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THE SNOW LION NEWSLETTER
Photo Courtesy of Associated Press
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Dalai Lama at Rutgers: His Holiness Receives Honorary Degree
A row of monks, wearing their traditional brightly colored gold and maroon attire, were among a few dozen people who sat near the stage on blankets, pillows or mats spread across the 10- and 20-yard lines on the football field. The visit also attracted several foreign media outlets, including Asian and Russian television stations, a German press agency and publications focusing on Jewish and Catholic issues and life.
The event also marked the largest nonathletic event in Rutgers history, topping visits by former President Bill Clinton (before the stadium was built), and former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.
The Dalai Lama's humility and humor won over his audience, who responded often with laughter and applause. When Rutgers President Richard McCormick presented him with an honorary degree, he said it was an honor to receive it without having to work hard and study for it.
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He started his "Peace, War and Reconciliation" lecture by saying that the topics were familiar to everybody.
"I have nothing to offer, new ideas or new views, nothing special. So, you may disappoint after listen to my...lecture. If you feel boring, then I'm sorry. But at least today this weather—not hot, not cold, quite pleasant, so just a few minutes you spend here OK, not my problem," he said.
The Dalai Lama also addressed nuclear and weapons, calling them dangerous and expensive—not just in financial terms, but also to humanity. He gave the example of some African states that have an abundance of weapons, but not enough food for their people.
He said it should be society's dream that the whole world should be free of nuclear and biological weapons. The Dalai Lama called the concept of war "outdated," and said peaceful reconciliation requires determination, and frank dialogue.
"This whole planet is just us," he said. "Therefore, destruction of another area essentially is destruction of yourself."
The Dalai Lama said people need to develop a deeper awareness about their emotions—which ones are beneficial and which are destructive. When anger dominates, he said it has a tendency to obscure reality.
He also stressed that all humans are fundamentally the same, mentally, emotionally, and in their desire for happiness. Anger and jealousy also are normal experiences that he feels too, for example, when his translator on stage with him speaks better English.
And he said the major religions, although different in philosophy, are the same in teaching forgiveness, discipline, love, tolerance and compassion. The Dalai Lama also noted that he is not all knowing, and does not have an answer about how to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestine when asked.
Excerpted from New York Newsday: nynewsday.com
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To read more on this topic, see The Art of Peace
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