Dalai Lama honored at Harvard
Phayul[Friday, May 01, 2009 11:58]
By Bhuchung D. Sonam
Boston, April 30, 2009: His Holiness the Dalai Lama was conferred a citation by Harvard University today.
“Such honor was given to a very few select leaders of the world. By giving this citation Harvard University has shown the highest respect and honor to His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” said Dr. Lobsang Sangay, research fellow at Harvard Law School and the chief coordinator of His Holiness’s New England visit.
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The citation was given in recognition of the Tibetan leader’s work on peaceful solutions to the international conflicts, global environment problems and “for inspiring a new generation to seek innovative solutions to old problems.” The director of the University’s Marshal Office, Jacqueline O’Neil, gave the citation during a special luncheon.
In another recognition of His Holiness’s contribution to the global environment, the university honored His Holiness to plant a birch tree in front of the Harvard Memorial Church located at the centre of famous Harvard Yard. “This tree brings us closer to the nature. Sometimes in big cities we become distant from nature due to all the machineries made from metals. Trees and flowers remind us that we are part of nature, which is very important,” said His Holiness. |
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The birch tree is a hybrid between monarch birch from Asia known for its beautiful and large heart-shaped leaves and paper birch from North America and eastern and western varieties.
“His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognizes the significance of trees. With this tree planted here today Harvard recognizes the Dalai Lama,” said President Drew Gilpin Faust in her introduction to the tree planting ceremony.
According to Faust, the hybrid was “especially created for this occasion” to represent Dalai Lama’s contribution to bridge the gap between the east and the west.
“In the history of Harvard University only two persons have had the great honor to plant trees in the Yard. One was a long-time president of Harvard and the second one is His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I am extremely happy that Harvard has conferred such an honor to His Holiness,” said Sangay.
Apart from thousands of students and staff members of the university, Harvard Yard is being visited by hundreds of thousand of tourists from all over the world.
Tags: Dalai Lama, Free Tibet, Namgyal Rapper, Tibet, Tibetan