|
Publication Date: Friday, May 25, 2001 "Sometimes in medical practice it is necessary to make difficult decisions, and these teachings can help one tune in to a deeper level of wisdom."
@dropname:Marian Komar, M.D., Mountain View.
Dalai Lama brings message of peace and healing to thousands
Dalai Lama brings message of peace and healing to thousands
(May 25, 2001) By Diana Reynolds Roome
For four days last week, the big top at Shoreline Amphitheatre acquired the look of shining white Himalayan peaks, or even Buddhist stupas, against the blue sky. The yellow, red and blue flags of Tibet flying proudly from the pinnacles proclaimed the presence of Tenzin Gyatso, protector of the great land of snows, political leader of Tibet in exile, and one of the world's great spiritual teachers, otherwise known as the Dalai Lama.
People from California and all over the country flocked to Shoreline, filling the stadium to its capacity of 17,000 for Saturday's talk on "Peace through Inner Peace."
To Buddhists, the 66-year-old Dalai Lama represents a tradition going back thousands of years, in a country that many believe to be one of the most spiritual places on earth.
Following his forced exile, after China's occupation if Tibet in 1953, the Dalai Lama has enjoyed a growing visibility outside Tibet which has meant the accessibility of his teachings to many westerners.
Pierce Brosnan, standing in a suit beside ranks of maroon- and saffron-robed monks on Shoreline's stage, introduced the Dalai Lama before Saturday evening's public talk.
"When the clear heart of compassion says 'we,' it includes all of us--the wise, the non-believers, the saints," he said.
Though some of the Buddhist teachings involve images and concepts unfamiliar to many, the Dalai Lama's basic message was universal and easily comprehensible.
"If someone smiles to me, I feel happy. This is basic human nature," said the Dalai Lama, who spoke for 90 minutes as he sat under a yellow frilled Tibetan umbrella, shielded from the full glare of the evening sun.
From this simple human truth, he wove a logic of human interconnectedness that leaves nobody out and made an urgent case for peace and co-operation throughout the world. Quick to laugh at himself and fond of making jokes, he warmly demonstrated during the five days of speeches and teachings that he retains the ability to talk to an audience of 17,000 as if he is chatting to a few friends in a garden.
Touching on more serious global problems such as the arms buildup, arms trade, the isolation of prisoners from society, and AIDS, he stated that "our futures are very much interlinked, and no matter how powerful an individual nation, they cannot solve the world's problems on their own." World peace comes from true inner peace, or what he termed "inner disarmament." He urged that if each individual develops an attitude of peace and loving kindness, and extends it to his or her own family and society, it can become a force with power to influence public policy.
The Dalai Lama extended his message of tolerance to the world's major religions, which he believes all have the same potential for bettering the human condition. He told the audience that he makes a point of visiting the sacred places of other religions, to pray there together with its practitioners, or to meditate.
"A person who genuinely shows love and compassion to a fellow human being truly loves God," he said.
When asked what is the most important daily practice for a Buddhist, he said that "recharging compassion" is a vital practice that can be done even by watching television, as long as one translates others' suffering into one's own experience.
In addition to giving the talks, the Dalai Lama held a rare three-day series of public teachings on the Heart of Wisdom Sutra, one of Buddhism's central texts, for people advanced in the study of Buddhism.
The event closed with a celebration (attended by 10,000 men, women and even a few children) of the Medicine Buddha, involving the ancient practice of visualization to promote healing, in oneself or others.
"The event was inspirational," said Marian Komar, M.D. of Mountain View. "Sometimes in medical practice it is necessary to make difficult decisions, and these teachings can help one tune in to a deeper level of wisdom."
The Dalai Lama's visit was initiated by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and organized by the Land of Medicine Buddha, a Soquel-based center for healing which he founded. Proceeds from the event will result in over $544,000 in donations to various Buddhist causes, in the United States and worldwide.
| 
