Dalai Lama Visits L.A. for 3rd Time

The Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual and political leader, is scheduled to begin his third and most extensive visit to Los Angeles today.

The 55-year-old monk, who fled Chinese troops 30 years ago during the suppression of a revolt in Tibet, is regarded by Tibetan Buddhists as the 14th reincarnation of a venerated Buddhist deity and is viewed by most Buddhists as an articulate spokesman of their beliefs.

Although he will meet the press Friday and speak publicly at 4 p.m. Sunday on “Inner Peace, World Peace” at the Shrine Auditorium, the Dalai Lama’s primary purpose during the visit is to lead more than 2,000 Buddhists in advanced understanding of their religion at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The teaching will culminate in rites July 16-19.

Preparations for the Kalachakra Initiation, or “Wheel of Time” ceremony, begin next week with instruction by the revered figure. The rites have been performed by the Dalai Lama only once before in the United States.

The Dalai Lama, based in Dharmsala in the Indian Himalayas, first visited the United States in 1979. He traveled to Los Angeles that year and again in 1984. With the aid of the New York-based U.S. Tibet Committee, the leader has used such visits to call attention to human rights violations in Tibet and sought support for reforms and democratic freedoms there.

Now a familiar religious figure internationally, he was recently in Mexico and Costa Rica for interfaith events. While in Central America, he took part in a peace conference with Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sanchez, the architect of a peace plan for Central America.

During his 17-day visit to Los Angeles, he will stay at a private home in Santa Monica. The Dalai Lama is scheduled to leave Los Angeles July 20.