Politically Correct Plays

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet will offer a public address on universal responsibility, a weeklong teaching on the Buddhist path to enlightenment and other talks during a visit to Southern California June 25 through 30.

The Nobel Peace Prize recipient will deliver his public address June 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, 3939 S. Figueroa St. The address will focus on universal ethics and responsibility, the subject of his 1999 bestseller, “Ethics for a New Millennium.” Tickets are $15.

The weeklong teachings, also at the Sports Arena, will focus on how to achieve a state of inner peace and compassion, using founding texts of Buddhist tradition: Atisha’s “Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment” and Lama Tsong Khapa’s “Lines of Experience.” Tickets for the six-day teaching cost $125, $250 and $500; single-day tickets range from $25 to $100 and will go on sale Thursday. Tickets for both the public address and teaching can be obtained through the Long Beach-based sponsoring organization, Thubten Dhargye Ling, at https://www.tdling.com, (562) 402-1321 or through the Los Angeles Sports Arena box office.

In addition, the Dalai Lama will speak June 27 at a program on “Justice Through Law and Compassion: A Tribute to Peace and Human Rights Advocacy.” The event, sponsored by the International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet, will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Omni Hotel, 251 S. Olive St. in Los Angeles. Tickets cost $250 and $500. (888) 259-9236.

EVENTS

The Most Rev. Njongonkulu Ndungane, successor to the Most Rev. Desmond Tutu as archbishop of Cape Town, will speak on social justice and international debt forgiveness in Southland appearances this week. The events include: Los Angeles World Affairs Council luncheon June 16 at noon at the Los Angeles Marriot Downtown Hotel, 333 S. Figueroa St., tickets $33 for members and $43 for guests, (213) 628-2333; a “teach-in and speak-out” forum June 17 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at All Saints Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave. in Pasadena, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) to provide the response, (626) 796-1172; sermons June 18 during the 9 a.m. Eucharist at All Saints in Pasadena and during the 11:15 a.m. Eucharist at All Saints Church, 504 N. Camden Drive in Beverly Hills, (310) 275-0123.

* The 50th World Convocation of the Self-Realization Fellowship, expected to draw almost 4,000 people from 40 nations, will be held June 11 through 17 in downtown Los Angeles at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. Founded in 1920 in the U.S. by Paramahansa Yogananda, the convocation will feature his teachings as well as talks on achieving success, self-esteem, creating a meaningful personal relationship with God, finding spiritual balance in your life, and spiritualizing family life. For times of events and details, call 323 225-5088 or visit the fellowship’s Web site at https://www.yogananda-srf.org.

* A four-week workshop on the spiritual poetry of Sufi master Rumi will begin Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Rumi Educational Center, 11950 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 100, in Brentwood. (310) 994-8562.

* Living Stones Ministry will host a conference on “How the Christian Family Responds to Homosexuality” today from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Glenkirk Presbyterian Church, 1700 E. Palopinto Ave. in Glendora. The conference will feature authors Anita Worthen and Joe Dallas, along with workshops on such topics as living with AIDS/HIV, mother and son relationships, and communicating with gay family members. Registration fees are $40 for individuals and $55 for married couples. (626) 963-6683.

* Archangel Michael Orthodox Bookstore will sponsor a lecture on “Understanding the Sin of Adam: An Eastern Orthodox Perspective” Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. by Matushka Deborah Tomasi. The bookstore is at 12550 W. Washington Blvd. in Los Angeles. (310) 390-8065.

* The Long Beach chapter of Moms in Touch, an international group of mothers who intercede in prayer for students from preschool to college, will hold a rally today from 9 a.m. to noon at Parkcrest Church, 5950 Parkcrest St., Bungalow 400, in Long Beach. The event will offer information about how to start moms’ prayer groups at neighborhood schools. (562) 938-9877.

PERFORMANCES

A free concert paying tribute to jazz innovator John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie will be offered today at 7:30 p.m. at the Los Angeles Baha’i Center auditorium, 5755 Rodeo Road in Los Angeles. The concert will celebrate racial unity, one of the basic principles of the Baha’i faith. “Doc” Holladay will conduct an ensemble of musicians including Buddy Childers, Roger Hogan, Mike Longo and Garnett Brown. The concert is sponsored by the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Los Angeles and the Multi-Cultural Organization for Neighborhood Arts. (323) 933-8291.

* St. John’s Lutheran Church will feature its 90-member Jubilate Choir and full orchestra in a concert, “Patriotic Gala!” of patriotic choral and instrumental music Sunday at 7 p.m. The sanctuary is at 185 S. Center St. in downtown Orange. (714) 288-4433.

* St. James Presbyterian Church will present singer-songwriter Kathrin King Segal and her new folk ensemble in a concert Sunday at 4 p.m. Other performers are Bob McAllen on guitar and vocals, Georgia Alwan on flute and Claire Rydell on cello. The church is at 19414 Ventura Blvd. in Tarzana. (818) 345-2057.

* A concert version of Gounod’s “Faust” will be performed Sunday at 4 p.m. at Culver-Palms United Methodist Church, 4464 Sepulveda Blvd. in Culver City. The concert will feature Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos as Faust and Deborah Mayhan as Marguerite. (310) 390-7717.

* The Faith United Community Church will feature its Faith Outreach Choir, Men of Faith Chorus and Faith Children’s Choir in its annual musical extravaganza Sunday at 4 p.m. The church is at 1713 W. 108th St. in Los Angeles. (323) 754-8453.

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Notices may be mailed for consideration to Southern California File, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, faxed to Southern California File at (213) 237-4712, or e-mailed to [email protected]. Items should arrive two to three weeks before the event and should include pertinent details about the people and organizations with address, phone number, date and time. Because of the volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee publication.