The Dalai Lama

The weather was pleasant yesterday morning as we waited over an hour with nothing but tickets in our hands while thousands had their bags searched ahead of us. To be fair, maybe those folks all walked there or rode transit, without the benefit of a car trunk.

The old gent was affable as ever. He soon engaged the crowd with his quirky, matter-of–fact humor and infectious laughter. He disabused those in the audience that came to see “miracle powers,” this, he said, “is nonsense.”

He praised Houstonians for practicing compassion and tolerance, and said, “I am leaving tomorrow, so the responsibility is on your shoulder.”

I thought later of hearing Cindy Sheehan suggest that a way to work for peace might be to get arrested sitting-in at your congressman’s office. His Holiness the old monk said that if we try to control a hostile environment, it is impossible because the number of sentient beings is limitless, but if we can remain calm and avoid negative emotions, we will be more prepared for obstacles and difficulties, “some effect, how much I don’t know.”

More humility on his way off stage as he stopped at the podium to suggest that any who found his remarks interesting might feel free to experiment on their own, that it might do some good; and if any did not find what he said interesting, “just forget it.”