His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will give a full day teaching on compassion in Vancouver on October 23, 2014

Title:	"Avalokiteshvara Empowerment"
Where:	UBC Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre,
	Vancouver, BC, Canada
When:	Oct. 23rd, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM, Doors open at 8 AM
Website:	http://dalailamavancouver.com

VANCOUVER, Sept. 23, 2014 /CNW/ - His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give an in-depth teaching on compassion at the UBC Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre (formerly the Thunderbird Arena) in Vancouver, BC, on October 23, 2014, from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

Suitable for families and all audiences, the teaching will focus on compassion as a path to inner happiness and the transformation of ordinary experience into transcendental wisdom. Unlike the more generalized "public talks" he has given in the past, His Holiness will provide line-by-line explanations of a sacred Buddhist text to guide the audience in the practice of mindful compassion.

The Dalai Lama has presented this empowerment around the world to diverse audiences and will be presenting it for the first time in Vancouver. He emphasizes the universality of the teaching, which embodies the values of compassion and kindness that are widely found in the world's spiritual traditions and philosophies.

The teaching is titled "Avalokiteshvara Empowerment" in reference to Avalokiteshvara, the Buddhist deity of compassion, mercy, and altruism. This beloved deity is known as Guanyin in China, Kannon in Japan, and Chenrezig in Tibet. As an empowerment, this teaching will convey specific practices for cultivating compassion in daily life. The empowerment has a continuous 2000 year-old history as a direct transmission of wisdom and compassion passed from teacher to student. As part of this heritage, every audience member will receive a blessed artifact from His Holiness.

Renowned anthropologist and author Wade Davis will be introducing His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In addition, a Himalayan marketplace will be set up with unique vendors, artisans, and community groups.

This event is co-organized by the Tibetan Cultural Society of BC (TCSBC) and the Tsengdok Monastery Association. Event proceeds will go to the BC chapter of the Tibetan Resettlement Project, a humanitarian initiative launched by His Holiness to resettle 1000 displaced Tibetans to Canada. The project reaches out to Tibetans living in the most impoverished camps of Arunachal Pradesh, a region of India that borders Tibet. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese translations will be provided.

Event Schedule:
8:00 am	Doors Open
9:30 - 11:30 am	Avalokiteshvara Empowerment Teaching, part 1, led by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
11:30 -1:30 pm	*** Lunch Break ***
1:30 - 2:00 pm	Tibetan and Hunnu Mongolian Music Ensemble
2:00 - 3:30 pm	Avalokiteshvara Empowerment Teaching, part 2, led by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
7:00 pm	Benefest for Tibet Concert (tickets sold separately via Ticketmaster)

Editor's Note:

Details about media opportunities during the visit and an on-line accreditation form are now available on the Media page of the event website: http://dalailamavancouver.com/media/

For media access to the event, all media and technical support personnel must be accredited. We will not be able to credential freelance journalists or documentary filmmakers without a confirmed assignment. Due to space considerations, we may not be able to accommodate all the press requests we receive.

Media should complete and return the accreditation form by October 13, 2014. You will be informed of your status by October 20, 2014.

About the Avalokiteshvara Empowerment and Teaching: 

Avalokiteshvara, the Buddhist deity of compassion, is an incarnation of infinite compassion, mercy, and altruism. This beloved deity is known as Guanyin in China, Kannon in Japan, and Chenrezig in Tibet. The Avalokiteshvara Empowerment is a set of rituals and teachings that a Buddhist teacher may use to help students cultivate compassion and calm abiding in their everyday lives. The Dalai Lama, who is seen by Tibetan Buddhists as the living incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, will lead this empowerment in Vancouver for a general audience. People of all faiths and backgrounds are invited to spend the day with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be presenting this teaching for the first time in Vancouver. He emphasizes the universality of the teaching, which embodies the values of compassion and kindness that are widely found in the world's spiritual traditions and philosophies. As an empowerment, this teaching will convey specific practices for cultivating compassion in daily life. This particular empowerment has a continuous 2000 year-old history as a direct transmission of knowledge passed from teacher to student. In honor of this unique Buddhist heritage, every audience member will receive a blessed artifact from His Holiness.

About the Event Organizers: 

The Tibetan Cultural Society of BC was formed by Tibetans living in BC in 1981 to preserve and celebrate the unique cultural heritage of Tibet. With about 300 members, TCSBC hosts a range of cultural, educational, and humanitarian programs that engage the Tibetans and the general public. We promote the principles of compassion, kindness, and mutual understanding espoused by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. TCSBC is leading the BC chapter of the Tibetan Resettlement Project, a humanitarian initiative initiated by the Dalai Lama to resettle 1000 displaced Tibetans from Arunachal Pradesh, India to Canada.
http://www.tcsofbc.org/

Tsengdok Monastery Association is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery established in Vancouver BC, in 2007 under the direction of Tsengdok Rinpoche. The monastery is dedicated to bringing happiness and alleviating suffering through Tibetan Buddhist teachings, prayer, meditation, and community building.
http://www.tsengdokrinpoche.com/index.htm

About the Tibetan Settlement Project of BC:

In 2007, His Holiness the Dalai Lama initiated a humanitarian agreement with the Canadian government to allow 1000 displaced Tibetans to immigrate to Canada. To assist those who are most in need, His Holiness suggested a focus on Tibetan families from Arunachal Pradesh (AP), a remote and impoverished region of India bordering Tibet.

The Tibetan Resettlement Project is a nationwide network dedicated to helping these Tibetans from AP to establish new lives in Canada and to pursue their hopes and dreams.

The Tibetan Cultural Society of BC (TCSBC) is working to bring approximately 250 of the displaced Tibetan refugees to BC. As a sponsoring organization, TCSBC will be providing lodging, food, health care, daily necessities, settlement assistance, and moral support for the newcomers. The first group of displaced Tibetans began arriving in BC in December 2013 and 40 or more newcomers will arrive in 2014-2015. TCSBC is directly sponsoring over half of this group and is urgently seeking community support for its efforts. To donate directly to this cause, visit: http://www.tcsofbc.org/.

Video with caption: "Video: Tibetan Cultural Society of BC helps displaced Tibetan's find a new lease on life in Vancouver". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20140923_C3768_VIDEO_EN_5874.mp4&posterurl=http%3A%2F%2Fphotos.newswire.ca%2Fimages%2F20140923_C3768_VIDEO_EN_5874.jpg&order=1&jdd=20140923&cnum=C3768

Image with caption: "His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will give a full day teaching on mindfulness and compassion at the UBC Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, on Oct. 23, 2014 to support the Tibetan Resettlement Project. (CNW Group/Tibetan Cultural Society of BC)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140923_C3768_PHOTO_EN_5872.jpg

Image with caption: "Event poster for the Dalai Lama's teaching in Vancouver on Oct. 23, 2014. Proceeds will go to the displaced Tibetans arriving in BC this year. (CNW Group/Tibetan Cultural Society of BC)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140923_C3768_PHOTO_EN_5873.jpg

SOURCE: Tibetan Cultural Society of BC

For more event information, please visit http://dalailamavancouver.com or get in touch with one of our media contacts: Rinzin Drolma, [email protected] / tel. [phone]; Steve Kim, [email protected] / tel. [phone]