May 16, 2000
Last Tuesday night the lecture room in Fraser Hall at Western Washington University was packed with people, and the program was delightful. Dean and Dudley of Soundings of the Planet presented their videos and slides along with some live background music that brought the audience to the villages in Tibet, and neighboring India. I gained some perspective of the history of a culture in exile...apparently the people of Tibet, including the Dalai Lama, escaped from Tibet in 1959 when the Chinese invaded their country. They have been living in exile in India ever since, but have strived to maintain their culture.The Dalai Lama even has a website: http://www.dalailama.com, so check it out!
We were shown a video of the Dalai Lama, which was filmed by Dean Evenson, and was very close up and personal. The Dalai Lama appeared like a friendly, wise uncle, who assumes his position as spiritual leader most humbly and reverently. He is articulate, educated, has a wonderful sense of humor and appears to be extremely warm and friendly. He strives to teach the value of "Others Before Self" and to value every living "sentient" being as "Mother and Father, Brother and Sister Sentient Being." This extends to other species of life and to people who would be considered "enemies", such as the Chinese in his case. He says that if you love and accept all "sentient beings" as "Mother and Father, Sister and Brother Sentient Being" the world heals from that. We need to honor, love, and respect all life, including those who seem to bring pain. The pain leaves when our hearts love. He said that underneath our skin, we are all the same. He said that even though we may look different from one another .... and then he glanced at Dean with his long hair and extremely long beard and his complexion and the Dalai Lama laughed and laughed and laughed and rolled in his laughter. "See? We can be different! Look! HA!HA! And yet we are the same, Sentient Beings."
We also saw a video of the Dalai Lama's sister, Jetson Pema, who is also extremely educated, articulate, warm and friendly. She is referred to as the Mother of Tibet, since she has been the founder and leading administrator of the Children's Village, a cluster of orphanages of Tibetian refugees in India. The orphanages house approximatey 1500-2500 children each and are well organized and structured with education programs that include both western and Tibetian culture. The children: caregiver ratio is about 50+:1, but the love and nurturing and caregiving is extremely high. She says that children do sometimes have their quarrels, and of course have their problems and pain from their background experiences of loss and suffering, but that whenever a fight happens between a few children, a peacemaker always steps in and helps resolve the problem. The children are taught values, and are taught to honor others before self and to make the peace. She says that the value of "Others before Self" is what makes a big difference, in contrast to the "I"_dolism of the Western culture. A powerful message indeed.
Dean and Dudley shared their "Ascension" video and CD about their Tibetan journey, while Dean accompanied with his flute. Dudley taught us the Green Tara Mantra (see below), which the Dalai Lama let them record for their "Prayer" CD.
"Green Tara Mantra"
Om Tare Tutane Ture Solta
Om Tare Tutane Ture Solta
Om Tare Tutane Ture Solta
Om Tare Tutane Ture Solta
Om Tare Tutane Ture Solta
Om Tare Tutane Ture Solta
Om Tare Tutane Ture Solta
(Loosely translated, and reverently: "God, Mother, Swiftly remove the bad energy, Amen.")
Today and this week on campus at the Western Gallery, the public has been invited to observe the monks create their beautiful mandala, an intricate sand drawing which has healing power. They will complete it on Saturday and then remove it in ceremony and take some of the sand to Whatcom Creek Saturday afternoon to offer healing for our community. This is a wonderful pilgrammage exchange between the Evensons and the Tibetan Monks, and both of our cultural communities.
Some related websites:
http://www.dalailama.com
http://www.soundings.com
http://www.tibetanculture.orgHave comments?
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