The 14th Dalai Lama is set to be in conversation with author Pico Iyer for the JLF Brave New World and connect with the audience virtually
As the world has been under lockdown, Teamwork Arts, producer of the iconic Jaipur Literature Festival, launched the JLF Brave New World, an online literary series of conversations between the world’s greatest writers and thinkers, in which the sprawling grounds of Diggi Palace were replaced by the boundless possibilities of the internet. The ongoing series, which continues to explore themes critical to current times, along with a host of ideas and perspectives, aims to connect communities of book-lovers across geographies.
The series began with a session where former politician and author Bruno Maçães and writer and journalist Sujeev Shakya talked about these transformed times and how the lessons of Nepal, China and Europe highlight our past, present and future, and what the rebirth of these nations could mean for the world and global affairs. Writer and broadcaster Bee Rowlatt and Baroness Helena Kennedy QC explored the need to protect the forum internum — our private and mental space — from the incursions of digital technology. Exploring food, memory and culture, celebrity chef and restaurateur Asma Khan, alongside writer and translator Rakhshanda Jalil, spoke movingly of the bonds of food and memory, friendship and community, across cultures and continents, and in the special places they call home.
Well, this week, the Dalai Lama will be seen in conversation with author Pico Iyer. The session will showcase lessons from the life and teachings of the 14th Dalai Lama, where he will share his profound wisdom with JLF Brave New World viewers. Sharing his thoughts with Iyer, Dalai Lama will talk about finding love and peace in our confused, divided and chaotic world and of the universal value of compassion in these troubled times.
Looking forward to the session, Iyer said, “I first visited His Holiness at his home in Dharamsala 46 years ago this summer when I was 17 and throughout my younger years, I kept visiting him on all his early trips to the US while also making the first of my visits to Tibet. In 2008, I described the first 34 years of our talks together in a book, The Open Road, and for 10 Novembers in the recent years, I have travelled with Dalai Lama across Japan, from Okinawa to the Tsnami-stricken areas around Tohoku, sitting in on his private audiences, attending all his public lectures and getting to witness his constant instruction on compassion, attention and thoughtfulness everywhere from roadside convenience stores to busy hotel lobbies. My articles on him have featured for more than 30 years, in international daily’s and magazines. Among the events I have done with him, everywhere from New York to Los Angeles, I was also at the JLF in 2013 when His Holiness visited the Festival. It has been quite a journey.”
William Dalrymple, writer, historian and Co-director of the JLF, said, “It has been both a pleasure and privilege to co-direct Brave New World and to be part of bringing such a fabulous, glittering stream of literary brilliance into so many homes at such a difficult time.”
Sanjoy K Roy, managing director, said, “JLF Brave New World and its viewership figures of over 700,000 in these two months have shown that world over, audience are curious and seek the free flow of knowledge, science, and information.”
During these hard times it will be enlightening for the audience to listen to the Dalai Lama and share his infinite wisdom. He has very rightfully said, “Ancient Indian tradition describes the creation, abiding and destruction of worlds over time. Among the causes of such destruction are armed conflict and disease, which seem to accord with what we are experiencing today. However, despite the enormous challenges we face, living beings, including humans, have shown a remarkable ability to survive.”
The Dalai Lama had visited the JLF back in 2013 when he spoke about the essence of knowledge and how he still considers himself a student of the Nalanda Tradition.
At JLF Brave New World, the session with him, titled The Seed of Compassion, will be live streamed on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 9 am IST and a repeat telecast can be seen at 7.30 pm IST, the same evening. Audiences will be able to access the session on the Festival’s official social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
The series has reached out to over 3.34 million people with 5.1 million impressions in its first 50 episodes, held thrice weekly, with two sessions each day.
