Dalai Lama Visits Iowa.....

[laughingwillow]

We went to Cedar Falls the other day and attended a lecture by the Dalai Lama. What a delightful person.

Vendors were selling items from Tibet on the lawn in front of the venue on a sunny day. Monks in saffron robes mingles with the crowd, engaging Iowans in conversation. Over 10,000 folks attended the sell out event which cost $52. Proceeds went to fund students from Tibet. ($35,000 went into that fund yesterday.)

Security was hella tight. Metal detectors, tons of coppers, the whole deal. And prolly for good reason. There are forces plotting against His Holiness, imo.

"If you come with great hopes, you will surely be greatly dissapointed by my lecture, He confessed.

He also pointed out early on that all humans are primarily the same. However, we tend to concentrate on the secondary differences such as ethnicity and culture.

After being presented with an honorary degree by my alma matter, (University of Northern Iowa) His Holiness confessed that he would make a terrible professor, as he is lazy. He claimed he was an unmotivated student up until the age of 15 or 16. He said a tutor educated both him and his brother, but used a special yellow whip to discipline him, as the dalai lama. Then he confessed that while the whip may have been special, the pain it inflicted on him was anything but holy. (Or something to that effect.)

One of our traveling companions was wondering after the lecture just what this story says about His view on punishing children.

He also told an interesting bit on the consciousness of various entities. He said that when one feeds or cares for an animal such as a dog or cat, the animal's appreciation toward their benefactor is evident. However, mosquitoes were the example he gave of life forms that take without any gratitude. His holiness claimed that when he was traveling in a country free of malaria and in a particularly good mood, he might allow a mosquito to feast on his blood. But the insect always leaves without any signs of appreciation...  

This led me to wonder if the Dalai lama feels it is OK to kill mosquitoes.

The lecture was given from a couch placed on a rug on stage. A translator sat in a chair to the left of His Holiness and the University Dean sat on the couch to His right. From our seats, it appeared that the Dalai lama managed to embarrass the president on more than on occasion. The guys face turned beet red a couple of times. For instance, the Dalai Lama explained that while an uneducated person might tell lies, they will usually be simple in nature, but the more education a person receives, the more deep and convoluted becomes their ability to deceive. He made the statement, turned to the University president, put His hand on his knee and laughed heartily. And for some reason the prez blushed like a school girl.

His Holiness also told of a friend since childhood who married and had His Holiness over for a visit back in the late 40's when the were still relatively young. His Holiness actually told the guy that his wife wasn't very physically attractive. And he said that His friend laughed and admitted that she might not be the prettiest woman in the world on the outside but that she was most beautiful within. And that's what is ultimately important, the Dalia Lama admitted while laughing at the memory.  

His speech lasted about an hour and a half, ending  with some questions chosen in advance. No notes were used. The guy is still sharp as a tack. After listening to one question, he graciously explained that he had already covered that very material in the lecture before moving on.  

Another thing that stuck with me.... His Holiness admonished any who might believe He possessed any magical healing powers. he said that his recent gall bladder operation should be proof enough of that.

He advocated secular States allowing for individual expressions of religion while admitting that religion has been the justification for much pain and suffering in the past. Religious States stifle minorities ability to practice religion in ways that are meaningful to them. He set India and the US as examples to be followed in this respect.

More to follow, maybe, as I remember details.

[judih]

Thanks for bringing back these notes. Ah, h.h. the Dalai Lama. His sense of humour is renowned - ten thousand folks must've enjoyed this lecture very much.

From what i gather from the Tibetan Buddhist sense of karma, it's not cool to intentionally kill any living thing. Bad karma. But if you kill it inadvertently, it's less of a karmic weight.  So, speaking of the mosquito that grabs your blood and makes a run for it with no gratitude, what would you say? If you live in a malaria-ridden zone and you see the mosquito coming, it's bad karma to kill it, but you might want to try to do that before it gets you. And as long as you are aware of that blot, you could run around randomly acting with kindness to make up for it!

karma!
(I think it's more interesting to think about human interactions rather than human : mosquito relationships).

[laughingwillow]

I have no doubt that killing another human being is wrong most of the time. (Self defense may be an exception, imo.)

The topic of mosquitos, on the other hand, opens the door to a conversation on the ethics of eating animal flesh. I gathered that he had no problem killing a mosquito that might cause him physical harm in the form of malaria. Concerning the mosquito, second thoughts only seem to occur when his life isn't in danger and he's in a particularly good humor.

lw

[laughingwillow]

more from yesterday..

The Dalai Lama said that thinking globally was the most important reference with local coming in second, as far as importance goes. Secular gubmit is important to allow all religions to flourish. And yes, there are differences between the monotheistic religions as well as within them. He said that Buddha taught some practices which didn't always jibe because He recognized the need for different expressions fitting different people.  

He also commented on the fact that after speaking with the few students already in Iowa from Tibet, they feel isolated not only due to language and new western ways, but also cut off from the students from China. I thought that was very telling. You will find few people in China who support independence for Tibet.

lw

[VajraPirate]

Om Ah Hung!

 :lol:

[laughingwillow]

Hey, varj.

I was wondering if/when this thread was going to flush you from the bardo.....

How are things in CO?

lw

[VajraPirate]

Well it was a bit of a rocky (lol) start but things are starting to smooth out.

Headed to Denver in a lil bit to get some babies, in fact.

Hope all is well with you El Dub!

Really wish I coulda been back home for that...