His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama: Visits to the United States 


​Since 1979, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has visited the United States more than 27 times, participating in academic discussions, interfaith dialogues, public teachings, and cultural events. These visits reflect his enduring commitment to promoting compassion, nonviolence, human values, and religious harmony across the globe.
Visits to the Boston Area (Massachusetts)
​His Holiness has visited the Greater Boston area at least many times, engaging with academic institutions, Buddhist centers, and large public audiences. Below is a detailed list of these notable visits:

Dalai Lama's First U.S. Visit – Boston, 1979
​In October 1979, during his first-ever visit to the United States, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama made several important stops in the Boston area:
  • Harvard University: Delivered a lecture on “The Nature of Self” at Sanders Theatre to over 1,500 people and held a seminar on Buddhism and Society at the Divinity School.
  • First and Second Church, Boston: On October 19, he met with Werner Erhard and about 300 guests in a public talk focused on compassion. This was his final U.S. appearance before returning to India.
  • Cultural Event: Attended a private screening of a World War II-era film about Tibet organized by OSS veterans, symbolizing early U.S.–Tibetan friendship.
This 1979 visit helped introduce Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan cause to a wider American audience, marking the beginning of a long relationship with U.S. academic and spiritual communities.

May 1998 – Brandeis University, Waltham
  • Delivered a keynote address for the university’s 50th anniversary.
  • Participated in interfaith dialogues and discussions on nonviolence and compassion.
  • Met with students and faculty across religious and academic disciplines.

September 2003 – Boston and Medford
  • Visited MIT and Harvard University for a conference on neuroscience and Buddhism.
  • Gave a major public talk at the FleetCenter (now TD Garden).
  • Blessed a Buddhist temple in Medford.
  • Focused on the convergence of science and contemplative practice.

May 2, 2009 – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
  • Delivered two public talks to over 15,000 attendees:
    • Morning: “The Four Noble Truths”
    • Afternoon: “The Path to Peace and Happiness”
  • Donned a New England Patriots cap to the crowd’s delight.
  • The event was hosted rent-free by the Kraft family and organized by the Tibetan Association of Boston.
  • Also gave talks at Harvard and MIT during this New England tour.

October 2012 – Medford and Cambridge
  • Spoke at the Kurukulla Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies in Medford.
  • Conducted additional teachings and interfaith events in Cambridge and Boston.
  • Emphasized global ethics, inner peace, and interreligious understanding.

Nov. 2014 – Boston (TD Garden & Symposium)
  • Spoke to over 7,000 people at TD Garden on secular ethics and compassion.
  • Participated in the 2nd International Symposium for Contemplative Studies, organized by the Mind & Life Institute.
  • Continued to highlight the integration of scientific research and mindfulness.

June 2017 – Sheraton Boston Hotel
  • Addressed approximately 2,000 members of the Tibetan community in a private event.
  • Focused on preserving Tibetan language, culture, and identity in exile.
  • Reaffirmed the importance of education and resilience.
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Over the past four decades, the Dalai Lama’s visits to the United States—and particularly to Massachusetts—have inspired academic inquiry, spiritual reflection, and community engagement. His six visits to the Boston area underscore the region’s importance as a hub for interfaith dialogue, Buddhist practice, and intellectual exchange.

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