( – promoted by buhdydharma )
The Dalai Lama addressed thousands today. I narrowly missed getting a free ticket but did manage to run into an old friend I hadn’t seen in a decade as I left Qwest Field. The area was ultra-high security but there was a steady rush to get inside to hear him. I did manage to get a free poster (like in the photo above) from the public library.
He said:
“Many problem essentially are own creation; therefore logically, we must have the ability to eliminate this problem. It is our own interest and responsibility to make this century should be century of dialogue.”
He said the 20th century has become like “century of bloodshed,” and suggested the elimination all nuclear weapons.
“So firstly, on action level, whenever we face problem, different interest, disagreement, the realistic method is nonviolent dialogue. That’s the only way. If you use force in order to solve one problem, it often create lots of unexpected side effect … Nonviolence not just mere absence of violence, nonviolence means facing problem with real determination, vision, wider perspective.”
The event began with a procession of 1,000 people representing the different cultures of Washington state, followed by 200 drummers from various cultures and an 11-year-old virtuoso violinist. Dalai Lama was introduced by the Governor. Outside, a small group of pro-Chinese demonstrators passed out flyers, Students for a Free Tibet, the group supporting Tibetan nuns locally and Death with Dignity Initiative were seen, along with the bagpipe player pictured above. Yesterday the Dalai Lama met with a stadium full of professors and professionals, then was serenaded by Dave Matthews at Key Arena. The next few days are filled with workshops and classes related to compassion, for all ages of people, and Monday 15,000 or more children will meet with the Dalai Lama.
(silhouetted photo is news photo submitted by Robin, and all others were taken by DiAnne Grieser)
2 comments
where’s your tip jar? 🙂 Thanks for this!
I listened to a radio profile on this pro-science leader, who downplays his own importance as a religious leader [he reminds those who listen that he is only a man, that anyone can improve himself].
The leadership he shows is like that of another great person, Al Gore – who reminds us that we can become better by improving ourselves, by learning, by understanding our universe around us.
These people are not special, they are knowledgeable and provide and example for all of us to follow in our own way.