Dalai Lama Visit
I went to see the Dalai Lama talk a few weeks ago and it is something that will stick with me for a long time. If you ever get the chance to see him talk I’d really recommend you head along. He’s such a down-to-earth guy and so optimistic about humanity despite all the shit we cause for ourselves!
My favourite parts:
1. Upon being greeted by the Maori welcoming party and shaking hands, everyone was serious, unsure how of to act in front of such an important figure. He raised his eyebrows, paused, and asked “Hmm? No nose press?”. Everyone cracked up! Then he said sometimes when he is overseas he likes to tell people “I’m gonna welcome you Maori style! Nose press!”
2. If a person’s core values include compassion, that person will never knowingly harm another. So our goal should be to instill this value into all people; only then can we achieve world peace and harmony across the human race. Imagine if values, ethics and peace were a core school subject like math and science.
3. He admitted to being the bully of his older brother when he was a kid, and to thinking of telling an interviewer to “Shut up” when they were asking stupid questions. He’s a “normal” guy who has attained his peace of mind as a result of constant “Analytical Meditation”.
4. Explanation of “Analytical Meditation”: This is not a ‘sleepy’ state of mind; it is a conscious analysis of one’s observations. The laws of cause and effect will appear to be present in everything, and thus one can comprehend the universe because everything is connected.
4. He says we should be realistic - there will never be 6 billion Buddhists, or 6 billion Christians or 6 billion Non-Believers. As long as people are encouraged to strive for the human ideals of compassion, tolerance, patience, mutual respect… the way they get there is all good to him.
5. Asked how he feels when world leaders refuse to meet him mostly due to political pressure from China, he said [paraphrasing]: ”No problem. I don’t want cause trouble for anyone, and I still am able to achieve my number one goal which is to talk with the people themselves”.”.
6. Asked if humanity will ever achieve world peace, he said that although the 20th century was ‘the century of bloodshed’, he has noted a growing consciousness of those who express their opposition to war through non-violent protests. (For example an unprecedented number of people worldwide attended peace marches in opposition of the U.S. invasion of Iraq). Thus he is optimistic, which gave me optimism too.
