Why I Admire the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama made big news this week, accepting the Congressional Medal of Honor. Unfortunately, though I live in DC I didn't get to see him. But it got me thinking about how I admire him--both his teachings and his example. I expect I'll never get the chance to tell him, but I still wanted to write these thoughts down, to share what I know of this remarkable man.

First, I admire him for his commitment to peace. It can't be easy. Not only was he run out of his country by the Chinese, but he has to live with the knowledge that he can't go back yet. His fellow monks are tortured and murdered, as are his fellow citizens.

I do not know how he managed to avoid starting an armed resistance. After all, he's the head of the government as well as the spiritual leader. But instead, he shows compassion for the Chinese, since they must be building up bad karma and since they act out of ignorance. And his example shames the Chinese before the world. That's more powerful than a small resistance could ever be.

Second, I admire the way he reaches out to people of all faiths. He doesn't seek to convert them but rather sees his own religion as a way to enrich theirs. So if they're Christians, he invites them to meditate on things and to use Christian virtues/Jesus as their subject. If they're Muslim, then they can meditate on Muslim virtues (often similar) and Allah.

This is very much in keeping with the Buddhist way. They don't seek that all become Buddhists but that all become enlightened and free from suffering.

Third, I admire his example of compassion. He encourages us all to live out this virtue in our lives (and fortunately, it's shared by all major religions in one way or another). And compassion, for him, isn't simple. He's had to deal with major roadblocks to his compassion, like the invasion of his homeland, and little everyday things which make him slip up.

So we average people don't feel like fools for not being as compassionate. Instead, he lets us know that he's still on the same journey we're on, to grow more compassionate. And he encourages us to join him on this journey. In his books and talks, he shares ideas which will hopefully help us.