He was scheduled to address the campus last spring but had to cancel due to health concerns.
He is the 14th incarnation of the Dalai Lama, meaning “ocean of wisdom,” and is the traditional leader of the Tibetan people.
Each Dalai Lama is believed to be the Buddha of Compassion, reincarnated to serve the population.
The current Dalai Lama was recognized as the reincarnation in 1937 at the age of two, and was enthroned in 1940.
Over 80,000 Tibetan followers joined him in his exile in India in 1959, and the nation’s cause has become famous internationally, especially on college campuses.
The Nobel Peace Prize added renown to the Tibetan struggle. The Dalai Lama won the award for his non-violent efforts, which have emphasized peaceful dialogue and reconciliation with China.
He continues to travel worldwide meeting with prominent leaders, calling for universal human rights and voicing Tibet’s specific concerns.
—Staff writer Margaretta E. Homsey can be reached at homsey@fas.harvard.edu.