Many of you know that I’m a Buddhist, although I haven’t formally attached myself to any particular sect. One of the people I most admire on this planet is His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He has led an amazing life and his spirit, calm and smile are extremely contagious. If I could muster 1% of the inner peace that he possesses, I would have a major change in my life and my attitude. He truly is an inspiration.
For those not familiar with how Buddhism works, we don’t regard His Holiness as some sort of conduit between believers and the almighty like the Pope of the Catholic Church. Many of us don’t believe in God, although there are many different gods in various forms of Buddhism that followers pay their respects to. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and religious leader of the people of Tibet and is the face of Tibetan Buddhism worldwide. He is not to be worshipped. He serves simply as an example of the enlightenment that we can all attain through Buddhist practices.
His Holiness is regarded as the reincarnated Buddha of Compassion, discovered by high lamas and dignitaries when he was a child. He lived through the invasion of Tibet by China and was forced to seek refuge in India when it was no longer safe for him to stay in Tibet. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Tibetan people since that time. He has travelled the globe to spread his message of compassion and has consistently spoken out against the abuse of his Tibetan people. For his efforts, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. That’s a very short history of what has been a very trying and selfless life. May he live many more years and continue to serve as an example of true humanity and humility.
On September 6, 2005, he sent a message to President Bush and a donation to the American people to aid the victims of hurricane Katrina:
His Excellency George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC
USA
Your Excellency,
I am shocked and deeply saddened by the massive destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. The loss of many lives is particularly tragic. The catastrophe is almost unimaginable in its extent and destruction. On behalf of the Tibetan people, I would like to express to you our deep sense of solidarity with the many Americans who have suffered so much from this great natural calamity. We share the immense suffering and the terrible losses that the victims of this calamity have had to endure and continue to do so. As a symbolic gesture of our deep feelings we would like to contribute US$ 100,000 (one hundred thousand US dollars) to the efforts of your Administration in coordinating the massive aid to the affected people in the United States.
The transfer of above mentioned amount will be administered by The Office of Tibet in New York to an appropriate relief agency.
As is our tradition, special prayers will be offered by large congregations of monks and nuns.
With prayers and good wishes,
Yours sincerely,
The Dalai Lama
Buddhism, as a loose institution, does not have the huge bank accounts of other major religions, like the Catholic Church. But, Buddhist monks have consistently supported aid efforts throughout the years despite their lives of extreme poverty.
I am heartened to see that response and I continue to view His Holiness as the epitome of peace and compassion in what is such a crazy world.
He will appear on CNN’s Larry Ling Live show on Sunday, September 11th(?) (I need to confirm that date). If you’re not familiar with his character, his manner and his profound effect on millions of people like me, please tune in. You won’t be disappointed.
Update [2005-9-10 9:58:18 by catnip]:: Confirmed – HH The Dalai Lama will be Larry King’s guest on Sept 11 at 9pm ET.
I have seen him on several specials and love so much when he is asked a very deep question he just smiles and says “I don’t know”. Probably the most honest AND enlightened being on earth. Thank you for sharing his specialness with our community.
He’s such a good man. One book involving him that I read last year, a look at emotions through scientific and Buddhist eyes, was incredibly helpful to me: Destructive Emotions. I’ve read a few of his books and his universal message is something we could all use – especially now.
Blessings and peace to him…even though he may have been offbase by referring to Bush as “Your Excellency“… 😉
Wouldn’t be surprised if BushCo turned it down so as not to offend Mainland China…
But BushCo can’t turn it down — the money is being sent to an “appropriate relief agency.” That certainly leaves out the US government!
Thank you for that, fellow Buddhist and fellow Virgo. $100,000 is a large amount for him to send, given (as you say) that the Tibetan government in exile is not exactly rolling in money.
His holiness sent his letter on my birthday, so I will make an additional donation this year to the International Campaign for Tibet, which works hard to be sure Tibet’s story isn’t lost in the overwhelming chatter of the “news” media.
Here’s the Dalai Lama quote I keep posted in my kitchen (don’t have the exact source; mine is from a 2002 Tibet calendar):
Thank you for the quote. It’s really beautiful.
The Dalai Lama is giving a talk at the Society for Neuroscience convention this november. It was somewhat controversial among SfN members whether a non-scientist was an appropriate guest speaker for this event (he is one of about a dozen keynote speakers). His talk is titled something like “the dialogue between society and neuroscience.” I’m looking forward to hearing what he has to say!
If you haven’t yet, read the book Destructive Emotions which I linked to in another comment here. The relevance of the dialogue between the Buddhist community and scientists in your field then becomes very clear.
Please do write a diary on the conference and the Dalai Lama’s talk. Most interesting. Is this a research group, or does it also include such as neurosurgeons?
There is a quote of His Holiness to the effect that, If science proves something that Buddhism believes to be incorrect, then Buddhism must change to accommodate that.
Also, Google for “dalai lama science buddhism”–lots of good links including discussions of the work with MIT on the effects of meditation on the body and mind.
Having run into the turf-protecting approach of some in the sciences, my own feeling is that perhaps the SfN might want to relax and be a little more open-minded about how little science really knows.
There is a quote of His Holiness to the effect that, If science proves something that Buddhism believes to be incorrect, then Buddhism must change to accommodate that.
That’s refreshing, isn’t it?!
Like His Holiness, I’m also the reincarnation of the bodhisattva of compassion, aka Avalokitesvara, “Hearer of the cries of the world”. What a coincidence, so are you! It’s all just a matter of actually being able to hear those cries clearly, that’s the hard part that HH has down and I don’t (very often anyway).
I saw the Dalai Lama speak in Canberra somewhere ’round 15 years ago.
He is an extraordinary person: very humble, while being extremely charismatic, self-mocking and self-deprecating. It was an extraordinary experience and a privilege to see and hear him speak.
The $100,000 donation is a symbolic gesture of solidarity and compassion. Of course, in practice, it also shames the richest country on earth.
Hey Canberra Boy,
OT, but I was just in your fair city. I thought about contacting you before coming, but knew that I wouldn’t have any spare time, just fly in, meet a Microbial Ecologist, and fly out. I was looking into the possibility of a postdoc at ANU, starting Jan ’07. Canberra seems like a place I could live. Bill Bryson doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Just thought I’d let you know I was thinking about you while I was there. I’m back off to the US today.
…and yes, the Dalai Lama is amazing.
Hey, Ooze, sorry you didn’t make contact but I understand the need for the quick in-and-out. Always willing to make visitors welcome.
I hadn’t realised that Bill Bryson had said rude things about Canberra, but lots of people do that and we just grin and keep on enjoying ourselves. It’s a very livable city: great cultural, social and physical infrastructure for a city of only 300,000 people. We’re too heavily dependant on cars unless you are able to live close to your work, which is possible with ANU. ANU is really good – rated as one of the top handful of universities of the world by The Times Higher Education Supplement.
Let me know if you do take up the post-doc.
I know this thread is “old” by frequent commenter standards, but I’ll reply here in the hope that it hasn’t scrolled off your comments list :-).
I did enjoy Canberra, and see it as having the perqs of a big city without the downside, and I lived in NYC for six years, so I know perqs, and I know downsides!
I was conflicted about making contact just because I knew I wouldn’t have much time. I did get to meet up with my friend Karina there briefly, go up the Telstra Tower for a bird’s eye view, and have a beer, but then had to head for the airport.
Anyway, I should be back there in about a year, and I’ll let you know when I go!
All the best.
Just finished reading this and I was not aware you were a Buddhist. I am wondering if you would like to post this or something else on the subject on Village Blue.
I do not know a lot about Buddhism but am interested in learning more and I think it would be something that would fit very well on VB.
Good diary BTW and I will be watching LK on Sunday.
Thanks, Diane. I’ll consider it. Haven’t replied to your e-mail yet because I spent the day with the family. What a hoot. 🙂
I was thinking of you yesterday, having your party, so glad it was a “hoot’, do you have any pics.. did you have any ‘buffalo burgers’…
no pics and no buffalo burgers – they brought chicken 🙂
From KTVB:
06:37 PM MDT on Saturday, September 10, 2005
Associated Press
CALDWELL — Some parents say they’re concerned that Governor Dirk Kempthorne is having their children communicate with the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan religious leader, is in Sun Valley this weekend.
Kempthorne plans to send busloads of children to see him speak in Sun Valley on Monday. He also had students write essays related to the Buddhist leader’s visit.
Some parents say Kempthorne’s plans violate the constitutional separation between church and state.
Pam Smart of Caldwell, who is Jewish, says Kempthorne is using his position to influence others.
But Kempthorne’s spokesman, Michael Journee, says the governor has been very careful about keeping the church-state separation intact with the Dalai Lama’s visit.
Journee says the visit is not sponsored by the state of Idaho, but by private individuals.
And he says Kempthorne is taking part because the Dalai Lama is a dignitary and head of state.