This is an abridged version of an article, written by Lakshmi, which appeared in the Gibraltar Integral Yoga Newsletter
Travelling to Lisbon in Portugal last September, to listen to the Dalai Lama, was more exciting than we had anticipated - after bad weather and getting lost, we discovered that somehow we had booked into the same hotel as the Dalai Lama himself!
Nalanie and I befriended a couple of the security officers hanging around the lifts and asked them what was happening and what the schedule was for the Dalai Lama, when he would be leaving the hotel for the talks and so on. Poor men, they stood no chance as we weren't about to take no for an answer. We managed to let others know how we would try and see the Dalai Lama before he left for the talks in the morning.
The next morning, the security personnel told us we would never make it in time to the talk if we waited to see His Holiness, but patience paid off. We managed to see His Holiness quite close and we bowed and waved as he left the hotel to the hall where the talks were organised. Then we had to run for it if we were to arrive before him! Although out of breath, we made it - not just the first day but every day and still managed to sit at the front - it was as if the floor places were reserved for us.
The talk on the first day was very deep. The hall was packed to capacity with a good 800 people or more attending each day. We managed to sit in the first 3 rows, I ask you, need I say any more!!!! There were people from 28 different countries listening to the 2,600 year old teachings.
The talks were very much like Gurudev's and we saw the childlike, funny and lovable side of His Holiness too. As Gurudev always said, "Truth is One, Paths are Many". The Dalai Lama mentioned that religions were a bit like medicines. There are different types of medicines, although different in taste and ingredients, all medicines have the same purpose.
He mentioned that sometimes it is better to keep your own religion, as switching religions can change your fate and your traditions. But if you find it suitable and non-disturbing then it was okay to make the changes. He said that he did not consider himself a special human being. Only a human being by the name of Dalai Lama, just a title and that it was the teachings of a simple monk wanting to share Buddhism and the Dharma. His wish was for everyone to feel peace in whichever path they chose. The Dalai Lama then explained about Buddhism saying he was sharing the teachings without following any pattern. He spoke about the Four Noble Truths.
The talks continued for 3 days. He talked about happiness and pain, duality and creation and mentioned that he would live as long as others needed him. His Holiness also spoke about anger and how it disturbs our mental peace. How non-attachment would not harm others but that anger would. He went on to explain that anger eats up our immune system and can lead to illnesses and death.
The overall message was Compassion. Everyone deserves happiness. Compassion grows when we experience suffering. We should therefore be grateful to those who hurt us. (Not an easy concept to grasp.) He told us not to despair as this process takes time, reminding us of Patanjali's famous dictum, "effort towards steadiness of mind is practice".
Well I can tell you that we managed to see and get close enough to touch His Holiness. Nalanie asked if she could hug him and told him that she and all her group were disciples of Sri Swami Satchidananda. Well! You should have seen the smile that lit the Dalai Lama's face and the sigh, as he said, "Aaaaah Satchidananda" and bowed with his hands in prayer as he mentioned our Gurudev's name. Nalanie hugged His Holiness, drawing me towards him, and as he embraced her he held my hands at the same time. All the group managed to see and meet Him and every day we stood by the lift in line as he smiled and waved to us all. What a blessing!
I recalled the bad weather at the beginning of our trip and how it had rained so much. Well, now I see it as a sign of what was to come - the Shower of Blessings we received from His Holiness. The truth is universal, regardless of religion or creed. One should listen to the message and not become obsessive about the messenger, for they all say the same, "Truth is One, Paths are Many".
Om Shanthi.
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