His Holiness Comes To Town

Monday morning I drove an hour north to be in the presence of greatness. As I stood in line fingering my green prayer beads, I wondered who were these other people in line with me, what were they here for, what was their motivation? I entertained the idea that they, like me, would upon hearing his holiness speak, be transported to a place where everything is ok- a kind of utopian mindspace where things aren't good or bad, they just are. Then, we would all use this moment of clarity to dedicate ourselves to peace. Suddenly, we wouldn't judge one another or ourselves, but instead we would work together to achieve peace in ourselves, our communities, and the world.

Then I saw the protestors. They were Chinese students and scholars holding up signs that said "I love Tibet," and "I love China." They shouted into megaphones that the Dalai Lama did not do enough to keep Han Chinese from being killed in recent demonstrations. There was even a banner flown overhead that read,"Dalai Lama- your smile charms, but your actions harm." I looked around and marveled that we who had thought ourselves so compassionate, waiting to become enlightened, were now forced into awareness of the other side of the story. This struck me as ironic. Suddenly, I was not so sure the issues were cut and dry. Suddenly, I was open to this other view point that the spiritual leader I revered was an anti-savior to some. Judging by the looks on my fellow linemates' faces, I was not alone in this paradigm shift. When the demonstrators started singing Amazing Grace for their fallen brothers and sisters, I was pulled by the familiar song of grief. I have no doubt that the Dalai Lama would approve of the compassion I felt for them. Still, I felt a lingering disequalibrium.

Soon, we sat shoulder to shoulder in the packed auditorium, waiting patiently for His Holiness to appear. Finally, he walked to the stage, posture slumped, bowing to us with hands clasped at his heart. Tears rushed to my eyes and I blinked them away. I wondered why his presence made me this emotional. What is it that he represents to me?

He received his honorary doctorate with much humility, playfulness, and a little bit of mischief. What I remember most are the following sentiments:

• We are old and tired, so we pass on the responsiblity for peace to you young people.


• I don't know. I am not an expert.


• In response to the question of what to do about AIDS in Africa: They must use rubbers.


• Peace must start from inside with yourself, then it can affect family, then neighbor, then country, and finally whole world.


• It is possible to have a peaceful world in the next few decades.

By the end of the talk, I could tell he was tired, wondering why he (a simple monk) was being asked about things which he was no expert on (global warming, affluence, domestic violence). I began to see him as just who he is- a human, albeit a very compassionate and giving human. Someone not so different from myself who wants peace in this world. I began to make sense of the words he spoke as a gentle reminder. A reminder of how to live in this world, of how to be with others. A reminder that the answers to our most pressing questions are simple ones we've known all along.

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.

-His Holiness, The Dalai Lama