The Dalai Lama will speak at the University of Utah in October.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet will already be in town to headline the Parliament of the World's Religions on Oct. 17.
At the U., he is set to talk about compassion and universal responsibility, then answer questions culled from an online public submission portal.
Tickets for the Oct. 18 speech at the Hunstman Center go on sale Monday, July 13, at 10 a.m.
The 80-year-old Buddhist leader "is a gift to the world," said Pema Chagzoetsang, board member of the Utah Tibet Foundation, in a prepared statement. His messages of spiritual awareness, compassion and kindness, she said, are "more needed than ever" in today's fast-paced and disparate world.
Prior to the event, a cultural celebration will honor the Tibetan leader's 80th birthday, which was July 6.
It's the second visit to campus for the faith leader, who first came in 2001.
"It is a great honor and pleasure to welcome the Dalai Lama back to the University of Utah," said David W. Pershing, U. president.
Exiled from Tibet in 1959 during an uprising against the Chinese army, the Dalai Lama escaped to India and established the Central Tibetan Administration.
In 1989, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to establish Tibetan sovereignty.
Local proceeds from the event will fund Salt Lake City's Tibetan Community Center.
No guns will be allowed at the event, which will have metal detectors "in accordance with federal security guidelines," according to the university statement.
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