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A Buddhist perspective on cultural identity

Campus Life

A Buddhist perspective on cultural identity

The NIC Diversity Committee sponsored a seminar with a Tibetan Lama on Thursday, Sept. 9. H.E. Ling Rinpoche, recognized as the reincarnation of the H.H. Dalai Lama’s Senior Tutor, gave a lecture on compassion and interaction with others. The event was called “Where Cultural Identity and Interdependence Connect: A Buddhist Perspective.”

Rinpoche was born in 1985 and enthroned in 1987, receiving his novice ordination from the Dalai Lama in 1993. Born in India, Rinpoche, then called Kyabje Yongzin, was recognized at 18 months old. There have been seven incarnations of the Dalai Lama’s senior tutor. The sixth Ling Rinpoche died in 1983.

 

Venerable Thubten Chonyi introducing Ling Rinpoche

An American Buddhist monastery located in Newport, WA. called Sravasti Abbey organized the event.

“I think it’s really great that NIC puts up events like this for students. It shows that it’s a campus that allows and encourages different-minded, diverse people and we definitely need a lot more of that as of late,” said freshman and Art AA major Andy Oseguera.

Rinpoche’s talk focused primarily on themes of love and compassion for others.

“If there was no love and compassion, we would not be here right now, right?” Rinpoche asked the audience of students and faculty. “It is important for society and for the whole world.”

The Diversity Council selected a campus-wide theme to encourage diversity awareness in NIC’s community. The theme for 2018, cultural identity, was chosen in an effort to educate the NIC student population on the different cultural perspectives and prevent discrimination and social inequality.

“Buddhism was my favorite chapter in Intro to Philosophy,” said sophomore and psychology and sociology double major Brandon Ford. “A bunch of monks wandering around really got my attention.”

NIC will continue to honor the theme of cultural identity with the kick off of this year’s common read, “Tribe” and the return of the Sravasti Abbey on campus with the event “Being Human: Not Seeing the World as Us and Them.”

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