The 14th Dalai Lama arrived in San Diego today to deliver addresses at area universities tomorrow and Thursday.
On Wednesday, he will discuss climate change with scientists at UC San Diego. At the University of San Diego, the topic will be "cultivating peace through justice.''
Both public events are sold out, as is an address at San Diego State University on Thursday, but all his speeches will be broadcast via the Internet.
The exiled, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists arrived by private jet and was greeted by Mayor Jerry Sanders before being whisked away in a U.S. State Department vehicle.
"He said he was happy to be here,'' Sanders told 10News. He said they had a short chat that was refreshing.
The Dalai Lama, named Tenzin Gyatso, often is associated with Tibet's struggle for its independence from China, and security surrounding him at the three San Diego appearances will be tight.
The 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner will discuss climate change with UC San Diego professors Veerabhadran Ramanathan and Richard Somerville at RIMAC Arena. The talk is titled "The Global Impact of Climate Change: Balance Through Universal Responsibility, Compassion and Human Consciousness.''
At USD, he will discuss "Cultivating Peace Through Justice.''
Thursday's presentation will be on upholding ethics and compassion in challenging times.
The Dalai Lama has asked the Chinese government to investigate the deaths of more than 30 Tibetan martyrs, mostly Buddhist monks and nuns, who have set themselves on fire over the past year.
