December 10

Through My Eyes

Saturday December 10

(We continue to listen to the Dalai Lama as he tells of his visit to newly freed Czechoslavakia!)

" In cruel counterpoint to the many wonderful happenings elsewhere in the world, martial law prevailed in Lhasa throughout 1989. Never was I more conscious of this sad fact than when, on a visit to the US that autumn, I learned that I had won the Nobel Prize for Peace. Although the news did not matter much to me personally, I realised that it would mean a great deal to the people of Tibet, for it was they who were the real 'winners' of the prize. My own satisfaction derived from what I saw as international recognition of the value of compassion, forgiveness and love. Moreover, I was pleased that at that moment the people of many countries were discovering for themselves that peaceful change was not impossible. In the past, the idea of non-violent revolution had seemed perhaps idealistic, and I drew great comfort from this overwhelming proof to the contrary.

Chairman Mao once said that political power comes from the barrel of a gun. He was only partly right: power that comes from a barrel of a gun can be effective only for a short time. In the end, people's love for truth, justice, freedom and democracy will triumph. No matter what governments do, the human spirit will always prevail.

I had direct experience of that truth right at the end of 1989, when I visited Berlin on the very day that Egon Kranz was toppled. Thanks to the cooperation of the East German authorities, I was able to go up to the wall itself. As I stood there, in full view of a still-manned security post, an old lady silently handed me a red candle. With some emotion, I lit it and held it up. For a moment the tiny dancing flame threatened to go out, but it held and, while a crowd pressed round me, touching my hands, I prayed that the light of compassion and awareness would fill the world and dispel the darkness of fear and oppression. It was a moment I shall always remember.

Something similar happened when I went to Czechoslovakia a few weeks later as the guest of President Havel, who, fresh for a jail sentence for his political activities, was now President of his country. On arrival, I was greeted by an emotional crowd. Many people had tears in their eyes as they waved and gave the victory sign. And I saw at once that, despite the years of totalitarianism, these men and women were full of life and exultant in their newly-won freedom.

I felt greatly honoured to be invited to Czechoslavakia, not only by a head of state- for the first time- but also by a man who has consistently shown such devotion to truth. I found the new President to be very gentle and full of honesty, humility- and humour. At dinner that evening, as he sat drinking a glass of beer and holding a cigarette, he told me he identified strongly with the Sixth Dalai Lama, who had a reputation for worldliness. This prompted me to look forward to a second revolution in Czechloslovakia: that of less smoking at mealtimes! But what really impressed me about President Havel was his lack of pretence. He seemed quite unaffected by his new position, and his looks and talk suggested great sensitivity.

Another person I met in early 1990, who made a vivid impression on me, was Baba Amte, a man who founded a village in southern India. On what was previously barren earth he has brought into existence a thriving community surrounded by trees, a rose garden and a vegetable garden, and provided with a small hospital, an old people's home, schools and workshops. This alone is a great achievement, but what makes the place remarkable is that it was built entirely by handicapped people.

As I walked round it, I saw nothing to suggest any concessions to disability. At one point I went into a shed where a worker was repairing a bicycle wheel. In what remained of his leprous hands, he held a chisel and hammer, which he was wielding with such vigour that I couldn't help feeling he was showing off. But his exuberant self-confidence made it clear to me that, given enthusiasm and proper organisation, even those people with crucial disadvantages can gain dignity and come to be recognised as productive members of society.

Baba Amte is an extraordinary person. After a long, vigorous life, during which he has suffered great physical hardship, he is himself virtually a cripple and, because of damage to his spine, he can only stand straight or lie down. Yet he remains so full of energy that I could not do his work, even though I am much fitter. As I sat on his bed holding his hand, and he lay talking to me, I could not help feeling that here was someone who was truly compassionate. I told him that whereas my compassion is just so much talk, his shone through in everything he did. In turn, Baba Amte told me the story of how he had made the decision to dedicate his life to helping others. One day, he had seen a leper with worms in the place where his eyes had been. That was all it took.

Such examples of humanity as this give me the conviction that one day there will be an end to my people's suffering at the hands of the People's Republic of China, for there are more than a billion Chinese, and whilst maybe several thousand are participating in acts of cruelty at any one moment, I believe there must be several million performing acts of kindness."

( The great innate power of human beings to change their circumstances. I promise to add more tomorrow...)

*( please click here to read of the day with me )

* This is from the book Freedom in Exile The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth

Dalai Lama of Tibet.

( Please see my spinning for you!)

( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! Kehrahng kusu debo yinpeh? I began the day in our studio spinning for you then headed up gang rinpoche ngah tso gi to check the trees and native plants. After that I rested by your Medlar tree as usual then wandered about the field taking pictures. Then I returned to our studio to work with the equipment for awhile and watched some Tibetan movies. After that I worked on the sculpture of Tara Drolma and our a land of Tibet. Two as one we've fixed a few more mistakes.I'm going to put the pages up on our infosite; I'll put this up a bit early so we can rest.

And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow

my one gentle beautiful patient swift dream bright

long dark mane in sunlight

so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo!)


	Through My Eyes Saturday December 10 (We continue to listen to the Dalai Lama as he tells of his visit to newly freed Czechoslavakia!) " In cruel counterpoint to the many wonderful happenings elsewhere in the world, martial law prevailed in Lhasa throughout 1989. Never was I more conscious of this sad fact than when, on a visit to the US that autumn, I learned that I had won the Nobel Prize for Peace. Although the news did not matter much to me personally, I realised that it would mean a great deal to the people of Tibet, for it was they who were the real 'winners' of the prize. My own satisfaction derived from what I saw as international recognition of the value of compassion, forgiveness and love. Moreover, I was pleased that at that moment the people of many countries were discovering for themselves that peaceful change was not impossible. In the past, the idea of non-violent revolution had seemed perhaps idealistic, and I drew great comfort from this overwhelming proof to the contrary. Chairman Mao once said that political power comes from the barrel of a gun. He was only partly right: power that comes from a barrel of a gun can be effective only for a short time. In the end, people's love for truth, justice, freedom and democracy will triumph. No matter what governments do, the human spirit will always prevail. I had direct experience of that truth right at the end of 1989, when I visited Berlin on the very day that Egon Kranz was toppled. Thanks to the cooperation of the East German authorities, I was able to go up to the wall itself. As I stood there, in full view of a still-manned security post, an old lady silently handed me a red candle. With some emotion, I lit it and held it up. For a moment the tiny dancing flame threatened to go out, but it held and, while a crowd pressed round me, touching my hands, I prayed that the light of compassion and awareness would fill the world and dispel the darkness of fear and oppression. It was a moment I shall always remember. Something similar happened when I went to Czechoslovakia a few weeks later as the guest of President Havel, who, fresh for a jail sentence for his political activities, was now President of his country. On arrival, I was greeted by an emotional crowd. Many people had tears in their eyes as they waved and gave the victory sign. And I saw at once that, despite the years of totalitarianism, these men and women were full of life and exultant in their newly-won freedom. I felt greatly honoured to be invited to Czechoslavakia, not only by a head of state- for the first time- but also by a man who has consistently shown such devotion to truth. I found the new President to be very gentle and full of honesty, humility- and humour. At dinner that evening, as he sat drinking a glass of beer and holding a cigarette, he told me he identified strongly with the Sixth Dalai Lama, who had a reputation for worldliness. This prompted me to look forward to a second revolution in Czechloslovakia: that of less smoking at mealtimes! But what really impressed me about President Havel was his lack of pretence. He seemed quite unaffected by his new position, and his looks and talk suggested great sensitivity. Another person I met in early 1990, who made a vivid impression on me, was Baba Amte, a man who founded a village in southern India. On what was previously barren earth he has brought into existence a thriving community surrounded by trees, a rose garden and a vegetable garden, and provided with a small hospital, an old people's home, schools and workshops. This alone is a great achievement, but what makes the place remarkable is that it was built entirely by handicapped people. As I walked round it, I saw nothing to suggest any concessions to disability. At one point I went into a shed where a worker was repairing a bicycle wheel. In what remained of his leprous hands, he held a chisel and hammer, which he was wielding with such vigour that I couldn't help feeling he was showing off. But his exuberant self-confidence made it clear to me that, given enthusiasm and proper organisation, even those people with crucial disadvantages can gain dignity and come to be recognised as productive members of society. Baba Amte is an extraordinary person. After a long, vigorous life, during which he has suffered great physical hardship, he is himself virtually a cripple and, because of damage to his spine, he can only stand straight or lie down. Yet he remains so full of energy that I could not do his work, even though I am much fitter. As I sat on his bed holding his hand, and he lay talking to me, I could not help feeling that here was someone who was truly compassionate. I told him that whereas my compassion is just so much talk, his shone through in everything he did. In turn, Baba Amte told me the story of how he had made the decision to dedicate his life to helping others. One day, he had seen a leper with worms in the place where his eyes had been. That was all it took. Such examples of humanity as this give me the conviction that one day there will be an end to my people's suffering at the hands of the People's Republic of China, for there are more than a billion Chinese, and whilst maybe several thousand are participating in acts of cruelty at any one moment, I believe there must be several million performing acts of kindness." ( The great innate power of human beings to change their circumstances. I promise to add more tomorrow...) ( please click here to read of the day with me ) This is from the book Freedom in Exile The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet. ( Please see my spinning for you!) ( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! Kehrahng kusu debo yinpeh? I began the day in our studio spinning for you then headed up gang rinpoche ngah tso gi to check the trees and native plants. After that I rested by your Medlar tree as usual then wandered about the field taking pictures. Then I returned to our studio to work with the equipment for awhile and watched some Tibetan movies. After that I worked on the sculpture of Tara Drolma and our a land of Tibet. Two as one we've fixed a few more mistakes.I'm going to put the pages up on our infosite; I'll put this up a bit early so we can rest. And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow my one gentle beautiful patient swift dream bright long dark mane in sunlight so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo!)