The initiative to establish the Dalai Lama Foundation is being led by a core founding group that includes both long-time friends and supporters of the Dalai Lama and also members of the Silicon Valley business community.
The Dalai Lama was appraised of the endeavor in July, 2001, both by letter from the original core group and in person by Professor Jeffrey Hopkins, who has known and worked with the Dalai Lama for over 30 years. A formal response was received shortly afterward, stating that the Dalai Lama, while usually “not keen at all to establish a center, foundation or institute,” in this case “welcomes your proposal to set up such a foundation.”
The 14th Dalai Lama is that rare public figure who, like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., has transcended his own religious and cultural background to become a moral voice with international stature. His steadfast work spanning a half a century for the cause of non-violence and human development has made him a symbol of integrity and hope for millions of people around the world. Over the years, he has attracted a diverse group of scholars, political leaders, activists, and artists who have joined with him to work on a wide range of projects.
Silicon Valley represents a cultural force of great vitality, which has developed great expertise in finance, technology and communications. People in the valley are used to working collaboratively, thinking big and joining together to undertake projects that can literally change the world.
In the Dalai Lama Foundation these two cultures—so powerfully different—are coming together to give birth to a unique organization.
The long-term vision of the Foundation is to develop a financially-endowed, international foundation, one that plays a significant role by providing both thought leadership and material support for projects of great benefit to humankind and by helping connect the many people and groups working for individual and global transformation.
Especially in these times it is important to do the serious work of understanding and eliminating the root causes of violence. The Dalai Lama Foundation will endeavor to be a new resource to all those working to promote peace and reduce violence, conflict, and human suffering.
About the Dalai Lama Foundation Logo
The Dalai Lama Foundation Logo was a gift from designer Jack Schaub (Schaub&Company) and artist Georgia Deaver. Jack was responsible for the design, and Georgia for the creation of the original hand drawn, ink-on-paper illustration of the bird.
Here are Jack’s words about the logo.
“We have created a logo that visually represents the core values of The Dalai Lama Foundation. It is a bird of peace, hand drawn using the traditional media of classical calligraphy – ink and brush on paper. The bird is poised on an olive branch.
“The bird and typographic presentation of The Dalai Lama Foundation merge into a unified presentation. The stacked version, below, has the aspect ratio of a perfect square:
“The horizontal version of the logo is used on the Website:
“The bird’s body suggests the shape of a heart. Its wings are alive and animated. She could be just landing, or flapping her wings to take flight. The curve of the olive branch is suggestive of the curve of the earth. So the bird, while possibly preparing to take flight, is also stable and well grounded suggestive of the time when the Buddha reached down to touch the ground in determination of his commitment, and his right in the face of distraction and illusion, to attain enlightenment.
“The bird represents a celebration of the potential, the value, and the love inherent in all sentient beings.
“The overall shape of the bird somewhat echoes that of the American bald eagle which is associated with strength and war. While this bird is not about war, neither is it by any means weak.
“The typeface is Trajan. The words “Dalai Lama Foundation” are typeset in all caps at close to the same size for equal emphasis. The “D” and “L” of “Dalai Lama” are slightly larger for improved readability and for aesthetics.
