I really wanted to hear the Dalai Lama
give his talk earlier this month at the TD Garden, but we are trying to stay in
our budget. I realized that the Tibetan Association of Boston was accepting
media requests, and so I requested a press pass, and much to my surprise and
delight, my request was approved!
No One Is Without Controversy.
The first thing we notice as we pull into the parking garage on Causeway
Street is a group of about fifty protestors, chanting and holding signs saying
things like “Stop Lying!” I am confused and so when I reach the press area
(after a lengthy tour through the back workings and TD Garden elevators) I ask
my press point of contact about them. To me it seems very surprising. Who would
protest the Dalai Lama? The Dalai Lama is an inherently good and benevolent
being. It’s like protesting the Tooth Fairy. Haven’t they read his meditation
thought of the day calendar?
The answer is that there are some who
claim he is not the real Dalai Lama, and he has advised against some religious
practices and this has upset some people. Not the real Dalai Lama? What pops
into my mind is the movie, Santa Clause 2,
when Santa (played by Tim Allen) leaves a fake robotic Santa Claus in charge of
the North Pole, while he goes in search of a Mrs. Claus. Did he mean that kind
of not-real Dalai Lama? It is best that I have learned not to say everything that
I am thinking.
The bottom line is that no one is
above controversy. If you think of the Dalai Lama as not just a kind spiritual
leader of the world, but also as a religious and quasi-political leader as
well, say comparable to the Pope, it becomes more comprehensible. Would people
protest the Pope? Yes. Does the Pope advise Catholics on the practice of their
faith? Yes. Does everyone agree with what the Pope says? No, although Pope
Francis has certainly changed the tenor of the dialogue with followers, and has
done more to engender openness and inclusiveness than any other Pope in recent
memory. But, certainly, he is not beyond
controversy.
The Elevator.
Knowing that everyone scrambling for parking in the bowels of the
parking garage at 8:30 AM on a Saturday morning and packing into the crowded
elevators is here to attend the Dalai Lama’s talk, one would think that people
would be a little bit more personable. We get into the elevator and greet the
other occupants with a simple “good morning.” Nothing in reply. Not a one. Not
a single acknowledgment of their fellow human beings. No shared human
commonality. Awkward. It’s kind of like
when you see people racing on their way to yoga class, or leaving after yoga
(or church, for that matter) as fast as they can afterwards. Hearing a message
and living a message are two very different things.
The Ninth Level.
Members of the press are brought to the Ninth Level, which is just about
eyeball-level with the jumbotron. Actually, we were so high up we were looking
down on the jumbotron. I make small talk with another reporter, then we’re
brought down to a lower level for a photo opportunity at the start of the talk.
I’m taking photos with my cell phone. If I’d brought more elaborate photo
equipment, I would have had to arrive at 5:30 in the morning. I also would have
had to have purchased said equipment and learned how to use it.
Children from the local Tibetan school perform a traditional folk dance known as “Shema.” His Holiness the Dalai Lama enters the auditorium, greeting the children, and taking a seat. Senator Elizabeth Warren gives a brief introduction. The remark from her speech that stood out in my mind:
“Compassion is not an option; it is a necessity.”
We are taken back to the ninth level, and I get situated with my notebook, to listen and watch and experience, and take notes. I’m having a hard time hearing, and so I figure I just need to try harder, and maybe get used to his slight dialect, and the acoustics. This approach (“trying harder”) worked equally well for Calculus. I wrote down what I heard, but I knew I was missing big gaps in between.
My best efforts could not overcome the acoustics. Here is a sampling of my notes:
Mental calmness
Bruins cap (applause, laughter)More compassionate heart
Trust, love, respect, affection, compassion, forgiveness, basic human values.
What need for Happy Life is within us.
20th century violence, 21st century should be peaceful (applause)
Never forget…
Change humanity, change minds, world, must start individually
If sense, try.
If no sense, what did he just say? (big laughs, applause)
After the talk I looked at my notes
and realized - How the heck am I going to turn this into a blog? I tried interviewing
Susan, and it quickly became clear that I had missed a whole lot.
Recall two things:
There is something to be learned from
everything. What I
learned is that I can’t count on a press pass to put me in a good position to
cover a story, and I need to speak up if I am not getting what I need.
Everything happens for a reason. If I had heard everything perfectly and
clearly during the talk, I would never have gone looking for an audio
recording, which I found on the Dalai Lama’s facebook page, and can now share
with you, too, so you can hear for yourself what he said, in his own words and own voice:
https://www.facebook.com/DalaiLamaAtTheGarden/timeline?ref=page_internal
About
This is the first of my two-part series
on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s public talk given at the TD Garden Saturday
Nov. 1st.
I must confess that the extent of my
Buddhist study consists of getting the Dalai Lama’s thought-of-the-day Calendar
and attending a few yoga and meditation classes. Even these small things can
have a profound effect. I even have a meditation downloaded on my phone from
one class, so I can meditate almost anywhere.
Almost anywhere. On our first foray
into the Seaport District (you know how good I am at navigating), as I was working
to get the GPS guidance to come through the Bluetooth in the car, instead out
came “…now breathe deeply…” I love Ben,
but at that precise moment, it just shot my stress level right through the
roof. As I said, I can now meditate almost anywhere. But, not while driving and
fighting with my phone’s GPS.
Coming
Next:
Part 2 What His Holiness the Dalai
Lama Actually Said. Coming Soon: An update on the status of women’s collegiate
rugby, from one coach’s perspective.© 2014 Rosemary A. Schmidt
Rose Schmidt is the author of “Go Forward, Support! The Rugby of Life.” If you would like to request permission to use or reprint any of the content on the site, please contact the author. Use of individual quotes with proper citation and attribution, within the limits of fair use, is permitted.
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