S. and I just got back from seeing the Dalai Lama at the UC
Berkeley Greek Theater.
I'd been wanting to see the Dalai Lama for several years, since a
friend of mine told me he was hanging out with the asian youth gang
members in downtown San Francisco--I thought it was so cool that he
would be hanging out with such different sectors of society. Plus, I
find him inspiring (I say this flippantly, but I am quite serious).
I was quite excited to go see him!
What they don't tell you about the Greek Theater, which you cannot
help but to notice as soon as you arrive, is that the concrete seating
gives you about 6 inches for your butt. Okay, possibly 8 inches. But
no more than that! And you cannot lean back against the concrete of
your seat, because someone else's legs will be there at your back.
Fortunately, S. brought a mat for us to sit on so the concrete
wouldn't, how shall I say, sink in quite so much. The theater was
sold out.
Promptly at 2pm, someone stood at the podium and announced that the UC
Berkeley Chancellor was going to speak. He ended up being rather
verbose, even after he said he would "get right to it". The "it" in
this case was to present a UC Berkeley medal of honor to the Dalai
Lama. Except the Dalai Lama had been given one already in 1994. So
they found someone else to give it to, who I'd not heard of, who
started a foundation? which helps the Tibetan people. The Chancellor
decided to have the award ceremony at the Dalai Lama's speech anyway.
I suppose sometimes plans cannot be changed.
He finished telling us about this, and ... then announced Sharon
Stone. Excuse me, what? Last I heard she was kissing some head of
state in India or something. God love her, but that seemed
inappropriate. She came out waving to the crowd, as if we had all gathered
to see her. Um, and then the speech.
She ....kept ..........pausing .........for .......nearly.......a..............full....................minute.
And I was practicing compassion, but I couldn't quite understand what
she was saying. And it went on. Someone in the audience said she
should join Toastmasters. The gist of what she was trying to say was
something about following your dreams; that the world was changing.
And that you should......I forget. At the end, she said, "I just
want to say one thing." (I thought, you just said several?!?) "Go
Bears". Yay! That got a cheer.
Fucking Berkeley.
Okay, so then we are excited to hear the Dalai Lama, right? Oh, but
no, here is the Chancellor again, to give the medal of honor meant for
the Dalai Lama to this guy Richard something. The Dalai Lama at this
point was apparently sick of waiting, so he came out, to many happy
cheers.
The Chancellor introduces this Richard guy comes up and talks....for
way too long. Saying again and again...."Let me just say something
about that." He is doing good things in Tibet, and he was explaining
that the Chinese won't talk to the Dalai Lama, and that what the
Chinese are doing in Tibet is immoral. I agree, but I know that
already, and I want to hear the Dalai Lama! And the Dalai Lama was
sitting there waiting. Ahhhh. At last the Chancellor comes up,
gives the medal to the guy, and then keeps talking. An opportunity
to practice patience. I think at this point the Dalai Lama blew his
nose.
Did Richard guy talk again? I don't even know anymore, it was
interminable. At least an hour.
At long last, it was time for the Dalai Lama to speak. You know, he
is so cute! This wasn't only my reaction, other people were saying
how adorable he is. Which is a curious reaction to have to a world
leader. So excellent.
He spoke about internal disarmament, and compassion, particularly in
our selves, then families, then communities. He gave examples of the
immense dedication of mothers to care for their children, in birds and
humans, and that we need to care for one another and we are all
brother-sisters in this whole world. I love this phrase of "brother- sisters".
He said a calm mind causes good, youthful health in the
body. He had his translator friend (sometimes he forgets the English
word--He said he is getting old, and so is his English, so he needs
some help) tell us about the chemical which is created in the body
when people feel hatred, fear, and anger, which directly affects our
immune systems adversely. After his friend finished saying the
details of this, the Dalai Lama said, "Ha" in that "Yes, exactly!"
way. It was so funny.
He also talked about new research showing that people are more likely
to have a heart attack if they speak about "I, Me, Mine Mine
Mine!" (that frame of mind & perception). He said that a calm mind is
the best thing for our health. That this is the best way to bring
about peace--compassion of mind, in body, in self and family, which
radiates out to community, and to our world.
His accent is more lyrical than the Chinese accent, but it is in some
ways similar. When I closed my eyes he was so very bright. I feel
deeply honored that I was able to see him. And he is so delightful
and funny.
At the end, there were musicians who played the Tibetan national
anthem. The Dalai Lama honored the musicians by blessing them with
the long white scarf and thanking them. How wonderful to honor the
musicians so! And then he walked to the front of the stage and put on
a UC Berkeley hat. Oooh, see now, that was SO adorable.
His energy is kind of like a happy kid, but also very deeply loving,
and very strong. I sat there hanging on his every word.
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