By Peter Parisi
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, the spiritual leader of Tibet, will be coming to Danbury to speak at WCSU. Born in 1935 in Takster, a small village in northeastern Tibet, to a peasant family, at age 2 he was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th
Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. At age 23, he was awarded the Geshe Lharampa degree, the highest-level degree equivalent to a doctorate of Buddhist philosophy. His ideas are profound.
“The Dalai Lama has very organic views of the universe. Everything affects
everything else,” said Jonathon Chew, executive director of the Housatonic Valley
Council of Elected Officials. “The Dalai Lama’s view is that there is
one mind. There is individuality but you’re reflecting with the one mind.”
The Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his constant opposition to the use of violence in the struggle for Tibet. To this day, he has advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people.
“The Nobel Peace Prize was just the cream on the pudding, so to speak,” said Father Angelo Arrando of St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church in Danbury. “His consistent embracing of non-violence marks the man’s integrity and puts him in the company of another great man, Mahatma Gandhi.”
The Dalai Lama talks of compassion, forgiveness, equality and peace.
“Can you improve your life by listening to what this guy has to say? I think so,” said Chew.
His Holiness has spoken strongly for better understanding and respect among the different faiths of the world. He will speak on Oct. 18 and 19, and the public is invited to a free showing (video simulcast) in the Ives Concert Hall, 180 White St. To help promote this opportunity, WCSU students have created a Twitter page.
“He truly embraces and understands the very best of Buddhism,” Father Arrando said. “And is an asset for all of humanity.”
