I met a Tibetan monk... (By C.)

I met a Tibetan monk... (By C.)

Well, actually I was just one of several thousand yesterday morning (May 18th, 2010) who attended the panel discussion entitled “The Power of Education” at the University of Northern Iowa that featured the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. The event was held at the McLeod Center, and had the atmosphere of a rock concert, with long lines at the entrance, metal detectors and armed security, including the Secret Service. But instead of the obligatory rock music blaring in the background, there were calming notes from wind chimes, flutes & strings. The vendors outside were hawking prayer flags & meditation mixes. The large video screen scrolled images of praying monks, snow-clad peaks, and the ancient cities perched atop the roof of the world.

When Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama finally appeared on stage, what struck me the most was his ordinary appearance and demeanor. Yes, here was the spiritual leader and head of state of Tibet. Yes, here was a man surrounded by world-wide celebrity, carrying a title rooted in geo-political strife & intrigue. Even before he arrived, the local Chinese student association lodged protests regarding the planned visit. The Chinese diplomatic corps objected to the conferring of an honorary degree. There he was dressed in traditional red robe & sandals, he offered the crowd the traditional anjali greeting, and apologized that he was late. I’ve seen presidents & presidential candidates up close in the past, and maybe I was imagining it and buying into the image of the title, but here was a man whose presence emanated serenity & calmness.

My teenage daughter thought he looked like a cross between her grandfather & Yoda. He spoke a slightly accented English, occasionally asking his interpreter for the right word to express his exact meaning. The morning’s discussion ebbed and flowed, the crowd would burst into applause many times during the almost 2 hour discourse on the role of education, non-violence, and moral ethics. For the duration, I was transported out of my ordinary day & concerns, hearing & seeing people who have achieved and are involved in extraordinary endeavors.

So as I left the venue heading back to the real world the random question that popped into my head was: what would anyone do if you were told at the age of 2 that you were the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama? Or in pop culture terms, if Morpheus told you “You are the One”? As a teenager, I barely looked beyond what was ahead the next day, the next hour & the next minute. Sure I had dreamed of taking a certain career path in a certain field; but in my early teens, I wasn’t sure I would make that turn in the road that led to where I am now. Some events were certainly beyond my control. Actions by others influenced the course of events. But where does one’s own actions, wills & desires actually make the difference and defines anyone’s path in life? Or is it an illusion that we made or can make a choice? How much is the result of random events and and unintended consequences?

The next random thought dwelt on the good fortune that I had support from my family that allowed me to take the small steps that led to where I am today. I share this life with a wonderful wife, and two daughters at the cusp of adulthood. I now have an extended family that spans several continents. Friends both real & virtual that allowed me to expand my view of the world. My work provides the intellectual challenges, societal rewards & responsibilities in the health-care field. Physical challenges are usually just the self-inflicted ones associated with powering 2 wheels with a nearly 50-year old motor.

I can only admire people whose chosen life & work influences the greater number of people beyond their local community & family. Or those who sacrifice their own well-being for the greater benefit of people in other parts of the world. My efforts pale in comparison. So my apologies to "hte laujne" for my indulgence in these random musings. It was a welcome break from the ordinary events that characterize my daily life.