Dalai Lama arrives this week

The Dalai Lama is slated to arrive in the Twin Cities this week, with plans to meet with local Tibetan community leaders, University of Minnesota officials and other supporters.

The Tibetan religious leader in exile will be officially welcomed in a private gathering at the home of University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks on Friday. University officials as well as donors and sponsors of the Dalai Lama's visit will be among those attending.

Members of Minnesota's Tibetan community are expected to perform traditional Tibetan dancing and outdoor entertainment to greet the Dalai Lama as he arrives at the home.

"Literally I've been told there will dancing in the streets when he gets here because they're so thrilled his holiness is coming," said Tony Baisley, communications director of the U's Center for Spirituality and Healing.

The center and Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota are sponsoring the Dalai Lama's visit.

On Saturday, the Buddhist holy leader is scheduled to answer questions from the media at the Marquette Hotel in downtown Minneapolis.

On Sunday morning, he will lead a Tibetan cultural and spiritual ceremony at Mariucci Arena at the U's campus, which is open to the public. That afternoon, he'll give a public address at the arena entitled "Peace Through Inner Peace."

Tickets for the morning event range from $35 to $250, while afternoon ticket prices are between $50 and $250.

The Dalai Lama made another significant visit to the Twin Cities nearly 10 years ago, which was also greeted with great fanfare from Minnesota's Tibetan community, the second largest concentration of Tibetan-Americans in the United States.

Special events related to the Dalai Lama's visit also are scheduled for the week, but it's not known if the Tibetan leader will attend them. They include:

• Minneapolis-based production company TigerLion Arts and the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts will present the world premiere of "KIPO!" a circus of spirit, song and dance from Tibet. The performance, which opens Friday and runs through May 22 at the U's Rarig Center, features a 20-person ensemble from the India-based performing arts institute founded by the Dalai Lama.

• The Second International Tibetan Medicine Conference: entitled "Healing Mind & Body" will be held on May 9 at the University Radisson Metrodome Hotel.

The Dalai Lama was born in Tibet 75 years ago. At age 2, he was recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama, continuing a line of political and spiritual leaders spanning six centuries. He has lived in exile in India since 1959, following the Chinese occupation of Tibet.

The Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent campaign to end Chinese rule in his homeland. The spiritual leader has carried his message on speaking engagements around the world.