Hallowed Homily

Several months after it was first announced that the XIV Dalai Lama would visit the University of Oregon campus, the week of the visit by His Holiness had finally arrived and the day was nigh.

Friend Lupe Marroquin, who was more than just mildly interested in seeing His Holiness, made the trip down from Anchorage without a ticket hoping to find one of the elusive ducats to the sold out event. When I posted a notice on Facebook in hopes of finding her a ticket, one friend commented: “You’re dreaming, dude.” Scalpers were asking $300 and up for tickets on various Internet sites.

However, Lupe was rewarded for her due diligence: the night before the appearance of His Holiness, the Eugene Sakya Center sponsored a “Tibet Peace Concert” at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts. The concert, held in honor of the visit by His Holiness, seemed like a good place to try to find a ticket to see the Dalai Lama, so Lupe and Rebecca attended the show -- a benefit for the Palmo Peace Center.

The concert featured a variety of artists, including Peter Rowan, Beta Collide, Laura Kemp and Trio, Nawang Khechog, Priyo and Gypsy Moon, In Accord and the ever-popular Sugar Beets. By all accounts, the show was fantastic. And, as luck would have it, Lupe found a ticket for the Dalai Lama at cost ($20); needless to say, she was elated.

The next day, Lupe, Rebecca and I strolled over to the unusually sun-baked campus at the appointed time on Friday, May 10. Security at the doors of Matthew Knight Arena was more elaborate than I’d ever seen: Department of Homeland Security-style airport scanners were set up at every entrance. We passed through unabated, and Rebecca and I bade Lupe farewell until after the show and took our seats.

More than 11,000 UO students, faculty, staff and the general public packed the Matt Court, one of the few times I’ve seen the arena that full. As His Holiness appeared to take the stage, the crowd grew mute, and then silent. An infant’s howl pierced the calm momentarily, then His Holiness -- hands folded in prayer -- acknowledged the crowd as the audience applauded and cheered. As the din subsided, a woman could be heard shouting, “I love you!”

Mark Unno, Associate Professor of East Asian Studies at the University of Oregon, took the podium, noting that this was “a beautiful day in the life of the universe.”

Unno then introduced UO President Michael Gottfredson, who presented His Holiness with the UO Presidential Medal. “This is indeed an historic day for our community,” said Gottfredson, who presented His Holiness with a new Oregon visor.

The Dalai Lama then spoke -- not so much like a lecturer, but more like someone having a conversation with a friend over tea, noting that he would like to address the audience as “brothers and sisters. Physically, emotionally and mentally, we are the same. I always make clear the concept or sense of oneness of humanity -- this is very important. (There is) too much focus on our differences.”

“For a better future for humanity, sometimes if necessary, we can sacrifice the secondary levels of differences of race, religion and nationality -- but usually it’s the opposite,” he continued. “If our mind is biased, then we cannot see.”

The Dalai Lama also focused on the role of teachers, saying that “education helps reduce the gap between reality and perception. Teachers have tremendous responsibility to nurture peace through education.” He noted that the educational system should focus more on inner value and less on materialism, and emphasized that “we must pay more attention to human compassion.”

“The seeds of my compassion came from my mother,” continued His Holiness. By their nature, “females are more biologically sensitive. Those who receive maximum affection from their mothers at an early age will be happier. Those lacking that affection will only sense insecurity, fear and anxiety. Therefore, (parents should) provide maximum affection. Spend more time with your children.”

After about 40 minutes, His Holiness simply noted: “That’s my talk. Now some questions.” The individuals with queries were displayed on large screen monitors placed throughout Matthew Knight Arena.

Most focused on the question of how to deal with conflict in the world, and the role of faith and religion in this endeavor. “All religious traditions carry the same message, same practice: love, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment, self-discipline."

"The different philosophies come because of the individual approaches of different cultures, but the message is the same." Because we are social animals, the “best way to fulfill your own interests is to show compassion to others. Outer peace must come from inner peace.”

The future is bright in the 21^st century, he believes, and we all have a role to play. “The main purpose of (teachers) is to transform minds.” If they do their job, the next generation has “a real opportunity to see a better world: friendlier, happier and peaceful.”

Action, he concluded, will be more important that prayer. “A world without armament is very possible.”