Well, Hello, Dalai

"Its so nice to have you back where you belong."

This past weekend the Dalai Lama was in Ann Arbor and the timing of his message of alleviating suffering is still a timeless goal not often obtained enough in this world.

Having been backstage for the event, it is a bizarre twist to be so close to someone and watch the many who have to safeguard his life.

I guess when someone uses words like 'fragile peace' it is easy to become a target of violence. Why is it those who advocate peace are always on the front lines of violent attacks?

As he sat cross-legged in his chair His Holiness encouraged the crowd of thousands to be the cause and the effect for peaceable change in our lives and also in our world.

In this largess of space, it felt like we were all in a living room setting as he spoke to those who lined Ann Arbor’s Crisler Arena. I doubt I can find the words to neither express the warmth nor paint a picture of such honest and peaceful serenity.

As I was leaving out the tunnel, I watched many waves flags waving in support of China. It is ironic that these people who are protesting the Dalai Lama would not have this same luxury back in China. (Freedom of expression is not just a USA thing but also a global right of all people.)

Even though I have committed NOT to buy any of their products whenever possible, it is not that I am actively seeking to mobilize an anti-China campaign.

Far from it.

This is a peaceable first step in trying to reduce my impact the same way one carefully places one's foot to a fresh spring carpet of clover.

This is easier put in a blog than in practice since those three little words “Made In China” are stamped on just about everything we consume and then toss into piles in our homes or the landfill.

It is not that I am doing this because the Dalai Lama says I should, nor because I think a free Tibet is even possible in a world of corporations versus the historical lines of national boundaries.

Instead, I step lightly out of the material world because I am alarmed at China's lack of fulfilling their Olympic bid pledge to address their human rights violations taking place in slow motion in places like Darfur and Sudan and played out on the front page of the world press.

To continue to support human suffering is nothing I would allow in my country, why in a distant land with my connected dollars. I do not want my life decorated on the backs of genocide.

I know this confessional line of thinking is troubling and may hold up like a sand castle being built on the shores of a hurricane.

But I am ok with this logic. The Olympics are supposed to highlight the best we can be. As a host country China needs to halt their practices to gain my support again.

Since President Bush has made it very clear that our economy is in need of blind consumers re-depositing their "Bush Bucks" back into the pockets of corporations hungry for more, I think he has played his hand clearly to us as Americans.

We do hold the power to change our world with the simple act of how we spend our money. (I plan to deposit my refund with a safe fund or maybe on a whim I will use it to buy a goat or two via Oxfram.)

And while I know the USA is not perfect and is also a violator of many atrocities, I can start my journey in my own land and by staring to wash the blood off my hands as I step forward into the future.

I can make the small changes that will make a big impact in ending suffering. Power must flow up from all of us working together.

There is much more to blog here but for now I will give pause on the eve of Earth Day.

The Dalai Lama was very clear that the changes we need to see happen in this world need to flow from us.... from our actions.

So I send a "kiss for the whole world*" where all of us are brothers and sisters in a noble quest to end suffering and extreme poverty.

Please step into this new season of spring and let the cool dew of the clover fields under our feet renew our spirit. It is wonderful to exit winter and see such possibilities in each bud of green.

Peace.
Tommy





*Inspired and copied from Schiller’s Ode to Joy and it’s beautiful inspiring use in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.

“Can you sense the Creator, world?

Seek him above the starry canopy.

Above the stars He must dwell.



Joy, daughter of Elysium

Thy magic reunites those

Whom stern custom has parted;

All men will become brothers

Under thy gentle wing.



Be embraced, Millions!

This kiss for all the world!

Brothers!, above the starry canopy

A loving father must dwell.



Joy, beautiful spark of Gods!,

Daughter of Elysium,

Joy, beautiful spark of Gods!.