2008 April 14 « The Living Classroom

The sun came out, a warm wind blew and the Dalai Lama spoke. The Dalai Lama is in Seattle this week for the Seeds of Compassion conference and today was the large assembly, around 55,000 and tomorrow I attend a conference with about 500 other educators to help continue this path of compassion.

Even though some of the thoughts floating around are not new, it was important to hear them collectively as a community. I wanted to share some of the most important pieces from my day.

While waiting for the Dalai Lama, I thought so much about the power of compassion, action, and of inaction as well. So much of this weekend of Seeds of Compassion is about turning compassion into action. How we can talk and have great intention but really “what will you do with your compassion?” Compassion needs to be turned into action. In thinking about our work with kids, one of the speakers before the Dalai Lama stared to talk said, “Love grows brains. The brain grows with love, attention and compassion. Compassion is inside each and every one of us waiting to be discovered.”

When the Dalai Lama came out, he started with, “I am just one human being” and he had me.

The following are quotes from the Dalai Lama that I frantically wrote down while listening and reading his lips:

“Many of our problems are essentially our own problems, many problems are our own creation.”

“We need motivation and a mission.”

“Action: whenever we face a problem, we need non-violent dialog. DIALOG! Even though the beginning of this century has seen difficulty, much of this century is yet to come. I want it to be a century of dialog.”

“If you use force to solve one problem, you create more problems. The concept of war is out dated. We need to illiminate all nuclear weapons. But first we need inner disarmament. Can you buy it? No. A Dr’s injection? No. Compassion through education to cultivate it. Not promotional compassion. But through forgiveness and talking care of others. Look at where we are lacking in modern education.”

“Compassion is a biological fact. The feeling of taking care of others, of affection. Biologically we need others. In taking care from childhood, we nurture compassion. My original teacher of compassion was my mother, she was illiterate but warm hearted – the seed of my compassion. It is fortunate we come from our mother.”

“Want happiness not suffering. Human beings deserve our love and compassion. When you take care of others, it benefits you. Others are the ultimate source of our happiness. Take care of others well being. Care more about others well being and you will benefit – individual, family, community, nation, international.”

“Give your children affection. These children are the basis of our hope. To make a more compassionate generation. I do not have children” (he laughs and it sounds like mischief making and bells at the same time.)

Three questions given to the Dalai Lama:

1) How can we change the mindset of our leaders for peace instead of force?

“This is a very serious question (pause) and I DON’T KNOW. It is the entire societies look at ones self. And a better leader in the future.” “Leaders of different nations should gather together with their families for a holiday – no business. Then when things come up, they will know each other and have more compassion (how brilliant is this!)

2) How to remain hopeful in times of despair?

“When we see disaster in the media, we think the world is full of trouble. There is sadness, injustice (except for global warming and over population, which are very serious.) In 1996, I met with the Queen of England and I asked her “You’ve seen nearly the entire century, is the world becoming a better, the same or worse place?” and without hesitation she said, “a better place.” “I believe the world is becoming better. If individuals make the effort this century, it will be a better century. We must keep being optimistic in spite of difficulties.”

3) What is the best way to turn empathy into active compassion especially for children to develop and hone these skills?

“One factor: teachers. Compassion is caring through action. Teachers must show, help them with sense of concern and sense of responsibility. And should provide affection. Lessons about compassion and non-violence show the value of compassion and they themselves show compassion. Everyone is equal. Then introduce leadership. Women in leadership is important. An emphasis on happiness. Men need to take a greater role in showing compassion because women feel it. Females should take more important roles in leadership. The most important part is humanity.”

“We gathered, we come here as brothers and sisters to celebrate in joyfulness.”

We all had a commitment to compassion ceremony, where we wove a bracelet for our neighbor and tied it on their wrist.

My commitment:

I commit to be the example of compassion even when it seems too hard, even when I am angry, even when I am sad, even when I feel justified not to be.

I’ll try my best.

Both days were incredible. It was so joyful just to be in his presence.

Thank you Dalai Lama for your words and for your peaceful presence.

“Galapagos Grandpa” is now known as “Travelin’ Grandma” because she is now on her way to Iran. She stopped by to show us where she is going, talk a little bit about the culture and what she has to wear while she is there.

The day before she came, we wrote letters to the kids in Iran. We talked a little bit about where Iran is and someone in the class asked if the people in Iran like us because it is right next to Iraq where we are at war? I said that I didn’t know but that was something that maybe traveling grandma could report back to us. Then someone asked why we were at war and again I had to say that I really didn’t know but that oil is a big part of that area and a big part of why we are at war.

Then, when traveling grandma was talking to us, she said that our president wanted to go to war with Iran too and she asked (not knowing what we had already talked about) if we knew why. All the kids shouted “oil.”

The letters I was able to photograph: