Victor Maccharoli- The Dalai Lama gave two sold-out lectures Friday at UCSB's event center.
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Dalai Lama speaks to sold-out UCSB crowds
Tibet’s political and spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama, brought his message of peace and compassion to the Santa Barbara area yesterday, speaking to thousands of students and community members during two sold-out lectures at UC Santa Barbara.
In outlining his vision for the path to a peaceful society, the 73-year-old Buddhist monk emphasized the need for a sense of global responsibility and equality.
“The concept of ‘we and they’ is no longer relevant,” he said. “We must look at the world as one entity, just we.”
Wearing a traditional monk robe, the Dalai Lama stepped onto the stage at UCSB’s events center to a silent, standing audience of approximately 5,000 people for his afternoon lecture on “Ethics for Our Time.”
After clasping his hands together and bowing, the spiritual leader gestured for the audience to sit, which served more as a cue for thunderous applause.
“Dear brothers and sisters,” he began. “And when I say brothers and sisters, I really feel like that. At this moment, we really need that spirit.”
The world is facing strife in many forms, from global warming to religious conflicts, the Dalai Lama said, describing many of those problems as created by people who are thinking only of themselves.
Too many people are caught up in materialism, he said, the focus on possessions or power.
“We pay much less attention to our internal values, our mind,” he said.
That brought him to the central point of his discussion, what he termed the “universal value.” During any event or encounter in his life the Dalai Lama said he emphasizes the importance of the universal value, compassion, as a source of self-confidence and healing.
“The more self-confidence, less fear, less stress,” he said. “That opens our mind so we can reach out to other people, build a healthy society.”
At the time of his birth — to a farming family in a small town in northeastern Tibet in July 1935 — Nazis were rising to power in Germany. Violent conflicts ensued later in his life in nearby Korea and Vietnam.
As a teenager, the Dalai Lama was called upon to become Tibet’s political leader after China’s invasion of the region. Despite peace talks with Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders, he was forced to seek exile in northern India after Chinese troops brutally suppressed a nationalist uprising in Tibet’s capital, Lhasa.
“All my life, I witness too much violence and also some violence in the name of revolution,” the Dalai Lama said.
Losing his freedom at 16, then his country at 24 brought a great deal of sadness and heartache, he acknowledged, not to mention the impact of violence taking place across the world.
Money failed to bring him consolation. Pets did not bring him inner peace. Possessions could not give him inner comfort.
“The only thing which brings inner peace is my own inner value, compassion and spirit of forgiveness,” he told the audience.
That is the approach the Dalai Lama hopes world leaders and society in general will start to embrace, rather than violence.
“We have to find long-term methods to change our society, to change our thinking,” he said. “…The only way to tackle or to face this problem is through dialogue. That is the only way.”
In addition to the societal benefits he sees from a life lived with compassion, the Dalai Lama said inner peace has a positive impact on his health.
Last year, while have surgery to remove his gall bladder, the spiritual leader was told by a doctor that he had a young body, one that looks 60 rather than 73.
“That shows my mental peace,” he said.
However, the Dalai Lama shrugged off suggestions that he has healing powers, noting that if he did indeed have those skills, he wouldn’t need gall bladder surgery.
“I’m nothing special,” he told the crowd. “I’m just another human being, just like you. We all have the same potential.”
If people view him as someone special, he explained, they will feel that they can’t follow his experience and live as he does. If they view him as just another person, however, “Then we can communicate and, from my experience, you may get some benefit,” he said.
Yesterday’s visit to UCSB marked the fourth time the 14th Dalai Lama has visited the seaside campus, with previous visits coming in 1984, 1991 and 1997.
It’s also the first visit since the university established a chair of Tibetan Buddhism and cultural studies named after the Dalai Lama. Professor Jose Cabezon, who holds the chair, acted as an official translator for the spiritual leader several decades ago and invited the Dalai Lama to visit.
“Because of his connection to the university and his status as a world figure and exponent of religious tolerance, this visit is extremely important,” Cabezon said.
He is hopeful the lectures and buzz surrounding the event will give local residents more exposure to Tibetan culture in general. A series of lectures on the history of the Dalai Lamas and Tibet, as well as Buddhism, preceded the visit.
An exhibit of sacred Tibetan fabric paintings, known as thangkas, is also on display at the University Art Museum until mid-June, and a group of monks have been creating a sand mandala at the museum in recent days to celebrate the Dalai Lama’s visit.
In addition, the university selected the Dalai Lama’s book, “Ethics for a New Millenium,” as its choice for the UCSB Reads program. Thousands of students, faculty and staff will read the book this winter and spring, as well as hold discussions and campus-wide forums on the concepts it contains.
Comment on this article
Sold out says it all : 4/25/2009
UCSB and the Dalai Lama are a joke. Hypocrites at best.
Renaissance Genius of the 21st Century
Dalai Lama : 4/25/2009
The press needs to tell both sides of the story regarding the Dalai Lama so people can get a balanced, realistic perspective of him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqON2lxAr...
Good and Bad
Hello (again) Dalai : 4/25/2009
I've never seen a bigger crowd of suckers in my life, attending the Dalai Lama roadshow like it's the second coming of Christ himself. Even the Dalai says he is "just like you". It might as well be "Deep Thoughts" by Jack Handy. There is not a word this man has uttered that is not double speak or something written in some ancient manuscript. He's cashing in on the same cliched unrealistic Utopian ideals that ex-hippies hold in high esteem - inner peace, outer peace, non-violence - all the obvious stuff. You don't have to be reincarnated to cash in on this stuff. You're all being taken in by snake oil while this con artist makes an easy living sitting on a couch. It's like going to see a Chinese Dr. Phil. Has anyone mentioned how much the tickets cost and how much goes into the Dalai's pocket? Of course not. Uh oh I have uttered sacrilege! There goes my chance to be reincarnated. What a bunch of schmucks. Of course should the Pope come to visit, there would be nothing but violent protests. I wonder if anyone has asked the Dalai's view on gay marriage and abortion by the way ? Where is Perez Hilton?
Skeptic
A sucker born every minute : 4/25/2009
I said hello, Dalai,......well, hello, Dalai Can I now put my wallet back where it belongs? Youre lookin swell, Dalai.......i can tell, Dalai Youre still glowin...youre still crowin...youre still ...goin strong I feel that ampitheatre swayin......while your groupies are sayin One of your old favourite profound thoughts from way back when! So...golly, gee, fellas....find him an empty couch, fellas Dalai'll never go away....i said he'll never go away Dalai'll never go away again (now that he's found some deep pockets at UCSBeeeeee!)
Louis Armstrong
Novel Ideas ...why couldn't I think of that? : 4/25/2009
“Because of his connection to the university ..." I thought it was supposed to be his connection to the Universe that was supposed to make him so important lol
Buddhist Hypocrisy : 4/25/2009
"his status as a world figure and exponent of religious tolerance".. yet I bet you at least 50% of his followers have zero tolerance for Christianity...
Rakin it in : 4/25/2009
Amazing that he can sell so many tickets and sit on such a beautifully carved hardwood couch preaching "Too many people are caught up in materialism", while 5000 people eat it up. Lets see, if the Dalai makes $10 per ticket, that's $50,000 for his Holiness (who is just like you and me). That's just one show! $100,000 for two! No wonder he has so little stress and so much inner peace. You know, this guy truly is wise. What a con.
Realist
Hypocrisy at the highest levels. : 4/25/2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqON2lxArek “Because of his connection to the university and his status as a world figure and exponent of religious tolerance, this visit is extremely important,” Cabezon said. This shows how naive and stupid his American supporters and followers are. It shows how spiritually empty Americans really are. He learns what they want to hear and tells them exactly that. If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything. This man is a two faced religious intolerant racist - he smiles to the Americans and young spiritually void naive UCSB students who fill his wallets, then turns away with a face of anger and uses the money to promote intolerance.
Indulgence, materialism and excess : 4/25/2009
From the Independent - "But once again, they moved fast once moving, despite having to stop at one point to let the Dalai Lama and his massive entourage — limos, Highway Patrol cars and cycles, armored Secret Service cars, etc. — through." This is a man who preaches to us against excess and indulgence and religious intolerance? Is anyone asking how much his visits cost us as taxpayers and how much his entourage contribute to global warming? Wake up and smell the hypocrisy.
University of Coddled and Spoiled Boneheads : 4/25/2009
I wonder if these were the same UCSB students that were at Floatopia? Couldn't they string a raft together that would keep his carved hardwood couch from sinking? What would his Holiness have to say amidst all the broken beer bottles and heathen decadence?
: 4/25/2009
They probably would have left the couch on the beach....
Ha ha! : 4/25/2009
Dalai at Floatopia: "Peace Shmeesh - Pour me one!" How do you say that in Chinese?
Reality vs. Idealism : 4/25/2009
Love the pic of him wagging his finger of judgment at US. We are so contemptible compared to the purity of this reincarnated BS'r. I remember when the Buddhist Monks showed up a year or so ago, burned some incense, put on a show of smoke and mirrors and sent a "spiritual wave of peace" over the community and then the gang violence that followed the next day lol The reason I am a Christian is because Christianity acknowledges reality. There are no claims or prophecies that there will ever be peace on earth...it fully acknowledges evil and prophecies what the result of it is when taken to its natural end. That is how I know it is the one true religion, because only Christ speaks truth. "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." Read it for yourself Matthew 10:34. Luke 12:51-53 Bible.com "Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. " Revelations 6:4 This is reality and what you see before you, which the monk also has seen “All my life, I witness too much violence and also some violence in the name of revolution,” the Dalai Lama said.
: 4/25/2009
"The only way to tackle or to face this problem is through dialogue. That is the only way.” Uhh yeah - good luck with that. Ever tried to negotiate with Satan? I'm sure he would see the light. Booowahh ha ha
Star Struck : 4/25/2009
"Too many people are caught up in materialism, he said, the focus on possessions or power." - Brilliant Observation. “All my life, I witness too much violence and also some violence in the name of revolution,” - Brilliant Observation. “All my life, I witness too much violence and also some violence in the name of revolution,” - Brilliant Observation “We have to find long-term methods to change our society, to change our thinking,” Deep. Pure genius - Good Luck with that. “I’m nothing special,” he told the crowd. “I’m just another human being" That's for sure.
Ashleigh Brilliant
: 4/25/2009
Yeah I'm just like you, too bad for you that you're not like me ... Cuz I got your money and you don't ha ha! And boy does it give me inner peace and relieve my stress! I have confidence and no fear you should be more like me!
All the postings... : 4/25/2009
Looks like some extreme group published this link to their members and asked them to post their comments. Guys, sit back and take a deep breath. Some people seem to enjoy meeting him, listen to his lecture, and are willing to pay for it. If you don't want to, no one is forcing you...
Take a deep breath
: 4/25/2009
Yes it's obviously a vast right wing conspiracy...
Hillary Clinton
Will The Real Dalai Please Stand Up or Shut Up : 4/26/2009
I find the Dalai Lama's definition of secularism and a respect for all religions humourous at best, with the Shudgen controversy quickly coming to mind... you know, that controversy that doesn't exist in the Dalai Lama's opinion, but only in the opinion of the thousands of monks locked out of their monasteries. A respect for all religions... hummm. Are we not speaking of an institution which for centuries demonstrated the exact opposite? Even better yet, what do most people know of the institution known as that of the Dalai Lama? Let's see... the first Dalai Lama was actually the third, where his long dead teachers received the title post-humously. The 5th Dalai Lama (actually the 3rd) directed the Mongol army into Bhutan, to obliterate the male and female lines, as well as their offspring, "like eggs smashed against rocks". More importantly, when is a theocracy ever a democracy? Inquiring minds would like to know. What do we actually know about this particular Dalai Lama? When challenged on the issue of gender bias within the Tibetan tradition he feigned ignorance... yet are we not speaking of the man who is supposedly the embodiment of the Tibetan tradition, sometimes described as the "God-King of Tibet"? A few years later, when in San Francisco, he not only declared that homosexuality was sexual misconduct, but specifically stated that the Buddha said so. He was then asked "Where did the Buddha say this?" and he replied "I don't know." Then he was asked "Where did the Buddha say this?" and again he gave the same reply. There's a humorous pseudo-Confucian Analect that would be most appropriate when it comes to the inherent wisdom possessed by the Dalai Lama: It is better to shut one's mouth and appear ignorant, than open it and remove all doubt. Of course, there was more $60,000 raised by the event an it's now being sent to the Tibetan government to disperse as "it" sees fit. All I can say is that UCSB apparently has some real rocket scientists, especially when they don't have the slightest idea of what they're supporting, but on the other hand when did historical truth ever matter to a supporter of the Dalai Lama? I'm sure the very late Sen. Joseph McCarthy is smiling in his grave.
Dharmakara
No pay : 4/27/2009
The Dalai Lama does get paid for ANY of his appearances. His donates all proceeds from ticket sales to charity.
Mr.
Dalai Lama compassion : 4/27/2009
The Dalai Lama is the soul of compassion, even for the Chinese Govt which has killed hundreds of thousands of Tibetans since 1950. There are several anti-Dalai Lama & anti-Tibetan comments here by Chinese communists. But their claims have never been proven. There's never been any evidence of the allegations made by the PRC Govt which is why the PRC bars independent journalists from visiting Tibet since March 2008 after Chinese police killed over 200 Tibetans for protesting human rights violations.
USTC
Dalia lama whimsical nature : 4/27/2009
It is no longer a question of whether vajradhara is spirit or higher being. This issue is now a political issue. It is a matter of individaul right - pillar of any democratic society. If worshiping dorje shugden degenerates Buddhism , than same can be said about all the other protectors of four. Every individual should be given right to practice what she/he feels right; so long as it does not harms other people. In india there are millions of different dieties. can you imagine prime minister or some Guru saying particular diety is unfit to worship! what would be the repercution? The Tibetans never understand the Principles of our Founding Fathers of our Constitution or Bill Of Rights. They prefer to worship their former slave master as a God-King. How absurd you want to believe is your right. However, he has no rights to cause suffering of fellow Tibetans for believing as they wish. He has violated others freedom and right to believe as they choose. Pure and simple and the Simla High Courts will decide this September if Dalia lama and Samdung are guilty of the charges. It is as I said, a question of one man has no right to tell others what to believe. He has no authority to tell anyone what to do. His history is proof in itself that he conquered Tibet with the Mongolian Cavarly and implemeted a policy of manipulation which Hitler greatly admired.His idea about serfs and slaves are now exhibited in the People's museum , dedicated to revealing that Serfs were actually treated as chattlel and controlled by ruthless methods that we now see today used by the Taliaban and their Sharia Laws. Mutilations, death by being tossied off high walls or thrown as bags into rivers, was how the Lamas got around taking human life. We no longer require a tool of the CIA to preach morality to us. He was the servant that took the money. The Chinese do not exhibit picutres of the Dalia Lama any more than we Americans allowed photos of Hitler to hang on walls during the reconstruction of Germany. Why did the Dalia Lama not receive news of the American 'Emmancipation Procalmation' at the same time he was driving cars and listening to radios. He knew what was going on the the free world long before the Chinese libertated 95% of the Tibetans suffering for hundreds of years under the terror tactics of the Dalia Lama Lineage. I've known the Dalia Lama and his brothers since 1967-68. I know well the stories of their duplicitious ploys to enlist support from the Western Allies were all lies and deceit. Look past the colors and giggles to the truth of the Charlatan.
thom
It's about Democracy : 4/27/2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqON2lxArek Hey USTC, to say that we're Chinese communists is untrue. Please listen. I grew up in California and to me it's clear that what the Chinese government did to Tibet was awful and wrong. That's why it's so disappointing to see the Dalai Lama implement repressive measures that violate human rights. We're trying to help the Dalai Lama so he doesn't create another repressive regime. I realize that people who believe the Dalai Lama is an enlightened being have a hard time listening to evidence that he is persecuting his political and religious competition. The Tibetan government continues to discriminate and ban other religions. Only the Dalai Lama's religious believers can be hired to work for the Tibetan Government, and non-Dalai Lama Tibetans can't go into stores owned by pro-Dalai Lama Tibetans. Unfortunately the Dalai Lama is not practicing what he preaches when it comes to his own government. Until the Dalai Lama actually practices democracy and religious freedom for all Tibetans, he is not taken seriously by other democratic countries. Hopefully India’s Government can help the minority of Tibetans being persecuted by the Dalai Lama’s government. I realize this is hard for the Dalai Lama followers to hear since his words are so good, however he is only human and there appears to be a mental split between the Dalai Lama religious leader and the Dalai Lama political leader. Very sad for those true believers.
I'm not a communist
OK Mr. : 4/27/2009
If you want to make such a claim that the Dalai gives all his proceeds to "charity" then how about telling us exactly what "charity" that is to prove that you know anything about what you are talking about. I think he must consider himself to be a charity, and I am sure he is very "attached" to the income. Let's see him detach himself from his limo.
Not a Communist either.
Isn't paid : 4/28/2009
Here ya go butt munch... http://www.keyt.com/home/ticker/43642527.html A UCSB spokesman says all proceeds go toward putting on the event, and security. The Dalai Lama, himself, isn't paid for his appearances. Any surplus money will go to the charities of his choice -- a deed, many say, will bring good karma. this link from KEYT indicates that he DOES NOT get paid...
Mr.
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