Larry Hnetka Goes HMmmm

“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.

And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”
– Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama was presented with a new visor before his dialogue with students began at the Orpheum Theatre on Friday. (Photograph by: Ward Perrin, Vancouver Sun)

His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet is on his second day of a three-day visit to Vancouver.

His affinity for Vancouver is through a number of personal connections he has made over the years. While I have only read about him and started to read one of his books, I am certainly no authority on this man or his teachings.

However, from what I do know, his philosophies are simple and common sense. My neighbour met him today in a private meeting with several other Vancouver business leaders. It will be interesting to hear her comments about that meeting.

Does the Dalai Lama truly exhibit some extraordinary insights? Is he simply another “celebrity”? Is he a dangerous revolutionary traitor as the Chinese government usually portrays him?

At the age of 71, maybe there is some truth in each of those questions. I personally much prefer a man who teaches compassion rather than conflict.

The rest of this post is more yadda yadda yadda about the Dalai Lama. Click on the link to read more.

The Dalai Lama is only the third person to be given honourary Canadian citizenship (the other two being Raoul Wallenberg and Nelson Mandela). While here, the Dalai Lama is giving a number of public presentations as well as meeting privately with a number of individuals and organizations.

When asked about the honourary citizenship, he drew laughs when he wondered aloud what the rights and privileges might include, because, he said, smiling, he didn’t want to miss out on any.

The news reporter said the Dalai Lama then turned serious when he said that being an honourary Canadian made him feel as if he were being treated like a brother by Canadians. “Actually, entire six billion human beings are brothers, sisters. You have to share, our common world, our one world.”

On this, his fourth visit to Vancouver, he will also formally announce the world’s first educational centre in his name, Dalai Lama Centre for Peace and Education.

Half the money for the $60 million centre has already been provided by three anonymous donors. Speculations are the non-religious gathering place will be located in downtown Vancouver. The centre which will include a cafeteria and library and will sponsor public talks on a range of subjects related to education and personal transformation.

Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 9th, 2006 at 7:52:19 PM and is filed under JOURNAL. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.