President Barack Obama met with the Dalai Lama in February after previously declining to meet him in 2009. Photo: Pete Souza/The White House
WASHINGTON –The Dalai Lama kicks off a nearly two-week ritual of prayer and meditation for thousands of followers Wednesday, beginning with a celebration of his 76th birthday. But President Barack Obama has not yet announced whether he will meet with the Tibetan spiritual leader.
The Kalachakra empowerment ritual is intended to “inspire harmonious relationships and abiding peace in the hearts of all the people of the world,” according to a spokesman. Monks will prepare the Verizon Center for the Tibetan Buddhist ceremony with prayers and the creation of a sand mandala—intricate patterns created by pouring colored sand on the ground. The Kalachakra mandala, which depicts 722 deities, will be destroyed at the end of empowerment to symbolize the impermanence of life.
White House spokesmen had no immediate comment Tuesday on whether Obama would meet with the Dalai Lama during his stay in Washington.
Obama met with the Tibetan leader in February after previously declining to meet him in 2009. Every president has met with the Dalai Lama since President George H. W. Bush began the tradition in 1991.
When Obama declined a meeting two years ago, critics said he was caving to Chinese pressure. China condemned Obama’s February meeting with the Dalai Lama, but Tibetan culture expert Dr. Robert Barnett said the Chinese government privately considered it a win since the meeting was closed to the press.
In March the Dalai Lama announced he will step down as head of state of the Tibetan government in exile but remain its spiritual leader. Since the announcement, the Chinese press has shown some signs of a mellowing attitude, Barnett said, but it remains to be seen “if it represents a policy change or is merely a cosmetic change for Western consumption.”
On Wednesday, the Dalai Lama’s birthday, devotees will offer white scarves called katak to a throne that will either hold a picture of the Dalai Lama or the leader himself, according to Buddhist lama Karma Rinchen. A spokesman for the event could not be reached to determine whether the Dalai Lama would appear at the event.
Tickets to attend all of the events cost $425 to $475; daily tickets are $35 to $45. Several events will be free, including a talk on world peace on the West Lawn of the Capitol Saturday morning. Talk-show host Whoopi Goldberg will emcee the event. Musician Skylar Grey will perform.
A complete calendar of events and ticket information can be found at http://www.kalachakra2011.com/