Blogging the Dalai Lama

On Sunday, May 6, I had the privilege of being present at the Public Talk by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion-Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois. It was my first time seeing him in person and I was one of 11,400 people attending the talk entitled Finding Inner Peace in a World Full of Turmoil.

The program began with a section entitled “Awakening” which included a celebration of diversity in music and performance. A culturally diverse children’s choir sang songs of peace from around the world in different languages. The beautiful white clouds overhead seemed to dance to the sound. There were also musicians, guest speakers and Tibetan children that danced in authentic Tibetan costumes.

Right before His Holiness the Dalai Lama took the stage, eight Gyuto Monks gave the most common prayer in the four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. The prayer expresses profound gratitude to the Buddha for the opportunity to hear and practice his teachings. The prayer praised the Buddha for his qualities of limitless compassion and wisdom. He benefits all beings, leaving no one out. He can lead all sentient beings down a positive path, giving guidance and redirecting them from negative influences. The monks closed the prayer for a long life and healthy environment, as well as a dedication for everyone to rejoice in their good deeds and merits.

During this prayer, I know I felt the energy or electricity in the air heighten. It was a vibration I could feel starting in my fingertips and it eventually went through my entire body. Nobody in the crowd moved, nobody spoke. It was amazing.

Right before His Holiness the Dalai Lama took the stage, two chairs laden in beautiful Tibetan cloth were brought out — one for him and one for his interpreter. The crowd was still, I am quite certain the breeze even stopped. As he entered the stage, giving a wave and a smile to the crowd, people rose to their feet and you heard a thundering applause, whistling and shouting. I was not prepared for how I reacted. I found the tears of gratitude welling up in my eyes and down my face. I saw many around me doing the same. I was overcome with emotion, one simple human being, doing so much in the name of peace.

Before he began his talk, he bent forward. At this moment, the crowd leaned forward — me included, trying to get a better view of what astounding feat he was about to complete. His Holiness the Dalai Lama removed his shoes and placed his feet, cross-legged, under his orange and red attire. As if we were all connected, the crowd let out a sigh and sat back. He sat up with the biggest smile on his face.

He began his speech by saying that some in the crowd may be present to denounce China and support Tibet, some, perhaps, were there to suddenly be miraculously healed. But that was not why he was there, he was there to share his wisdom regarding finding inner peace within a world of turmoil.

He spoke of the last two generations on this planet having been very materialistic, and the need for this to lessen. He spoke of too many external influences, such as TV and/or technology, when what we really need to do is go within ourselves. We need to get rid of our own inner turmoil before we can expect outer turmoil to cease.

He spoke of anger that many of us carry inside. The anger towards others, anger towards situations, etc. We need to be able to go within ourselves and view such anger as an object. Then, and only then, can we truly begin to work through and dissipate the anger.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke of the need for more dialogue in the world. Not just with our “enemies,” but with our friends and family, with our children. We need to be able to sit down and talk with other people, to find out the root of why they are doing what they are doing. And always, there was the compassion — to conduct such dialogue with compassion and respect.

Throughout his speech, he gave poignant examples to support what he was saying: the monks who were imprisoned by the Chinese for decades and, when released and asked what their biggest fear was, it had been that they might lose compassion for the Chinese; and of the times that he had spent in different parts of the world and his many discussions with diplomats and other heads of state.

Through it all, I was amazed at his sense of joy. He would smile and chuckle in such a way throughout his speech.

He left the stage as joyously and as humbly as he had entered. And it is an experience that I will not soon forget. It changed me. It made me a better human being, with clearer ideas of how to apply simple concepts in my life.

The Tibetan Alliance of Chicago hosted this visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as part of its commitment to promote the cause of Tibet and World Peace.

This visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama provided a unique opportunity for people to hear on of the world’s foremost thinkers speak on such crucial issues as finding meaningful solutions to a world torn apart by hatred, terrorism and war.

Proceeds from this event are being used to cover event costs and help establish a permanent home for the Tibetan-American Center for Cross-Cultural Understanding, Chicago. All contributions will go into a restricted account of the Tibetan Alliance of Chicago-Dalai Lama Chicago 2007. The Tibetan-American Center for Cross-Cultural Understanding, Chicago, will provide Tibetan language, culture and educational programs to help preserve rich Tibetan cultural traditions. It will also provide a community based initiative for cross-cultural collaborations and dialogue among the many diverse groups and cultures in Chicago.

—Darla Kay Hill, wife, mother of 3 daughters and online instructor,Traverse City, Michigan