The Century of Dialogue: The Dalai Lama Speaks

It was a sunny and hot Wednesday afternoon in mid-September. I went with two friends to see His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (HH), Tenzin Gyatso, give a talk called, "Compassion - the Source of Happiness," at the Gibson Theatre at Universal City Walk in Los Angeles. I thought the Gibson was an odd place for the Dalai Lama to speak considering Radiohead and Oasis were the last two acts I had seen there. A Tibetan Buddhist temple in Long Beach had sponsored HH's trip to Southern California to perform initiation rites at their temple, and somehow his one public appearance turned out to be City Walk. Go figure.

Heavy spiritual matters such as compassion and happiness required pre-enlightenment cocktails. We stopped at Café Tu Tu Tango, a great joint whose lethal sangria provides compassion, healing, and metaphysical unitary awareness - perfect for any hot day and/or weary nirvana seeking dharma bum. They kick. I recommend ordering by the pitcher. The food was good too.

After several rounds, we were ready to accept the words of His Holiness into our hearts and livers. First, however, we had to wait in one of two enormous lines that stretched through City Walk, and go through a security process that would make a miner blush. I now know what they mean by "one hand clapping." Somebody owes me dinner.

The stage was simple. Humble. Two chairs. Some flowers. HH was introduced and he made his entrance. He wore the traditional robes of a Buddhist monk, and sat with a translator whom he used only when he needed clarification for a word or phrase. He had a kind and calm face, but was animated, comical, and passionate when he spoke. He made jokes and laughed - and made everyone in the theatre laugh. HH assured us that he was no different than we were. He cautioned that we would be disappointed if we came expecting a man with some sort of magical powers.