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The Dalai Watch

The time is finally upon us when the 14th and current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and secular leader in absentia of Tibet, makes his visit to the University at Buffalo for a series of events promoting peace across borders through education. As Bill Murray’s character Carl Spackler famously remarks upon His Holiness’s golf game in the cinematic masterpiece Caddyshack: “He’s a big hitter, the Dalai. Long.” This is a big deal for UB, and for Western New York in general. For a complete and serious list of all the events at the university, visit www.buffalo.edu/dalai_lama.

However, in the words of His Holiness himself: “I am a simple Buddhist monk, no more, no less.” And for us simple folk who are not actively a part of the university community, there are other off-campus happenings that coincide with his visit. We offer the following short list to enlighten your humble life:

September 1-30

Tibetan Photo Exhibit by artist Jennifer Lewis Drew at Buffalo-Niagara International Airport.

September 8-December 31

Jinzu. Explore the hidden universe of the natural word and the insentient. Photographic works by author, artist and Zen Master John Daido Loori. Buffalo Big Print Gallery.

September 15

Creating a Mandala: Exploring the Language of the Heart and Soul. A seminar presented by Manya Fabiniak. 7–9:30pm. Albright-Knox Art Gallery.

September 15

Journey to Tibet: A Tribute to the Dalai Lama. Gusto at the Gallery. 3–10pm. Albright-Knox Art Gallery.

September 16-October 16

Two Years after Tibet. Paintings by artist Joanna Angie at Insite Gallery. (Opening reception 9/16 from 7 to 10pm)

September 16

Crazy Wisdom: Buddhism, Beat Literature, and American Poetics—an interactive night of poetry reading and story-telling. 8pm. Buffalo Arts Studio.

September 20

Awakening Kindness—To Create a Culture of Kindness. A workshop by the renowned Tibetan musician Nawang Khechog. 7-9pm. Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst.

September 26

The Heart of Being: Zen Buddhism and the Teachings of Compassion for the Modern World. A public talk by John Daido Loori and Roshi Abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery. Westminster Presbyterian Church, Parish Hall.

October 21-22

The Heart Shrine Relic Tour—a free exhibition of rare and sacred relics of the Buddha & other Buddhist Masters. Buffalo Museum of Science.

We offer this simple guide in the hope that we all may recognize and follow the middle path, practice compassion, understand suffering and celebrate the infinitely temporal nature of existence. Because, to reference Chevy Chase’s character Ty Webb in Caddyshack—as he falsely quotes the Zen poet Matsuo Basho—“A flute with no hole is not a flute. And a donut with no hole is a Danish.”