> President Bush is meeting this week with the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of the Tibetan people.  The meeting will take place not in the West Wing where the President usually meets with heads of state and dignitaries, but rather in the residence quarters. The “downgrade” appears to be an attempt to placate the Chinese who are enraged at the meeting. China has claimed Tibet as a part of China for years, while Tibetans claim sovereignty during much of the same time period and seek it still.
    This morning, Conservative radio talk show host Glenn Beck was mocking the Dalai Lama’s well known smile and joyous demeanor by saying, “Well, that’s really working for him, isn’t it? Tibet still isn’t free.” Mr. Beck, it should be stated, is generally a hawk on military matters as he believes we are living in the “End Times” and Armageddon is just a Mullah away. He further believes that the only acceptable Presidential candidate in 2008 will be one willing and able to “pull the trigger” so to speak to take out the bad guys when they come for us.
    So, it’s no surprise that he misses the meaning behind the smile.
    I have never been in the presence of the Dalai Lama, nor do I know if Mr. Beck has. But I have been in the presence of a Buddhist master. His very presence and countenance so affected me that for days following that meeting I not only felt calmer, more centered and closer to the concept of world unity, but those around me visibly noticed and commented on my own changed behavior.
    I have also been in the presence of countless politicians, local and national. I have never felt calmer, more centered or more united with humanity as a result nor have those meetings ever had any lasting positive effect upon me.
    Mr. Beck’s implication is that a smile and joyous inner sense of peace will not help the world situation in any significant way. But aggression and war, the modus operandi of the politicians and people in power, have never helped the world in any significant way either and they’ve had their crack at it for at least 2000+ years now. So, before we are so quick to write off the smiling monk, perhaps we should give joyfulness and love of humanity a try.
    It’s often said that we in the West do not understand that the “bad guys” have a long range plan fostered with patience because they believe their “mission” is ordained by God.  
    Now I don’t know for sure, and this is only a guess, but I believe that observation is also applicable to how the Dalai Lama must feel about his “mission.” He too has a long range plan that is fostered by patience and ordained by a higher power.  
    If I were a betting woman, I’d place my money on the Dalai Lama and others like him. There are more and more of us re-awakening from a long, delusional sleep to the power of positive thoughts, good deeds, right speech and a joyous countenance.
   Personally, I believe in a Creator. And if truth be known, I’d place yet another bet. I bet the intention in creating All That Is, if in fact we could see that intention, would look exactly like the smile on the Dalai Lama’s face.
    I think I just heard a voice say, “Pay the woman.”
   
   

Comments are closed.