COMPASSION WITHOUT BORDERS: THE DALAI LAMA AT SDSU

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"The Dalai Lama's response to oppression is not despair, but compassion." – Laurene Powell Jobs
 
Story and photos by Ron Logan
 
May 3, 2012 (San Diego) – For the first time ever, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, Tenzin Gyatso, made an appearance in San Diego to promote the theme of Compassion Without Borders.
 
His whirlwind two-day visit included speaking events at the University of California San Diego to discuss the global impact of climate change, at University of San Diego to lecture on the topic of cultivating peace and justice, and at San Diego State University to discuss upholding universal ethics and compassion in challenging times. 
 
The SDSU event was held on April 19 at Viejas Arena in front of a capacity crowd of 12,000. Security was tight and was conducted by the U.S. State Department. The weather was beautiful, and the Dalai Lama, speaking of forgiveness, tolerance and optimism, was as eloquent and as charming as ever.
 
Viejas Arena was built on the former site of SDSU's Aztec Bowl where on June 6, 1963, President John F. Kennedy delivered the commencement address. This space has a certain magic to it, almost like hallowed ground.
 
His Holiness was introduced by Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple Computer founder and creative genius Steve Jobs, and she set the stage nicely.
 
"The spiritual approach to politics I see in the Dalai Lama is not to be mistaken as subordination of politics to religion, " said Jobs. "Quite the contrary."
 
She continued, "In American politics, religion is now divisive and dogmatic. A polarizing influence, an alibi for impatience and intolerance. It divides our society into us and them. But the Dalai Lama teaches by example – that holiness is essentially not divisive – that it refers always to a common humanity."
 
Jobs explained how His Holiness keeps a positive outlook even in the face of tyranny and suffering – a quality that seems a rarity in western society. 
 
The Dalai Lama is the 14th reincarnation of the Bodhsattva Avalokiteśvara, the god of compassion, and His Holiness remains true to this form.
 
"The Dalai Lama's response to oppression is not despair, but compassion," said Jobs. "And compassion, and the political action that flows from it, is the sign of a soul that can cope with history and even bend it in the direction of its mercies."
 
With that, the Dalai Lama appeared on the stage in his traditional robes of saffron yellow and maroon – colors which are derived from the saffron plant itself – to a roaring applause and beaming adulation, which he most humbly silenced.
 
Donning a red SDSU visor, the Dalai Lama opened by saying "When I say brothers and sisters, I truly believe we are the same human being. Now seven billion human beings. Actually, human brothers and sisters. Mentally, emotionally, physically, we are same."
 
He explained how all of us are alike. That we all share the same potential for destruction, the same sense of community, the same sense of responsibility, and the same sense of concern for others' well-being. We all have the potential to be constructive or destructive.
 
But it is compassion that is the dominant force from birth. 
 
He illustrated his point. "The child's survival entirely depends on other's affection, other's caring, mainly mother, that's a fact. Even animals. We can see cats, dogs, I think many birds – except some turtles – I think even alligators, you see, looks very terrible. But I notice the alligator lay down egg and then hatch it. The mother, some distance, watching. Taking care. But the turtle, some turtle, lay down egg and then left. … The poor, the helpless, the small turtle, they have to survive by their own effort. Quite a pity. When I saw that, i thought, 'oh, very unfortunate.'" 
 
He asserted that compassion is imperative to healthy development.
 
"So, we, everybody, is equipped with the seed of affection or compassion already there," he explained. And then also that is permanent. And also for survival, for healthy survival, healthy growth, the affection is immense. Although fear, anger, part of their life, but the young child remain constant fear, constant anger, very bad."
 
Like at birth, the Dalai Lama also spoke of how compassion is equally important at the end of life. 
 
"Affection, become I think a very important role, factor, at the time of death," he said. "The dying person now, maybe a billionare, knows that money is no longer of use. No longer helpful. Fame is not longer helpful. Strong body, no longer so useful. Education, also no longer. Now, that moment, the most important factor is surrounded by your friend and family, even doctors and nurses, who really showing that person very human affection. Closest feeling, then dying person die peacefully … So at the beginning of our life, affection is so important role. At the time of dying, or even during illness, affection very important role."
 
He explained how mental calmness is necessary to achieve happiness. That all the material wealth, physical comforts, and other pleasantries of everyday life are incapable of bringing true happiness if the mind is not calm and engaged.
 
He also discussed how the growing disparity between the rich and poor is causing more unrest globally. 
 
"[The U.S.] has surplus," he said. "And same human being, who shares same planet, who have same right, many cases facing starvation. Very sad. So this gap, rich and poor, not only morally wrong, but also practically is also problem."
 
"Religious faith also causes divisions," said the Dalai Lama. "This you can't solve by rule of law. Ultimately we need sense of self-discipline. Self-discipline only come from certain moral principles … Some people base moral ethics on religious faith. If that is the case, then moral ethics become very narrow. Cannot cover entire seven billion human beings. In reality, there are quite a big number of non-believer." 
 
The Dalai Lama believes that not all who claim religious faith are very serious about it. He explained that when things are going well these people will credit their religion. But when things become difficult, they lose faith and act alone. So we as a civilization are in need of another way to promote moral ethics. Something beyond faith. 
 
The Dalai Lama called for a mutual respect between religions, including the non-believers. He explained, "In India, almost three thousand years, there is a tradition to respect non-believers. Therefore, in India, for three thousand years, the concept of secularism [has existed]."
 
Since India is a multi-religious nation, they have learned that there needs to be certain mutually accepted and respected ethics and morals regardless of faith in order to live in peace and harmony. But this is a problem that needs to be addressed throughout all humanity. His Holiness said that the solution to this problem is to respect all religions, regardless, and to also respect atheists.
 
"My approach. Our approach. Is stop touching relgion. If you have religious belief it is very good. Only thing is they should be serious. And sincere … And the non-believer should have effective way to approach values … a sense of concern for others' well-being." 
 
His Holiness explained how children are accepting of others without regard to wealth or race or beliefs. But as we grow into adults, and we become educated, we start wondering what financial benefits we can gain from befriending others. The imagery that was fresh to us as children becomes dormant and overwhelmed by negative emotions. We experience jealousy, and engage in extreme competition.
 
Self-respect is a major component for developing a more compassionate world. "In order to build courage," he said. "In order to build determination, will power. In order to serve other people. In order to develop infinite altruism. We need strong sense of self. Very necessary."
 
Having a happy family is also crucial to a compassionate society. 
 
"Nobody say, oh, this family very happy because they are always quarelling," said the Dalai Lama. "Always fighting. Nobody say that. This family, oh, very happy. They have friendship. They have mutual trust. Really marvelous … When we judge these families. No matter whether they're rich or poor. The members of the family full of affection for each other. Mutual affection. Mutual trust. Then that family very happy."
 
His Holiness pointed out that the medical community is finding more and more evidence of a strong causal effect between mental health and physical health. 
 
"Then most importantly is scientific finding," he said. "Really medical scientists now begin to realize that calm mind is very important factor for good health. Sometimes we have the slogan, 'Healhty mind. Healthy body.'  So healthy body very much in line with healthy mind. Healthy mind means not intelligence, not only that, but mental level, calm."
 
By developing a calm mind through compassion and warm-heartedness, we will reap the benefits with a healthy body as well. These are the tools we can then use to bring about a more compassionate world. One full of trust, love, and understanding.
 
He continued, "So once we know the one best sort of method to bring healthy body, healthy mind, then we develop some kind of interest. Once one's interest develop, effort comes. Effort not just as a one time effort. But day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year, decade by decade. Then our mind can change. Very possible."
 
One key is to start thinking that all humans are an inclusive group rather than segregated. To stop differentiating me from you, us from them. 
 
"So we should now create sort of big we, entire seven billion human beings, all part of we," he stated. "Then no ground to fight, no ground for violence, no ground to cheat, no ground to bully. Clear. So that I think really worthwhile. Think. These things."
 
Once the thinking is healthy, actions will follow.
 

"And then make effort," he said. "Effort must come from individual. You here maybe over 10,000 people. Each of you have same potential. Same opportunity. Let us create inner peace, through that way, create peaceful family, peaceful community. The through that way, peaceful world. 


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