The Ames Karma Kagyu Study Group, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation group, will host Bardor Tulku Rinpoche tonight at 7:00 in Room 236 of the Memorial Union.

The speech is titled “The Way of Compassion.”

Rinpoche, originally from Tibet, escaped into northern India in 1959 at the age of 11 to avoid a communist takeover of the country.

Soon afterward, Rinpoche was recognized by a Buddhist priest as a tulku, or a reincarnated teacher. Since then, Rinpoche has become a master of Vajrayana, or Tibetan Buddhism.

In 1974, Rinpoche travelled to the United States with His Holiness Gyalwang Karmapa to help guide the construction of his monastery in Woodstock, N.Y., where he currently lives and teaches.

Rinpoche spoke at ISU Tuesday with a speech titled “From Tibet to Ames: The Way of Meditation.”

In it, Rinpoche discussed his life and experiences leading him to his monastery in Woodstock.

“I’m not trying to convert others to Buddhism,” Rinpoche said, with the aid of an interpreter.

“As long as through me people are learning to be kind, honest and truthful to others, then it is good.”

Special ceremonies will also be held in the Oak Room of the MU on Thursday night at 7:00. All programs are free, but donations will be accepted.