Back home from Frankfurt and the Dalai Lama.
The weekend at the event was much more 'light'. It consisted of a mixture of panel discussions with various experts on things like the economy and climate change, and also short lectures in English by DL. All much more easy to follow. It feels great to have been there, although it was not perfect and it wasn't all what I expected.
I bought my mother a present in one of the many, many stalls flogging things (a bit odd for an event on Buddhism...?). It was a gold statue of a meditating frog. It sums up nicely my attitude to this kind of thing: I have a very keen interest, but with a sense of perspective and humour about it.
What struck me during the event - and also thinking about myself - is that so many of us seem to have a real need to find new meaning in our lives these days, hardly suprising I suppose with everything that's going on in the world. However, I think this search can be too superficial at times. We think that if we just attend another event, read another book (like me!) or buy a crystal or a Buddhist bracelet or yet another yoga mat, we will move one step closer to a more meaningful life. But the truth is that this can only happen through regular action in the world, we need to find a new way of BEING in the world; our actions need to reflect our values in a way that most of us have not mastered yet. Don't just read about meditation; meditate! Don't just read about shopping more ethically; do it. I need to become better at this, too.
On another note, I was really pleasantly surprised what a nice city Frankfurt is. Mind you, we did have great weather throughout and some great meals, so that always helps!
Monday 3 August 2009
Friday 31 July 2009
You have much to learn, Master Kevin...
Second day with the Dalai Lama and pleased to inform that I have been feeling a bit more 'zen' today. Not much, but a little.
Getting into the venue was easier today. When we got there the DL had already started, apparently he likes to start earlier than the time advertised...great! (Zen, Kevin, remember, chant, chant, chant, ommmmmmmmm.)
Insightful nugget: He encouraged us to look at the causes of the unhappiness (suffering) in our lives and to work at eliminating them. The important bit being that you need to trace back your 'unhappinesses' all the way to when they first arose, the very first trace of them, and start eliminating them that way. Sound advice I thought. No good dwelling on the unhappy stuff for too long; much wiser to acquaint yourself with the causes and take it from there.
Today I realised this about DL: he is charming and funny and insightful and accessible when speaking in English. As soon as he starts teaching in Tibetan (which is most of the time), he turns into a professor type person and the whole thing becomes rather impenetrable for the lay person not immersed in Buddhist study. Oh, and also - dare I say it - rather dull! And his German translator could put a truckload of insomniacs to sleep! I try and stay with the English translation via headphone as much as I can.
Halfway through this morning I had a realisation. And I am happy to say it was an insight of such magnitude that I simply must share it with all of you: I realised that, when speaking in Tibetan, the DL sounds remarkably like Yoda from Star Wars...try and listen to him teach after you've realised that! I am convinced George Lucas must have used him as inspiration.
The other thing he does is lightly sway from side to side constantly. It is as if he has tuned into the frequency of compassion and balance and is gently flowing in it like a flag in a breeze. It's lovely to watch. And when he smiles, and when he chuckles to himself, it is as if the world is suddenly a much better place for that brief moment. Despite some of the challenges of these days with him, I feel so deeply grateful to have been in the presence of the Dalai Lama's smile. It will stay with me forever.
I am going to write more when I get back from dinner.
Getting into the venue was easier today. When we got there the DL had already started, apparently he likes to start earlier than the time advertised...great! (Zen, Kevin, remember, chant, chant, chant, ommmmmmmmm.)
Insightful nugget: He encouraged us to look at the causes of the unhappiness (suffering) in our lives and to work at eliminating them. The important bit being that you need to trace back your 'unhappinesses' all the way to when they first arose, the very first trace of them, and start eliminating them that way. Sound advice I thought. No good dwelling on the unhappy stuff for too long; much wiser to acquaint yourself with the causes and take it from there.
Today I realised this about DL: he is charming and funny and insightful and accessible when speaking in English. As soon as he starts teaching in Tibetan (which is most of the time), he turns into a professor type person and the whole thing becomes rather impenetrable for the lay person not immersed in Buddhist study. Oh, and also - dare I say it - rather dull! And his German translator could put a truckload of insomniacs to sleep! I try and stay with the English translation via headphone as much as I can.
Halfway through this morning I had a realisation. And I am happy to say it was an insight of such magnitude that I simply must share it with all of you: I realised that, when speaking in Tibetan, the DL sounds remarkably like Yoda from Star Wars...try and listen to him teach after you've realised that! I am convinced George Lucas must have used him as inspiration.
The other thing he does is lightly sway from side to side constantly. It is as if he has tuned into the frequency of compassion and balance and is gently flowing in it like a flag in a breeze. It's lovely to watch. And when he smiles, and when he chuckles to himself, it is as if the world is suddenly a much better place for that brief moment. Despite some of the challenges of these days with him, I feel so deeply grateful to have been in the presence of the Dalai Lama's smile. It will stay with me forever.
I am going to write more when I get back from dinner.
Thursday 30 July 2009
Queue here for enlightenment...
Have you ever pissed next to a Buddhist monk in full robes? Well, I have today. It was one of the more surreal moments of my life, and let's face it, there've been quite a few. It wasn't His Holiness, I hasten to add!
I think I will concentrate today on conveying my impressions of the event itself rather than much of the teachings. The teachings are complex; even to someone like me who is familiar with some basic Buddhist thinking. But make no mistake. This is not Buddhism for beginners. This is not spirituality 'light'. This is HH The Dalai Lama, one of the foremost spiritual authorities alive in the world today; teaching. It can be hard to follow. I am trying my best. Mostly, it feels like such a privilige to be in the same space as someone like him. During the first few hours in the morning I had to occasionally fight back tears because I was overwhelmed simply by being there. But I was worried it might look as if I was having some sort of breakdown, so I didn't cry!
He is in person just as we know him from the media, a bit like a naughty child, and humble, but also familiar with Buddhist concepts in the most breathtaking fashion.
At one point he said about himself: I am a lazy person. If the Dalai Lama is lazy then there's no hope for the rest of us. He is 70 years old and travels the world all year round to teach. Oh, and there is the small matter of leading a government in exile.
Anyway, let's talk some more about the event. Who knew the Germans couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery, eh?? The thing is organised so badly there would have been a riot if it had been anyone other than the Dalai Lama. First, you had to queue to exchange your ticket for another ticket (?????). Then you queued somewhere else to get the teaching materials. Then queued to get the headphones for the translation...then there was a HUGE one to get inside the stadium. You were not allowed to take any water or food or tea or ANYTHING into the venue. I'm surprised they didn't strip us all naked! At lunchtime there were 3 hot food outlets trying to serve lunch to...wait for it...7000 people!!! Luckily we got there in time to be served some cold noodles...oh, and the toilets in the stadium were closed and you could only use portaloos...you get the picture? Which of course means you hardly drink for the rest of the day for fear of having to go again, which is just as well, as you are not really allowed to drink anyway. Oh, did I mention that the Germans don't understand the concept of standing in line very well?
So you are there amongst all this chaos and you try very hard to be all chilled out about it and all 'spiritual', blah blah blah, when really you just want to scream and punch someone (the organisers preferably. Though they are a charity and that would be wrong.)
So it's just as well that once inside you are faced with one of the most peaceful men in the world, who almost magically counteracts all this with a cheeky, serene smile.
Let me briefly cover a few teaching points which I have already managed to digest:
1. Increasing your self-confidence and inner strength leads to a reduction of fear (within yourself and in the world).
2. He made a point of advising that people should ideally stay within the religious traditions of their own background, as these cultures are formed over long periods of time and you are likely to be able to connect to the teachings more easily. I thought this was an interesting and challenging point about urging people in the West to try and re-connect to their own traditions.
3. If you do then still feel that Buddhism is for you he urges you to enter into the essence of it and to not stay at the superficial level. He gave an example of Western Zen Buddhists ending up living in a house that's all done up in a Japanese style. This is not necessary, he said, and chuckled.
That's it for now, I might blog again later tonight, but now I'm having a quick nap and then am heading out for some proper food!
I think I will concentrate today on conveying my impressions of the event itself rather than much of the teachings. The teachings are complex; even to someone like me who is familiar with some basic Buddhist thinking. But make no mistake. This is not Buddhism for beginners. This is not spirituality 'light'. This is HH The Dalai Lama, one of the foremost spiritual authorities alive in the world today; teaching. It can be hard to follow. I am trying my best. Mostly, it feels like such a privilige to be in the same space as someone like him. During the first few hours in the morning I had to occasionally fight back tears because I was overwhelmed simply by being there. But I was worried it might look as if I was having some sort of breakdown, so I didn't cry!
He is in person just as we know him from the media, a bit like a naughty child, and humble, but also familiar with Buddhist concepts in the most breathtaking fashion.
At one point he said about himself: I am a lazy person. If the Dalai Lama is lazy then there's no hope for the rest of us. He is 70 years old and travels the world all year round to teach. Oh, and there is the small matter of leading a government in exile.
Anyway, let's talk some more about the event. Who knew the Germans couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery, eh?? The thing is organised so badly there would have been a riot if it had been anyone other than the Dalai Lama. First, you had to queue to exchange your ticket for another ticket (?????). Then you queued somewhere else to get the teaching materials. Then queued to get the headphones for the translation...then there was a HUGE one to get inside the stadium. You were not allowed to take any water or food or tea or ANYTHING into the venue. I'm surprised they didn't strip us all naked! At lunchtime there were 3 hot food outlets trying to serve lunch to...wait for it...7000 people!!! Luckily we got there in time to be served some cold noodles...oh, and the toilets in the stadium were closed and you could only use portaloos...you get the picture? Which of course means you hardly drink for the rest of the day for fear of having to go again, which is just as well, as you are not really allowed to drink anyway. Oh, did I mention that the Germans don't understand the concept of standing in line very well?
So you are there amongst all this chaos and you try very hard to be all chilled out about it and all 'spiritual', blah blah blah, when really you just want to scream and punch someone (the organisers preferably. Though they are a charity and that would be wrong.)
So it's just as well that once inside you are faced with one of the most peaceful men in the world, who almost magically counteracts all this with a cheeky, serene smile.
Let me briefly cover a few teaching points which I have already managed to digest:
1. Increasing your self-confidence and inner strength leads to a reduction of fear (within yourself and in the world).
2. He made a point of advising that people should ideally stay within the religious traditions of their own background, as these cultures are formed over long periods of time and you are likely to be able to connect to the teachings more easily. I thought this was an interesting and challenging point about urging people in the West to try and re-connect to their own traditions.
3. If you do then still feel that Buddhism is for you he urges you to enter into the essence of it and to not stay at the superficial level. He gave an example of Western Zen Buddhists ending up living in a house that's all done up in a Japanese style. This is not necessary, he said, and chuckled.
That's it for now, I might blog again later tonight, but now I'm having a quick nap and then am heading out for some proper food!
Wednesday 29 July 2009
On my way!
I am at City Aiport in London, waiting to board my flight to Frankfurt, where I am going to hear the Dalai Lama teach. I am so excited, I've wanted to do this for so many years. Although not Buddhist myself, I am familiar with many of the teachings and like them. Can't wait...
Tuesday 9 June 2009
Poem
I came across this poem today:
- WILD GEESE – by Mary OLIVER
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
Monday 8 June 2009
Moments
As I walked home tonight, I came across a cat that was sat at the edge of a garden. She looked at me with total serenity and peacefulness...I could swear she was smiling at me! And you know what? In that brief moment of 'communion' with that animal I was lifted and a smile broadened across my face. It was a moment of pure bliss. And it occurs to me that these moments are to be found everywhere in our daily lives, if only we stopped and paid attention more often. These small moments of grace are strewn all along our paths, waiting for us to notice them and to let ourselves be uplifted.
Tuesday 21 April 2009
Is it the end...?
Evening Standard newspaper headline today:
TESCO: WE ARE GOING TO DOUBLE IN SIZE
Does anyone else think this may be the beginning of Armageddon??
I can handle all the terrorism, doomed economy etc headlines, but frankly, the above totally freaks me out. Surely if Tesco doubles in size that would mean that everything everywhere all the time would be TESCO...
God help us all.
TESCO: WE ARE GOING TO DOUBLE IN SIZE
Does anyone else think this may be the beginning of Armageddon??
I can handle all the terrorism, doomed economy etc headlines, but frankly, the above totally freaks me out. Surely if Tesco doubles in size that would mean that everything everywhere all the time would be TESCO...
God help us all.
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