ATLANTA — The Dalai Lama began his “office hours” with Emory University students and faculty Tuesday with his signature move: laughter.
The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader walked on stage, laughed as he saw the full gymnasium and then bowed to the crowd. The 4,000 students, faculty and staff members responded with more laughter and bows.
“Many students. Good,” he said, settling himself on his low, wide yellow chair.
The Dalai Lama is at Emory as part of a presidential distinguished professorship at the private Atlanta university. He has been on campus since Sunday holding events with researchers, students and spiritual leaders, talking about everything from science classes to meditation.
“One duty a professor has is to open his office doors and when people come in with questions, he does his best to answer those questions,” Emory President Jim Wagner told the crowd.
Through video recordings, students and faculty asked about enlightenment, world affairs, the Dalai Lama’s greatest influence and his biggest fears. They asked about how to deal with stress and obstacles.
One group of students asked the Dalai Lama to become an “immortal spirit” at Emory after his death.
