The Power Of Compassion

One filled with such pure compassion for the human race is powerful indeed; from over 100 metres away, the Dalai Lama's appearance on stage moved more than myself to tears...

On this gloomy April day, the rain fell in torrents and the wind gusted fiercely as the temperature hovered around the freezing point. Inside-out and broken umbrellas filled the garbage cans and littered the sidewalks surrounding the SkyDome. Due to some security reasons, the line-ups to get in stretched back from the gate doors, wound themselves among the abandoned umbrellas, and overflowed onto the streets. Yet soaked to the bone and shivering, the crowds stood patiently, offering each other warmth from huddles and smiles, knowing that the person inside that they had all come to see would offer them the same and would encourage no less.

Half an hour behind schedule, everyone was finally seated and the proceedings began. Twelve Tibetan monks chanted, their voices reverberating throughout the Dome; three Tibetan dancers performed, their singing, laughing, and spinning invoking good-luck of an ancient sort; and finally, teacher and activist, Justin Trudeau stood at the podium to introduce the much anticipated guest and speaker.

"The words I wanted to use to introduce His Holiness seemed to be used out these days. 'Love': I say 'I love my shampoo.' 'Freedom': it's the newest convertible on the market. 'Fulfillment': I can apparently find it in my yogurt."

At the conclusion of Trudeau's humble, gracious, and accessible preamble, the Dalai Lama walked on stage adorned in his monk robes and his hands together in prayer as he bowed to his captivated audience that was on its feet. Tears escaped me as His Holiness touched his cheek to Justin's and placed a white, silk sash around his neck as a thank-you for the well-spoken introduction. The Dalai Lama then made his way to one of the two white armchairs set up centre stage where he sunk into his seat--not like a nearly seventy-year old who is sore and stiff, but like six-year old with a love of bouncy cushions. As his thirty thousand onlookers applauded his presence, he proceeded to wave and wave--he even shielded his eyes with both hands from the bright lights above in order to see into the depths around the stage and to be sure he waved to everyone out there, welcoming us all and smiling all the while.

After the applause quieted down and he motioned for us to be seated, he spoke his first phrase to us in Tibetan, turning to his translator seated in the second armchair to relay his message in English. Unfortunately the translator's microphone didn't work. After a second and third attempt, it seemed like His Holiness's speech was doomed to be delayed for yet another period of time. But instead, the Dalai Lama turned to the audience and smiled,

"I guess since my voice works better, I'll use mine."

And for the rest of the proceedings, the Dalai Lama addressed us in his best English and conveyed his message of peace and compassion to the thousands of eager listeners. His humour made us laugh, his wisdom made us nod, and his own compassion for his fellow human beings inspired us from within.

"Destroying your enemy will not make you better--it is self-destructive."

"Compassion is biological. A baby receives compassion from those around it. Without compassion from its mother or father, it will not survive. We all know how to be compassionate."

"You do not talk 'peace' with your friends. Your friends are your friends and you get along. You only talk 'peace' with someone you do not have peace with--your enemy."

"My physicist friend tried to explain to me physics because I have a keen interest in quantum physics. He is a famous German physicist known all over the world. Really brilliant in physics. While he was teaching me I understood, but as soon as my lesson was over, I forgot and did not understand anymore. Sometimes it is not the teacher, but the student. I am a bad physics student."

"I am not here to offer you answers. I really have nothing to give you. I am just here with you."

After his speech there were questions for him submitted by the audience.

The first: Other than compassion, what other qualities are important to becoming a "good" person?
"Knowledge. Other than compassion, you need knowledge."

And the last, during the answer of which I cried: How can we help you to go home?
"One plane ticket--to Beijing and then transfer to Tibet." *he chuckles*

Despite being a refugee from the country he is the spiritual leader of and having had the Panchen Lama kidnapped from him six years ago and placed under house arrest in an unknown location, the Dalai Lama is still full of smiles, positivity, and, of course, compassion. At the beginning of his appearance the Dalai Lama claimed he had nothing to give his audience, but in truth what he had to offer was invaluable.