center Listen to Internationally known humanitarian and award-winning actor Richard Gere and Pulitzer Prize- winning author Alice Walker as they converse with the Dalai Lama on the symbiotic relationship between spirituality and the arts.

For more information, visit www.dalailama.emory.edu.

Bryan meltz