Sponsored by:
Office of the Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, Department of History, Center for Asian Studies, Undergraduate Program in Global Cultures and The Buddhist Association at UCI

Contacts:
Bibi Do
Buddhist Association

www.Live-Kind.com

Monks from Thubten Dhargye Ling center in Long Beach try to catch a glimpse of the Dalai Lama when he arrives at UC Santa Barbara.

‘This crisis is good,’ Tibetan leader says, because it reminds people that money has limitations. He also speaks about arcane aspects of Buddhist history and philosophy.

Reporting from Santa Barbara — The Dalai Lama, in a ringing denunciation, declared Friday that the ailing global economy is the result of “too much greed, and lies and hypocrisy.”

“These are some of the factors behind the global crisis,” he said at a news conference at UC Santa Barbara. “Those people who feel that money is the most important thing in life, when economic crisis hits, learn that it is only one way to be happy. There is also family, friends and peace of mind.”

“Therefore, this crisis is good,” he added with a laugh, “because it reminds people who only want to see money grow and grow that there are limitations.”

The Dalai Lama’s remarks followed the first of two sold-out public lectures in the university events center Friday on “the nature of mind.” That discourse, delivered from an ornate wooden couch with ocher robes draped over his bony shoulders and with his legs folded beneath him, drew an audience of 4,800 people.

Tickets, which had sold out within two hours, ranged in price from $20 to $40. Scalpers fetched up to $600 per ticket, university officials said.

In his characteristic self-effacing manner, the 74-year-old leader of Tibet’s government-in-exile began by apologizing for a serious cold that had him frequently pausing to clear his throat or blow his nose. Midway through the talk, he began speaking for up to 15 minutes at a stretch in Tibetan about arcane aspects of Buddhist history and philosophy, leaving his assistant to translate for fans. Advanced students of Buddhist philosophy leaned forward in their seats, hanging on every word. Many others, however, began fidgeting or heading off to the restrooms. Some people snoozed.

Joyce Tapper, 74, of Van Nuys took it all in stride.

“It’s amazing that he pushes ahead despite little things like a cold and big things like the condition of his homeland,” she said. “Just being in the room with him lifted me to a higher place, even if I didn’t get it.”

Then there was Melanie Strickland, 48, a substitute teacher from the Joshua Tree area. Moments after the Dalai Lama left the stage, she was reciting large portions of the teachings — nearly verbatim — over her cellphone to a friend.

“The key is to rise above thoughts of pain and anger,” she told her friend, “and focus on the here and now between those thoughts. See?”

It was the Dalai Lama’s fourth visit to this prosperous seaside community, which prepared for his appearance with four weeks of social gatherings, public talks by local scholars and Buddhist-oriented art exhibits, including an elaborate sand mandala under construction by 10 monks. On Friday night, the California-based Global Institute for Tibetan Medicine hosted a reception in honor of Gyalo Thondup, older brother of the Dalai Lama.

UC Santa Barbara became a leading center of Buddhist and Tibetan studies after the Dalai Lama’s first visit there in 1984. He was invited to return this week by Jose Cabezon, the first occupant of the university’s XIV Dalai Lama chair in Tibetan studies.

The invitation was made “quite a while ago because the Dalai Lama books his appearances about seven years in advance,” Cabezon said. “Finally, our number came up and he flew here direct from his headquarters in India.”

“We are institution unusual in its support and admiration for the Dalai Lama,” said Eva Haller, a longtime trustee of the UC Santa Barbara Foundation. “He knows that, and feels at home here.”

louis.sahagun@latimes.com
By Louis Sahagun
April 25, 2009

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Quick update – We are now at Washington and Jefferson College where the incredible Ashley and the amazing Billie (heads of student activities) are taking great care of us. We have started a mandala at the Olin Art Center and will be doing a wide range of activities on campus including the film Dalai Lama Renaissance, lectures, a demonstration of monastic debate, and Vajravidaran healing ritual.

Professor Myers and his wife were kind enough to open up their house to three of the monks and the other three were welcomed at the home of Kyle Simpson. We are always so fortunate to meet such kind people that will open their homes and hearts to us.

Our time here at the college has a very busy one. We are running around from event to event, but always making time to relax in their amazing cafeteria. So much good food!  The staff at this college has been beyond wonderful. Everyone from the cooks, the security, the guy racking up the leaves, to the professors (not to mention the student activities office) have all been so kind. I think this is a very special place to work and I know the students benefit from it.

Here is an article in the local newspaper which also has a video explaining the mandala – Temporary Art.

Here is another article – Art as a lesson of impermanance.

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Peace and blessings to all.

In addition to the teachings, we paid a visit to the adolescent correctional facility. We visited with the kids, did a cultural presentation, gave some advice and had lunch with them. The kids were really engaged and we all had a great time. We also had the pleasure of blessing three wonderful businesses – the Academy of Yoga (Monica and John also hosted our teachings at their center), Twice Upon a Time Bookshop, and Olsson Physical Therapy.

Here are some links to news articles about our visit:

Grand Junction Free Press

Grand Junction Sentinel

Here is a short news story on our visit the an adolescent correctional facility:

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One special treat we had was a visit to the world famous vapor caves. Our organizer Patsy opened the caves for us an hour before the normal operating hours and we got to spend a much needed healing hour resting and sweating in those amazing caves. We also got to do a house at Tera’s special home with a family of Lakota Native Americans. They were very special people and even played their family drum for us. Another interesting time was blessing the Good Health Store. We were just in the middle of one of their isles and about 30 customers joined us on the floor as we did the blessing – right there on isle 5 =). It was great – others just shopped as did our thing. We also had the good fortune to bless the La Provence Spa under the Hotel Colorado. They are a great family and it was a pleasure to spend time with them. Unfortunately I don’t have many pictures to post just yet. David was taking all the pictures and will send them to me. I post them as soon I get them.

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This was our second visit to Yachats on this tour and we were thrilled to be back again so soon. Our precious organizers Ri and Renee put together a great schedule of events starting with a screening of the film Dalai Lama Renaissance. They received permission for us to show it from the producer/director Khashyar Darvich in order to help our monastery. Khashyar has been kind enough to let us continue to show it as we travel throughout the tour. Our main event was creating a sand mandala of the Buddha of Compassion at the Green Salmon. By the way, some of the best coffee in the world! He roasts it himself and people were driving from 40 miles away to get some. We also did a Medicine Buddha empowerment, Vajravidaran healing, a Chay Drol ritual, and a question and answer night. So we were kept pretty busy. In addition to all the kindness of Ri and Renee (by the way, they are also hosting this blog for us), Precious Claire came down to help us out and we meet a new organizer, Colette, who was brave enough to take up the task of bringing us to Moab. More on that in the Moab post later.

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