I find the face of this man, whom I do not know, comforting. In fact, his countenance makes me feel happy. Not the giddy, silly, act-the-fool happy, but the deep down, spirit-lifting happy. I've felt drawn to Lhamo Döndrub (his birth name) from the first time I saw a photo of his face, in 1959, the year of his exile to India. I was twelve years old; he was twenty-four.
The Dalai Lama seems filled with peace and contentment. I am not, most of the time. No doubt, I need an attitude adjustment. I'm working on that, but not as wholeheartedly as I could be at the moment. Too many aggravations buzzing around my head, bothersome little worry-gnats I swat at, but don't eliminate. I need a bigger fly-swatter, perhaps.
I admire the way he continues to work toward an honorable settlement with the Chinese government which will recognize and respect the autonomy of Tibet. Good luck with that, Your Holiness.
Sometimes I gaze at his image as if expecting it to speak to me, to share his wisdom, to provide me with the answer to some of my questions: Why am I here? What am I supposed to do with my life? (That's a helluva question to be asking at my age. Shouldn't I already have an answer to that one?) How do I evolve out of this mess into the person I am meant to be, if there is a purpose to my life in the first place? I am not depressed when I ask these questions; just trying to determine what to do next. I figure if anyone knows how to find answers, it just might be he. That's a heavy load to put on a photograph of someone I don't know beans about, isn't it?
I usually enjoy these contemplative moods, wherein I attempt to solve the riddles of my little universe. They are exercises for the intellect, spurred on by my insatiable curiosity, hampered by an inadequate education. Lately, though, there have been too many gnats distracting me and I'm having trouble paying attention. Why looking upon the face of Tenzin Gyatso brings stillness and quiet to my restless, questioning soul, I have no answer.
All I know is that it does.
Om.
17 comments:
... to complete the final quote: Om mane padme hum, Hail to the jewel in the lotus flower. I've always admired the pragmatism of Tibetan Bhuddists. Write this on a piece of paper, stick it inside a prayer wheel, allow the wind to turn the prayer wheel. Each turn of the wheel is the equivalent of saying this (or any other prayer) once. So on a windy day... Looks like a system one might sell to Catholics faced with uttering the rosary a million times as an act of contrition.
One thing you've missed out about the Dalai Lama is his sense of fun. He's a good and wide-ranging interviewee and he often gets his points across with well-chosen jokes. You can see that too in his face.
You've triggered a memory: Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door." Except it could quite easily have been a fly-swat.
If you haven’t already read any of his books, it sounds to me as if you would enjoy musing over any of his many publications such as finding happiness - a guide to dealing with all of our everyday human problems and achieving happiness- discussing such issues like the sources of happiness; desire and greed; resolving conflict; facing suffering; overcoming anxiety; anger and hatred; and finding balance in our lives. He does seem to get enjoyment out of life and it’s not surprising you a find a kind of warmth emanating from his facial expression. The metaphysical questions about life have interested philosophers since time in memorial and I always find the study and reading of philosophy a constant interest. But a good philosopher can only ask the important questions – one cannot expect definitive answers.
Best wishes
BB: I've read articles about His Holiness, and have read a couple of interviews. He has a delightful sense of humor, I agree.
It is his stillness that I find most alluring; his ability to stay centered and focused when all about him there is chaos.
:)
Lindsay:
I will seek out his writings.
I don't expect anyone to answer my questions directly, though it did read that way above. As I said to BB, I am looking for the stillness, the center of calm, the eye of the storm where everything is quiet (if only for a few minutes) so that I may think for myself.
We all have our dark moments, even the Dalai Lama, when we lose our way in the storms of life and look for something to anchor us, to help us hold on until the storm has passed.
I have no idea why this face, which I first encountered while in the midst of another storm, is so reassuring to me, but I'm grateful that it is so.
:)
I get the same feeling. Sometimes just looking at his face is reassuring. There is a video of one of his disciples (if that is the right word) that somehow came to me when I was desperately unhappy and filled with worry and angst. It is so calm and serene. It takes worry away for me. Tell me what you think:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5yPh8trI9k
Cheers!
I once heard the late Kurt Vonnegut speak at the University of Texas. He said people are always asking him what we are put here for. His answer: We are put here to fart around!
e ~
A simple, straight-forward message: be happy. Should be easy to follow.
:)
Catalyst:
Well, there's my answer - I'm pretty good at that.
:)
Perhaps, like me, you look at his picture and know you're looking at the face of a Boddisattva? He makes us feel safe because we believe his promise that he will keep on returning until all of us are free.
If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him.
Susan:
Well, I don't know about that, since I don't know what a Boddisattva is, but I do enjoy looking at the Dalai Lama's image.
This I believe, and think: any change in my world has to start with me, from inside my head and my heart. I may seek guidance or comfort on my journey from a variety of sources, but the one with the answers to all my dilemmas is me.
:)
Zhoen:
Holy cow! Why?
:)
Nice. I've read some of his work along with other spritual leaders such as Castaneda's Don Juan, and I've enjoyed the spiritual insights. As a sort of carnivorous warrior Zen Buddhist, I think I'm making my own path more than following another's.
Hello, ER:
I am not a follower, never have been.
However, I do consult roadmaps, of all kinds. It's good to have alternate routes for my journey, to have the wisdom gained from experience of those who have journeyed before me.
In the end, I am still steering my own way, whether I use curiosity, intuition, or one of those maps to make my decisions.
Last winter, I bought a small pocket book that the Dalai Lama wrote. It is a guide to spiritual/meditative walking. A simple way to relate to walking as a meditative tool. I couldn't get used to it. But I might try again, and again. I'd like to be like he says we could be. I hope he has inner peace. It seems like that's what he strives for and what he tries to teach us. He's one of the people I'd like to sit down and ask a few questions of, that's for sure.
Hello, Joe/Spadoman:
I would like to listen to him, too.
Going to the bookstore this afternoon to see what I can find of his.
:)
Gorgeous musings even though you forgot to jot down those all important answers. Is that going to be part II of this post?
You know what, his face brings me peace too. Now for the self work...
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