Ticketed Event: "Eight Verses for Training the Mind: A Buddhist Philosophical Discourse"

Admission: $20

Information: (808) 242-7469 or www.MauiArts.org.

The 14th Dalai Lama, one of the most admired spiritual leaders in the world, is scheduled to visit Maui and make two public speaking appearances on April 24 and 25. These talks were scheduled at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, but have been changed to Maui's War Memorial Stadium to accommodate strong public interest.

This decision was made jointly by the Organizing Committee of Dalai Lama Maui, 2007 and MACC. The two events will be facilitated by the staff of Maui Arts Cultural Center and the Maui Dharma Center, including ticketing through the MACC box office.

The stadium was chosen to accommodate the Hawai'i community as well as visitors from around the world who are arriving specifically for this event. Maui is the only stop in Hawai'i for the Dalai Lama.

"We're all honored to have him here," said Shep Gordon, chairman of the Organizing Committee of Dalai Lama Maui 2007. "We're very happy that Art Vento and the staff of the Maui Arts Cultural Center and the office of His Holiness have agreed to move the event to a larger venue. We believe His Holiness would not want anyone who wanted to see him to not be given that opportunity."

Tickets for the April 25 Dalai Lama event, which had been put on abeyance when the MACC reached capacity, are now available again, online at www.mauiarts.org; at the MACC box office; or by telephone at (808) 242-SHOW (7469).

People who already have tickets for the April 25 event can use those for entry at the stadium gates.

Tenzin Gyatso, or 'His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama,' as the Tibetan spiritual leader is known, is recognized throughout the world as a fully enlightened practitioner and embodiment of Tibetan compassionate Buddhism. He is also a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize as well as 83 other awards, and author of 72 books (many of them bestsellers, on themes with such universal resonance as 1998's The Art of Happiness). In exile from his religious homeland in Communist Chinese-controlled Tibet, he travels the globe on a mission to plant seeds of compassion and happiness amongst all fellow human beings.

"My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness," he says. "Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive."

Because of the Dalai Lama's international stature, extra security measures will be implemented, including federal security requirements as mandated by the U.S. State Department (similar to current TSA requirements at all US airports). All attendees and participants in the Dalai Lama's program events will be subject to thorough security checks, including full-body metal-detector and wand security searches at each entrance.

Attendees should plan to bring as little as possible, i.e. only what will fit in their pockets. (Do bring ID, medications needed for the day, cash for food and beverage purchases, etc.) No bags whatsoever will be allowed inside the stadium perimeter, including fanny packs, purses, shoulder bags, duffle bags, back-packs, etc. No cameras, video recorders or any photo or recording devices will be allowed beyond security checkpoints.

Cell phones will be admitted (but it is asked in advance that they please be turned off /not used during the Dalai Lama's talk). Photos will not be allowed to be taken with camera cell phones. Also, no coolers or chairs will be allowed, nor any outside food or drink. Drinking water will be provided inside the stadium throughout the day, other food and beverage options will be available for purchase.