Questions for the Dalai Lama

His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born in 1935 to a peasant family in northeastern Tibet and was recognized at the age of two as the reincarnation of his predecessor, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. The world's foremost Buddhist leader, he travels extensively, speaking eloquently in favor of ecumenical understanding, kindness and compassion, respect for the environment, and, above all, world peace.Dede Cummings is a Vermont-based writer, and she is also a public radio commentator for Vermont Public Radio where she first covered the Dalai Lama. Her first book, Living With Crohn's & Colitis was published in 2010. Dede has had her poetry published in Mademoiselle Magazine and Connotation Press: An Online Artifact. A Discovery/The Nation poetry semi-finalist, she was recently named a 2013 Vermont State Poetry Broadside finalist by the state's poet-laureate, Sydney Lea. She resides in Brattleboro, Vermont with her family. Travis Hellstrom is a writer and founder of Advance Humanity (www.advancehumanity.com). After graduating from college with a degree in Pre-Med/Biology, he was a Peace Corps volunteer in Mongolia from 2008-2011, where he worked with local hospitals and clinics in the eastern steppe of Mongolia to help doctors, nurses and residents improve the overall health in the community. Currently, he is a graduate student at World Learning/The School for International Training. Travis currently travels between Mongolia and the United States with his wife Tunga. You can visit his website at www.travishellstrom.com.Dr. Lauren Alderfer has worked as an international educator in U.S.-based overseas schools for over 30 years. She has written books on mindfulness for both teachers and children including Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda. In addition, her collaboration with the Tibetan refugee community in India has resulted in several children's books aiming to preserve the Tibetan oral genre while communicating Tibet's cultural values of compassion and mindfulness. In 2012, Lauren teamed up with her daughter to share their love of mindfulness and yoga through DayaLife-tailoring wellness sessions for ex-patriots living in Asia that nourish one's well-being and provide a sense of renewal and wholeness. Lauren holds a Ph.D. in Global Educational Leadership.