Browsing the archives for the His Holiness the Dalai Lama tag

26 Sep 11

The Dangerous Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu?

by Robert V. Taylor

Robert V. Taylor

How dangerous is His Holiness the Dalai Lama? The South African government in denying him a visa to attend Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s 80th birthday celebrations appears to believe he is a danger to freedom loving people. His life, like that of Tutu’s, points to a very different message of the inter-connectedness of all things and people.

The South African government has rejected the Dalai Lama’s visa application, according to The Times of India, as “incomplete.”  With one of the world’s most progressive constitution’s the “New South Africa” has enshrined the rights of freedom of expression and those of women, children and gay and lesbian people in its constitution. The Dalai Lama’s pending visit tests the spirit, intent and letter of the values of that constitution.

The denial of his visa is a reminder of the old apartheid South Africa in which freedom of speech and association was ruthlessly denied. In the nineteen seventies the then Minister of Justice responded to concerns about the house arrest – or banning – of those whose voices were at odds with apartheid.  He said that those under house arrest had as much freedom “as a goldfish in a bowl.”  Is the new South Africa beginning to act like the old one?

Tutu and the Dalai Lama are iconic figures because they are moral leaders who will not be silenced in speaking truth about the well-being of all people. Tutu’s Ubuntu – that a person is only a person in the context of other people – is very much related to His Holiness’ emphasis on the intertwined nature of all human life. Both are passionate advocates for freedom and compassion. Their personal friendship and affection is longstanding.  

© 2011 Zapiro (All Rights Reserved) Printed with permission www.zapiro.com

The recent cartoon from The Times of London points to the real reason for trying to silence the Dalai Lama in South Africa which is pressure from the Chinese government. If that is true it is ironic that the new South Africa, free of the colonialism of apartheid would subject itself to a new colonial master.  The dangerousness of the Dalai Lama lies in the South African fear of ruffling trade and diplomatic relations between China and South Africa.

The courageous lives and leadership of Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama would be affirmed by an equally courageous decision to grant His Holiness the visa now. The freedom and compassion of these iconic Nobel Peace Laureates would be matched by the act of issuing the visa now.

Compassion, kindness, reconciliation, justice and the oneness of the human family are the messages of Desmond Tutu and His Holiness. It is moral, inspirational and practical leadership that they invite others to exercise. In a time when there is vacuum in such leadership the world needs to keep hearing from these two leaders.

It is not too late to grant the visa and allow the Dalai Lama to present the Inaugural Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture on October 8th the day after he lights the candle on Tutu’s eightieth birthday cake.  The light of their messages may be dangerous to some but the world longs for more of it.

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Watch His Holiness and Archbishop Tutu talk about compassion – click here

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8 Sep 11

Silencing the Dalai Lama?

by Robert V. Taylor
Robert V. Taylor

Robert V. Taylor

The attempt to silence His Holiness the Dalai Lama is an exercise in futility akin to trying to block the flow of eternal spiritual truths. Yet this is what the government of South Africa is trying to do. Their refusal to grant him a visa to give a lecture in Cape Town in honor of his friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s eightieth birthday is ironic at best and, at worst,  hostile to free speech and religion.

     These two iconic human beings are honored in much of the world for their willingness to speak truth to power out of the spirituality of their respective Buddhist and Christian traditions. Tutu’s fearless defense of the voiceless and the inclusion of all people is an expression of the abundantly generous love of the God he believes in. The Dalai Lama’s insistence on the inter-connectedness of all beings arises from his Buddhist tradition.  He says that his religion is one of kindness. These two Nobel Peace Prize Laureates share a common spiritual and pragmatic insistence on the power of forgiveness over retribution.

     There is nothing kind, inclusive or generous about the obfuscating responses of the South African government as they dither about whether to succumb to China’s pressure to keep the Dalai Lama out of South Africa.

     In 2009 the Dalai Lama was denied a visa to give a lecture in South Africa with News24 reporting that the government admitted its move was made “in order not to jeopardize ties with China.”  The Sunday Independent reported that the South African Embassy in New Delhi had not received the Dalai Lama’s visa application. On August 22, 2011 the Ministry of Home Affairs spokesman was quoted by Phayul News saying, “The Dalai Lama’s visa issue is not only administrative but political and diplomatic in nature.” In others words the South African government is considering colluding with China in an attempt to silence His Holiness’ voice in South Africa.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

    The irony lies in the history of apartheid giving way to a robust democracy in 1994. Many members of the current government were silenced by the apartheid regime under which freedom of expression and association was unknown. It was Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s voice against apartheid that could not be silenced at home or on the global stage. Calling for the end of apartheid and for justice he insisted that the human family is made not for separateness but for togetherness. He calls it Ubuntu – we are only human beings in the context of others human beings.  

     The long fought for freedom of expression, association and democracy in South Africa is called into question by not granting a visa to His Holiness to deliver the inaugural Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture in honor of his good friends eightieth birthday on October 7.

     Driven by the spirituality of their respective traditions Tutu and the Dalai Lama tirelessly work for freedom, reconciliation and the inclusion of all. In addition to the Tutu invitation the Durban based Gandhi Development Trust intends to honor His Holiness in South Africa with the 9th Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Reconciliation and Peace.

Robert V. Taylor, His Holiness the Dalai Lama & Archbishop Tutu

Dumisa Ntsebeza, Chair of the Desmond Tutu Peace Center in South Africa, expressed a generous hope saying, “Althoguh uncertainty over the visa has proved challenging…the Peace Center is confident the visa will be granted.”

     Archbishop Tutu and The Dalai Lama will not be silenced by any government. The question is why, given the remarkable history of South Africa’s journey, it would even consider trying to keep the Dalai Lama’s voice out of the county?

      It is a futile flourish that the old apartheid government would have been proud of.  Perhaps it is the South African government that is need of reconciliation – the reconciling of a country’s liberation and constitution with a visa that will welcome one of the great religious and human rights crusaders to its country. What is to be feared from the voices of these two Nobel Laureates celebrating their voices and those of humanity in the quest for spiritual and human freedom?

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27 May 10

Is Life Better Because of You?

by Robert V. Taylor

Is life better because of you?  Are you aware of how your own life is better because of others? A blog conversation between Robert V. Taylor and Ginny Hutchinson.  Ginny is the Co- Author, along with Cathy Haffner, of  BETTER BECAUSE OF YOU.

RVT: Since first reading Better Because of You, I have become more mindful about the relationships in my life.  I’ve become intentional in telling someone that my life is better because of them.  Is this what you hoped to create for your readers?

GH: Thank you for sharing how our book has impacted you.  Our hope is that Better Because is a helpful reminder to readers about all seven facets of their life – health, wealth, wisdom, work, play, others & service.  Depending on what areas may need tending or polishing, we’ve found our readers share varying viewpoints.

RVT: You say that the book is about making life “just a little better”.  That’s quite a contrast from the books that promise to change or transforms lives.  Can you say more about what “a little better” means to you?

GH: Cathy & I believe in taking life in small, bite size pieces.  Taking one step at a time and focusing on small  interactions each day, help make life a little better and gradually improve the quality of your life for you and for others.   For example, as a mountain climber, I can easily feel overwhelmed in reaching a high peak.  However, if I break it down into preparation, practice hikes, gradually get stronger climb and keep moving steadily toward the goal, I enjoy not only the view at the top, but the journey along the way.  The same principles apply to life.  

RVT: Was there some circumstance in your lives when you thought of this book with wisdom and hope for ordinary, everyday living?

GH: Cathy & I are self proclaimed “rat racers.”  We’ve enjoyed a tremendous amount of blessings in our lives and both were Fortune 100 executives prior to founding Better Because.  Each of us faced a time in our life when we could have either had – A Mid-Life Crisis or A Mid-Life Awakening.    For me, it was hearing the His Holiness The Dali Lama in Seattle speaking about compassion and action that struck me.  After that moment, I vowed to re-think where I placed importance in my life decided to gain a more balanced approach.  A similar epiphany struck Cathy during a similar timeframe.  As it turns out, we quit our jobs on the same day, and from our long-standing friendship of 25 years, decided seek ways to inspire ourselves and others.

Ginny Hutchinson

RVT: Who was the first person to tell you that their life was better because of you?  How did it impact you?

GH: The first person who mentioned their life was better because of me was my friend, Aaron.  He’s a close and cherished friend and sent me a note immediately after we published our book.  He purchased 25 books and explained how he wanted to spread his appreciation not only to me, but other friends and colleagues in his life.  Since then, Aaron’s bought over 100 books and says he gets more joy back with every book he gives.

RVT: For many people, life is experienced as something to endure or survive.  What would you say to such a person?
 
GH: It pains me to hear this.  My hope is that people see their lives as a sparkling gem.  Not to survive, but to thrive and enjoy.  Life can be difficult, tough at times, and a struggle.  Often these times, make us stronger, wiser, more appreciative.  One of our favorite concepts is ‘the world is in you’  and you can choose to be inspired or not.
 
RVT: Over the years I’ve worked with countless numbers of people who seem stuck in negative energy and a sense that nothing will make their life better.  Your book invites positive energy and is hopeful.  What feeds that good energy and hope in you? 

GH: There are three things that Cathy & I believe help fuel our spirit. Firstly, Happiness is contagious.  Research has proven being around happy people helps you be happy.  It’s that simple.  Second, looking up.  Looking up for us offers a new perspective  – spirituality, faith, hope, Nature, and looking up to people we respect.  Third, sharing Better Because …  stories.  By sharing why you are “better because” with someone else has a tremendous impact for you and them.  Every time I do this with my family, friends, co-workers or students, I literally feel better!

Robert V. Taylor

RVT: As people respond to Better Because of You with stories of their own you are encouraging the art of storytelling and finding meaning and purpose in stories – our own and those of others.  Has there been a story that has surprised you? 

GH: One woman called and purchased a number of copies of our book for her ‘gift closet’.  She planned to give our book to her nearest and dearest girl friends.  A few days after later, she emailed me with a surprising story never expected.  Her son, at college, called to say a close friend of his committed suicide and he devastated.   At a loss for words, she remembered words of wisdom from Better Because of You and shared a poem on Death (page 26) by David Hawkins.  The poem helped them grief together and hear comforting words to help them mourn their loss.  Cathy experienced two sudden deaths of young people in her family.  The section on Death has helped us both cope with losses in our lives.

RVT: What do you hope to still discover about life being better because of others?

GH: One of the stories that surprised me was a high school student who mentioned, “I’m better because of my hardships and struggles.”   I thought this was quite insightful that she’s better because life is hard.  She described recent athletic injuries she faced which were debilitating and how she now views life and her health with more appreciation than ever before.  Remembering that life is a series of circles, spiraling up and down and that feeling down is okay.  The key is to learn from the down or dark periods, which can often lead to higher highs! 

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Discover Better Because of You by clicking here

Join Robert’s YouTube conversation, Saying Yes to Your Own Life, by clicking here

Ginny Hutchinson & Cathy Haffner

 

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14 Apr 10

Kumbaya Comapssion? Or the Real Thing?

by Robert V. Taylor

“Just another Kumbaya song” is a common side-lining of compassion.  Yet we want it for ourselves.  There’s the rub!  Compassion is a shift from “me” to “we” thinking. To be compassionate comes from inner strength and grounding.  What happens when a city signs up to be a Compassionate City?

On April 24 Seattle will become the first city in the world to officially affirm the Charter for Compassion.  It begins a 10 year Campaign for Compassionate Cities. Over half the world’s population now live in cities.  Will this movement transform how we think about one another beyond our own self interests?

I was involved in helping to organize the event known as Seeds of Compassion two years ago.  Over 150,000 people attended events over a four day period in Seattle, highlighted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. I was struck by the hunger of those attending.  For many it was a desire to shift the paradigm from “me” to “we”.

In late 2009 the Charter of Compassion was unveiled. It was the vision of Karen Armstrong, the insightful chronicler of religion today.  She used the cash award that came with the 2008 TED prize to offer a concrete way for transforming our thinking of what it means to be fully human. No wonder Armstrong will be in Seattle to speak and help celebrate that city becoming the first of many Compassionate Cities.

So is this all just feel good Kumbaya? Not for a moment.  If the universal spiritual and moral principle of compassion is about intentionally treating others as we want to be treated, it affects our choices.  This is about the sanctity of each person – with no exceptions.  The Charter for Compassion reminds us that respect, equity and justice for each human being is inviolable.  In the urban cauldrons of many cities that is a fragile concept.

The Charter for Compassion looses it steam when talking about what people should refrain from.  Yes, it is despicable to deny basic rights to another, to incite hatred, to act or speak violently.  In many cities such restraint would be a breath of fresh air to many! The Charter doesn’t pull off an irresistible invitation to the truth that there is no “me” without “we”.

Cities which sign on to the Campaign for Compassionate Cities will surely be held accountable to demonstrate how compassion is being restored to a central moral or ethical value?  It is not a bad place to begin by expecting – not encouraging – “accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures”.  Gender, sexual orientation and various family configurations will hopefully be added to this list by cities like Seattle.

Beyond any quibbles with the “committee-written” feel of the Charter, its purpose and intent is powerful.  It takes strength, courage and a commitment to the long haul to expect cities to be able to measure their compassion index.  Yes, there is a compelling need to “make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world.”

Imagine the Compassionate Cities finding ways to celebrate the crossing of boundaries or the ways in which previously unknown interdependence is experienced between people. Now that would be an expression of enlightenment!

Karen Armstrong is to be admired for the vision of a Charter for Compassion galvanizing so many people.  It could be placed as a mantra in every kitchen.  Compassionate Cites is a movement that can make significant measurable changes to the lives of ordinary people.  Seattle embodies the best of American innovation and generosity of spirit in leading the way as the first city in the US and the world to sign up. Vancouver BC is likely to be the second city to sign up. How might it affect Cleveland, Boise, Fort Myers, Washington DC or your own city?

Compassionate Cities, like the Charter, will have their greatest impact in lives changed and transformed by everyday acts of compassion.  It is about the courage, strength and willingness of each person who commits to compassion as a way of life.

There’s no Kumbaya about “me to we”.  It’s the real thing.

To buy tickets for Karen Armstrong’s April 24 two presentations click here.

Robert V. Taylor – Being A Repairer of the World

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13 Nov 09

Compassion: a dynamic new movement?

by Robert V. Taylor

Compassion appears to be in short supply these days.  The Charter for Compassion is a new movement to reclaim this ancient truth found in most spiritual and moral traditions.  Yesterday it was unveiled in 125 cities around the world!  The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu were among the initial signers of the charter.  They may be onto something.  The people who showed up in those 125 cities are certainly onto something too!

A multi day gathering called Seeds of Compassion www.seedsofcompassion.org drew more than 150,000 participants in Seattle last year.  The lead line-up included His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  During their visit I hosted a breakfast conversation with them.  Those present could not have missed their playfulness and humor!  What is striking is that these two spiritual leaders have stood against powerful forces of violence and hatred.  They are unflinching in their resistance to injustice. Yet there they were joshing with each other, taking delight in life.  Their playful interactions, like their lives, reflect compassion within, without and for others.

I marveled at the vast number of people who showed up in Seattle to engage in conversations about compassion in the world.  For many who refer to themselves as spiritual not religious, compassion is an authentic, compelling spiritual value.  When you experience it in another, you know that is for real.  The large crowds in Seattle are, I believe, indicative of a deep spiritual hunger for meaning and purpose.  There is no elaborate dogma attached to compassion.

The Charter for Compassion http://www.charterforcompassion.org begins with a reminder that the principle of compassion I sat the heart of all traditions – ethical, religious and spiritual.  It calls for the restoration of compassion to the center of morality and religion.  The signers express urgency about making compassion “a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world.”

Reflecting the simplicity of compassion, the document speaks simply about compassion as a way of being.  It does not side-step the question that drives so many away from, or into ambivalence, about religion.  It asks that there be a “return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate.”  Simplicity is not to be confused with shallowness or lack of spine!  Breeding disdain, violence and hatred of any kind is rejected with simple clarity.  That is a breath of fresh air billowing through the religious clutter of disdain and hatred! Is this what people all over the world are responding to in the unveiling of the Charter- compassion as the legitimate grounding of spiritual life?

The language of the document reminds me of Desmond Tutu’s persistent reminder that we are all made for “oneness”. Or of the Dalia Lama insisting that we are all inter-twined.  Is the authentic compassion of these two spiritual leaders what caused over 150,000 in Seattle to come out and talk about compassion?

The Charter for Compassion recognizes that compassion is taught and instilled in the lives of the young when they are given, “accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures.” It doesn’t stop there.   It urges a pro-active apperception of cultural and religious diversity.

Is this all simply about a “feel good” experience?   The Charter reminds us that when we denigrate others, even our enemies, we deny “or common humanity.” It invites us to “cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings.”

I read this and I think of Tutu and the Dalai Lama poking each other in the ribs and laughing like delighted children over breakfast.  Their joy, in spite of all they have lived through, is palpable. It is the real thing.  They have each cultivated compassion for themselves and for those who have been their enemies.  Compassion for them, as it is for us, is a way of being.  It is about a mindful approach to life.  We cultivate it.

Compassion may be the only bridge across which divisions, violence and hatred can be re-imagined.  As I looked at those present at the unveiling of The Charter for Compassion last night in Seattle I had the feeling that I was witnessing the start of a grassroots movement.  A spiritual movement that reflected the hope, yearning and expectation in the eyes of the 150,000 who came to hear Tutu, the Dalai Lama and others speak about compassion.  Unlike those crowds, the supporters of the Charter are part of a connected network that technology has made possible.  Technology is making possible the reminder that compassion is the abiding, central truth of all spiritual and moral traditions.

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