Arizona Daily Wildcat Online
sections
Front Page
News
Opinions
Sports
Go Wild
Live Culture
Police Beat
Datebook
Comics
Crossword
Special Sections
Photo Spreads
Classifieds
The Wildcat
Letter to the Editor
Wildcat Staff
Search
Archives
Job Openings
Advertising Info
Student Media
Arizona Student Media Info
UATV -
Student TV
 
KAMP -
Student Radio
The Desert Yearbook
Daily Wildcat Staff Alumni

Dalai Lama delivers message of compassion to 8,000 at TCC


Photo
Chris Codutoe/Arizona Daily Wildcat
The 14th Dalai Lama speaks to a sold-out crowd of more than 8,000 yesterday at the Tucson Convention Center. Tenzin Gyatso wrapped up a four day stop in Tucson as part of his two-week tour of the country.
By J. Ferguson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Print this

The 70-year-old Dalai Lama slipped off his red tennis shoes and got comfortable in the lotus position in front of thousands who came to hear him discuss the virtues of compassion.

An estimated 8,300 people flocked to the Tucson Convention Center yesterday to hear the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, give his afternoon speech.

With a playful smile, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate slapped his knees, saying most people have a different perspective on comfort and that many would find the lotus position uncomfortable. He sat in the position for the next 90 minutes.

The spiritual and political leader of millions of Tibetan Buddhists preached to the audience about the need to embrace an "inner disarmament" allowing compassion into their heart and letting go of anger.

In preaching the need to embrace compassion, he told a story about one of his drivers who had a short temper.

After bumping his head while working underneath a car, the driver then rammed his head repeatedly against the car to vent his frustration.

"The car may not hurt, but his head suffers more," the Dalai Lama said.

He said this was evidence that what makes us angry often has more than one cause.

"Every event is due to endless causations, not just one cause," the Dalai Lama said. "Anger needs to have one target. ... Anger blinds us so that we don't see reality correctly."

The true path to inner peace, he said, was with embracing a broader perspective and compassion, which in turn leads to a calmer self.

"It is easier to face things," he said. "That kind of (personal) atmosphere calms our minds and as a result our body functions more smooth."

The Dalai Lama touched on politics briefly - saying recent nuclear disarmament talks in North Korea were a positive step toward eventual world disarmament.

"This world should be free from nuclear weapons," the Dalai Lama said. "Although at this moment it may seem like a dream, the whole globe should be demilitarized. It is a necessity."

Calling the last century a time of war and senseless death, he urged the 1,000 students in the audience to create a new paradigm in the 21st century.

"The new generation should create a century of peace and dialogue," he said.

Photo
Chris Coduto/Arizona Daily Wildcat
The Dalai Lama was quite animated during his 90-minute speech yesterday at the Tucson Convention Center. More than 8,000 listened to him speak.

Shallon McClure, a studio arts freshman, said she was surprised such a large crowd came out to see the Dalai Lama.

She said she saw the Dalai Lama previously in San Francisco and was pleased to be able to see him again.

"I was fortunate to be (seated) so close," McClure said.

Bethany Lasky, an undeclared sophomore, said seeing the Dalai Lama was unlike anything she had done before.

"It was a good talk," she said. "It was cool."

Her friend, Meghan Harper, said they were fortunate to get tickets several weeks ago, being told there were a handful of free tickets left that were set aside for students.

"I was so excited," Harper said.

Harper, a history junior, said attending the 90-minute talk was memorable.

"It was amazing to be there, to see him live," Harper said.



Write a Letter to the Editor
articles
Dalai Lama delivers message of compassion to 8,000 at TCC
divider
Survey: Pres. must fix class availability
divider
Group to help famine victims in Niger
divider
Freethinker club seeks funds
divider
Luncheon to benefit Gulf Coast
divider
Quick Hits
divider
Offbeat News
divider
Fast Facts
divider
Police Beat
divider
Datebook
divider
Restaurant and Bar Guide
Housing Guide
Search for:
advanced search Archives

NEWS | SPORTS | OPINIONS | GO WILD
CLASSIFIEDS | ARCHIVES | CONTACT US | SEARCH



Webmaster - webmaster@wildcat.arizona.edu
© Copyright 2005 - The Arizona Daily Wildcat - Arizona Student Media