Dialogues with the Dalai Lama

Ó 2003 Corinne McLaughlin and Gordon Davidson

One of the most transforming experiences of our lives was being invited to spend five days in dialogue with the Dalai Lama and his government-in-exile in Dharmsala, India, as part of The Synthesis Dialogues (organized by The Association for Global New Thought). To be in the presence of His Holiness is to be held in a transformative energy field, which catalyzed powerful life changes in everyone who participated.  We were invited to represent the field of politics in the Dialogues, with other well known new thought leaders representing the fields of  science, business, education, health, media, the environment.  Each leader discussed with His Holiness the emerging new paradigm in his/her field, the obstacles to its manifestation, and how to overcome those obstacles.

Our Presentation to The Dalai Lama on Politics

“The leading edge in politics expresses in three areas: The first is re-engaging citizens in their own democracy and eliminating the corrupting influence of money in policy-making.  The second is shifting from win/lose adversarial politics to multi-stakeholder dialogues—bringing all views and all parties to the table to find common ground and a higher synthesis through listening deeply to other points of view.  And thirdly (an area that is most important to us) is opening public discourse to explore the deeper spiritual issues underlying political problems, to look at the collective lessons that we’re learning from political events, and base decisions about public policies on universal, spiritual values, ethics--and what we have in common.  For in reality, we actually have more in common than we have differences.

“It’s interesting that politics was one of the last subjects we’re addressing in this Dialogue because in many ways politics is the one subject that most people really don’t want to talk about, because they’re disgusted with the process.  Leaders today are causing untold suffering for billions of people on this planet—we all know that--and techniques for using the media for manipulation, for deceit, for confusing the people rather than telling them the truth are rife in politics.  65% of American people no longer vote because they are so disgusted with the process.  This is a victory for untruth. It is extremely important that we develop a new kind of politics. 

“The solutions that we see are in three areas:  Spirituality needs to be recognized as something that transcends religion, as you have so clearly stated.  In addition, we need new processes that help people work through their differences by learning how to see the grain of truth in their opponent’s point of view, and learning detachment from their own point of view.  And finally, we need to learn how to recognize the true leaders who have spiritual awareness and commitment to the good of all the people--who deeply care about what happens to the people they’re leading.  This ability to recognize selfless leaders will come when we develop those qualities within ourselves.  As the public develops that consciousness, we will only select these types of leaders. We are moving slowly in that direction.”

Compassion as the Key Solution

In our dialogues, our group focused on five key issues: the widening gap between rich and poor, protection of the earth, education of our children, helping Tibet and other oppressed people, and bringing spirituality and compassion to all disciplines of life.  His Holiness remarked that all of the five issues fall under the last one.  If we have true compassion in our heart, then we will care for poor and oppressed people, we will educate our children wisely, and we will care for the earth.

The Dalai Lama emphasized to us the importance of seeing the big picture and looking with detachment on our problems. He himself demonstrated the detachment of a great laughing Buddhist master who is wise enough not to take anything too seriously--except his efforts to help others. When he first came to meet our group, the Tibetans put on an elaborate welcoming ceremony with singers, dancers, and a tea and rice ceremony. After all the ceremony was finally complete, he put down his tea cup, and looked around carefully at everyone in the audience with a bemused expression. Then he burst into a long period of deep, heartfelt laughter that soon spread to everyone in the room. He seemed to be saying “Isn’t this all laughable –all this ceremony and formality? Don’t take it all too seriously.”

As the reincarnated leader of Tibetan Buddhism, The Dalai Lama is revered around the world for his compassion and forgiveness, and is the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.  He is remarkably forgiving of the Chinese, who have killed thousands of his people and destroyed the Tibetan culture.  “Despite all that has happened to myself and my people,” he says,  “I believe that human beings are basically good. It is only when we become confused or fearful or angry, that we do terrible things,” he said. “So we must watch ourselves very carefully, and not allow negative states to influence us.”

We All Want to Be Happy

“All human beings want the same thing -- we want to be happy,” he continued. “Yet we think that happiness comes from outer things, when it really comes from within us. So we have to look very carefully at what brings this inner happiness. And when we examine this, what we find – and what all religious traditions have found -- is that making others happy is what contributes most to our happiness.”  This is such a simple yet essential message, from such a powerful messenger.

“Our motivation is key—the overall state of our mind and heart,” he said.  “A true spiritual revolution entails an ethical revolution.  We must not just propagate our own religion, but rather explore how our religion can contribute to the betterment of society.”  He tells people from around the world not to try to stop the invasion of western culture into their country, but rather to strengthen the best in their own culture. 

His Holiness demonstrated the most deep and profound listening to whatever members of our group  were saying. As participants shared with him about new ideas emerging in each of our respective fields, we each experienced being heard to an unprecedented depth. The name Dalai Lama means “ocean of compassion,” and we all experienced directly what it means for our being to be heard with vast and unlimited compassion and total acceptance. The contrast with the usual modern style of short, quick, half-there conversation was stunning.

Helping the Tibetans and the Chinese

One of our major dialogue topics was about what we, as Americans, could do to help the Tibetan people. Many suggestions were given, but his response to these was remarkable. First he said, “We cannot do anything that would cause harm to the Chinese people! We must find a course of action that will not only benefit the Tibetans, but will also benefit the Chinese.” This was a stunning comment from the temporal and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people who was driven from his homeland by the Chinese, who knows 1.2 million of his people (primarily lamas and other leaders) have been killed, and the rest of the population is still being cruelly and relentlessly oppressed. Yet we could all see that he holds no anger towards the Chinese.

His Holiness also said that we must always be thinking for the long term and looking for root cause solutions, rather than short term answers. In his long term view of the issue, he sees that the causes for the current suffering of Tibet “were set in motion a thousand years ago.” In fact, we later discovered that in 821 China was invaded by Tibet. “It’s all cause and effect, cause and effect,” he noted.

He also said that we must first be clear about our motive and intention for taking any action towards the Chinese or anyone, and be reasonably sure about the intended outcome. “Our motive must be harmless,” he said, smiling. What a contrast to the modern western approach to action! To consider motive and intention and the effects on others first, rather than they being last on a list, was such a refreshing relief from “will it make a profit” or “how will I benefit?”

Tibetan Spiritual Priorities

But his concern for the Chinese has much deeper roots in Buddhist philosophy. A key member of the Tibetan government-in-exile shared how the Dalai Lama has instructed them to arrange their political priorities: “First you should identify yourself as a sentient being; second as a human being; third as a Buddhist; fourth as the Tibetan people; and fifth as the Tibetan political entity.”  All actions must first be considered as to how they will affect all sentient beings, then all human beings, then all Buddhists, then all the Tibetan people, and lastly, how it will affect politics. What a wonderful world we would have if these priorities were even partially adopted by all nations!

Yet the most astonishing statement that we heard in our entire time with the Tibetans was from this same lama. He said the Dalai Lama had told them that if some action would clearly benefit the billions of Chinese, then the Tibetans would be prepared to make a sacrifice, because their primary identification is with all beings. Perhaps by the assimilation of the Tibetans into China, the seeds of Buddhist compassion will eventually take root within the Chinese people, and temper and balance their current ruthless materialism.

Practices Recommended by The Dalai Lama

His Holiness suggested that we do a simple practice when we return home, and share it with as many people as possible:  Spend five minutes at the beginning of each day remembering that all people want the same thing—to be happy and to be loved, and that we are all connected to each other.  Then take five minutes to breath in, cherishing yourself, and breath out, cherishing others. Then extend this attitude to everyone we meet during the day—the important people in our lives, as well as casual people we meet, but especially to people we don’t like.

The most powerful experience for us personally was a meditation with the Dalai Lama in his private quarters, which ended with an ancient prayer that our whole group said together.  It somehow seemed deeply familiar, although it was the first time we’d seen it.  It ended with this sacred pledge: “As long as space remains, as long as sentient beings remain, until then, may I too remain, and dispel the miseries of the world.” 

The experience of these dialogues catalyzed some interesting speculations for the two of us about politics and spirituality in the West.  In the West, many Christians, Jews and Muslims expect the return of their greatest spiritual leader—the Christ, the Messiah or the Imam Mahdi, respectively. If the highest soul in the Buddhist tradition reincarnates to head the Tibetan government, why could this not happen in Western culture?  How far fetched would it be if, for example, the Christ returned as a major politician, instead of a religious leader….Imagine a President with true compassion and wisdom in America.  Why not?

Our experience with the Dalai Lama in India brought home to us the impact that an enlightened political leader can have on our world today.  To us, the good news is that the Dalai Lama is recognized for who he is—millions of people around the world revere him for his compassion and wisdom.  Isn’t it time for more spiritually enlightened political leaders to emerge in all nations?

 Corinne McLaughlin and Gordon Davidson are co-authors of Spiritual Politics (Foreword by the Dalai Lama), and Builders of the Dawn, and co-founders of The Center for Visionary Leadership.