This is a short commentary in regards to the recent visit from the Dalia Lama to Vancouver, Canada. They were two shows - Arran and I went to the first show with the King of Granola(Ben sells granola and this is his schtick - it works and the Granola is truly the finest in the land) and his Queen, Lita. I dared them to serve Arran and I breakfast in the van on the way to the show....and they did.
On Route
Schredd and Arran are truly treated like royalty on route to the big show.
We were unsure of who the real royalty was, us or them....
To be honest -the morning show was a little boring. The Dalai Lama spoke in his native Tibetan tongue so all of his profound statements were directed through a translator. Unfortunately the translator dude was pretty darn boring. Both Arran and I nodded off from boredom but apparently she claimed she wasn't sleeping she just found it easier with her eyes closed.
I think the most amusing part of the morning was the 3 protestors waiting for the crowd of 13,000 to exit the building. Their signs had sayings like, "Buddhists are Sinners." Now if there is ever a time that I could have a camera this was it. No cameras were allowed inside so it was locked up in the car far away. I needed the camera because on the back of one of the signs it said, "Drunken, fornicating baby killers."
Now I may not be a marketing wiz - but if you want to sell people on your product or service by calling them drunken, baby killing fornicators doesn't exactly set a tone of kindness. Is it just me or is this some new way of showing love?
Part 2 The Afternoon Talk
We exchanged our Granola Royalty for 3 Fun Researchers;
Stacey, Paget and our prize winner Leslie. Arran prepared an amazing picnic with "2" kinds of sandwiches, cake, whipped cream and strawberries all to be washed down with a little champagne.
Click the video box below to see the Dalia Lama Chant.
When the talk started there was a bonus guest there, Desmond Tutu. Without doing a play by play article on what we all heard I thought I would say this. The Dalai Lama is an incredibly wise man. Regardless of oyur religious beliefs - he has a message that can touch all hearts in every corner ofthe planet. Let me leave you with a few quotes from the day.
Desmond Tutu - in reference to the Dalai Lama
"I have met few others as holy as his holiness"
"Here is someone who has been in exile from his own country for 45 years and he is still a school boy bubbling with fun"
"He is a well of goodness"
The Dalai Lama
"Without education you gain knowledge through experiences."
"Your friends want happiness, your enemies want happiness and you want happiness."
"The concept of war is out of date."
"Religion is an individual business."
There was one simple message that he stated that I would like to share here now. His Holiness stated, "Happiness of a single person depends on the village and community around you. When we as individuals are self centred - without happy communities - there is no happiness." It is here his Holiness uncovered my purpose for writing all my books and building this website. The less cranky people there are on the planet, the easier it is for me have fun. Something to think about anyway.
If I could be half as patient, half as compassionate and half as happy as the Dalai Lama I will have achieved great success. Seeing the Dalai Lama was truly a heart warming enlightening experience. If you ever have the chance, regardless of your religious beleifs, go see him speak, I am sure you will be delighted.
After Thoughts
Here are the after thoughts of the fun researchers
Thanks everybody for entering our contest and all the
fun researchers that came out to this event.
