Ouch!

 

"If you are pierced by a thorn,

you can remove it forever with a needle,

but to get rid of an internal attitude,

you must see clearly

the mistaken beliefs

on which it is based."

 

- The Dalai Lama

 

poor little fella:(

got guilt?

"Guilt, as experienced in Western culture,

is connected with hopelessness and discouragement

and is past-oriented.

Genuine remorse, however, is a healthy state of mind -

it is future-oriented,

connected with hope, and causes us to act, to change." 

- The Dalai Lama

the choice is ours to make

it's a small world after all

"The world is becoming smaller now,

to the degree that all parts of the world

are obviously part of yourself.

Thus, destruction of your enemy is

destruction of yourself."

- The Dalai Lama



faultlines

"It is far more useful to be aware

of a single shortcoming in ourselves

than it is to be aware

of a thousand in somebody else.

For when the fault is our own,

we are in a position to correct it."

- The Dalai Lama

The Seeds of Compassion

Some of my readers (Steve) have been clamoring for an update of sorts to what Teresa and I experienced yesterday in Seattle. I'm still processing all that we saw and heard. Many of us have been raised to fear those who hold differing belief systems -after all, we have the one and only "truth" which leads some to believe that no other faith tradition has anything to offer Christians. I'm not here to argue that one way or the other, but I do have to say that being in the presence of such holy people who truly love God and want to honor one another was humbling. I'd love for all of you to experience what we did......you can click on the link below and listen to the first session. Rob Bell, pastor from Mars Hill Church in Michigan & author, spoke beautiful words about bearing one another's suffering and Joan Chittister, one of my personal heros was just brilliant with her responses...And the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu were having way too much fun!!!

So when you arrive at the website go to Tuesday, April 15th - Youth and Spiritual Connection Day......http://www.seedsofcompassion.org/webcast/index.html

As an aside......On the way into the Hec Ed Pavilion those of us making our way towards the arena were stopped by security because the Dalai Lama motorcade was approaching. After several minutes wherein lots of serious-looking security people cordoned off the area we could hear the police escort approaching. Sirens and flashing lights! I counted over 30 motorcycle police pulling into the parking lot followed by black SUV's , a very long van and a Medic wagon - It was quite exciting!

We wondered which vehicle the Dalai Lama was in when Teresa bent down and saw sandaled feet with bits of red robe dropping to the ground (we were on the opposite side of where the doors were sliding open)....His Holiness was quickly whisked into the lower parking level and the men in black SUV's left as quickly as they had arrived. It struck us that we were in a potentially dangerous place and that our world here in Sequim is rather mundane in comparison to such a scene as this. We were pumped! (but we did wonder about how big a human footprint the Dalai Lama has)

What must it be like to live such a life? He describes himself as a simple human being, but we saw him as a humble monk who risks his life on a daily basis in order to spread the message of compassion. We left the arena that day wondering what we were willing to risk to spread God's love and compassion to all that we meet?

What's Happening Tomorrow

Teresa and I are leaving at 6am from Sequim...the Panel Discussion starts at 9:30 @ Hec Ed Pavilion @ the U.W.....The following spiritual leaders will be on the panel:

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a simple Buddhist monk
-Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South African Cleric and Nobel Peace Prize Recipient
-Dr. Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America
-Rabbi David Rosen, Chairmen of the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations
-Rosh Joan Halifax, Zen Buddhist Priest
-Rob Bell, Christian speaker, author and founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church
-Sister Joan Chittister, Catholic Nun, lecturer and author
-Doug Pagitt, head pastor of Solomon's Porch and Christian author
-Bishop Steven Charleston, the President and Dean of Episcopal Divinity School and a Professor of Theology
-Linda Kavelin-Popov, co-founder of the Virtues Project
-Ahmed Tijani Ben Omar, Secretary General of the African Muslim Organization in Africa
-Steven Shankman, the UNESCO Chair in Transcultural Studies, Interreligious Dialogue and Peace
-Youth from around the region
-Others yet to be announced

The Youth and Spiritual Connection Dialogue begins with a panel focusing on contemporary children. In today’s complex culture, with problems such as media overload, social pressure, short attention spans, isolation and fear, how do we bring awareness of spirituality and compassion to our children in the first years of life?

In the afternoon, workshops and forums on Spirituality and Compassion will provide participants with practical tools they can contribute to their homes, communities and future generations.

Will write all about it on Wednesday.....

The Ferry Ride

As we were sitting on the 9:35 Bainbridge ferry, heading towards Seattle for the Seeds of Compassion event, enjoying the cinnamon rolls that Laura had brought for us, (except Karen who has major issues with gluten), we heard the following announcement: "Does anyone have extra tickets for the Dalai Lama Show? If so please come to the Purser's Office." That struck us as being very funny! Not the ticket part - the "Show" part. What would that look like? The Dalai Lama with a backup chorus of monks singing We are the World?

Well, it just SO happened that Karen had received 2 tickets for an 11:30 event that she hadn't requested. (We were on our way to the 1:30 event at Qwest Field.) We had tried so hard to give those tickets away but there were no takers so we brought them with us in case we had an opportunity such as this. I have to admit - I was feeling just a teeny bit smug! Oh yes! We will save someone's day! We headed over to where a small group was forming outside the Purser's office...hmmm.... there seemed to be others with extra tickets there already....how did we all end up with extra tickets to an event we hadn't even applied for? Who knows? But we joined in...there was lots of talking going on - tickets being exchanged between strangers - more people arriving, others leaving - everyone grateful for the generosity of those with something to give and/or receive......for a moment there it felt like this really wasn't the same old everyday Washington State Ferry at all but The Love Boat! :)


P.S. Extra Credit for anyone who can name the Love Boat characters....

About Yesterday...

Our day was filled with many surprises and sweet moments - but if I had to point to the part of the day that moved me the most? It was the moment the Dalai Lama walked onto the field - we could only see his back as he made his way to the staging area, for we were seated above and across from him. Though he was surrounded by his entourage of monks and security, there was no mistaking the man of compassion in his red robe. There was something about his walk and his wave. And of course, that laugh that could be heard, floating through the stadium.

more later....i'm off to church now....

He's Here!

"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." The Dalai Lama

Tomorrow i'm heading over to Seattle with K, L, and T to hear The Dalai Lama speak on compassion and youth.....it will be an intimate gathering.....just 55,000 of us......this should be quite the experience!