Star Quality

Imagine an elderly man with old fashioned glasses dressed in saffron and yellow robes. Bare armed in our cool Fall weather – yet wearing sensible walking shoes.

This is a man who has rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous – or I should say the rich and famous have beaten a path to his door to rub shoulders with him. Royalty, world leaders, movie stars, ordinary people.

This is a man who was born in a small Tibetan village to a peasant family – and destined to be a spiritual leader, travel the world, receive many awards and honorary degrees – including the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize.

At the age of 2 he was recognized as the reincarnation of his predecessor the 13th Dalai Lama and an incarnation of the Buddha of Compassion.

I am referring to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama – Tenzin Gyatso. He refers to himself as a simple Buddhist monk – “no more, nor less."

And one of a handful of foreigners to be granted the rare status of honorary Canadian citizen.

If you’ve heard the Dalai Lama speak, you will have noticed that he has a playful way about him.

When asked by the media during a recent visit to Vancouver why he had come to our Province, he smiled warmly and replied “Because I was invited”.

Speaking to a crowd of 15,000 at GM Place, he mused about this new honour of being a Canadian. Someone had given him a red sun visor emblazoned with the words “Canada” which he proudly wore. He looked impish as he asked the crowd – “what do I have to do to be a good Canadian – what rules can I break and still be forgiven”.

The message he gives – one of peace and happiness – coupled with his natural charm – is unmistakable and compelling. His proposition is to follow the three R’s - respect for self, respect for others and responsibility for all your actions.

His world as a Buddhist is one of simplicity – and yet here we are living a charmed life in one of the most expensive cities in North America. We have our toys, our creature comforts – but the human condition seems to be one of wanting more. It’s never enough. Like mice running inside a wheel – the faster the wheel turns, the faster we run.

So why am I telling you all this.

Well, I happened to be in a downtown Hotel one morning in September as the Dalai Lama was leaving the hotel for a speaking engagement.

I knew something was about to happen as I waited for a friend in the hotel lobby. Large men in dark suits wearing ear pieces surveyed the lobby closely. Undercover RCMP watched every one and every thing very closely.

And then a throng of people moved forward from the elevator bank – moving seemingly as one towards the waiting limousines.

His holiness was unmistakable. There was that presence.

Despite the tight security, and perhaps a certain tenseness by those assuring the Dalai Lama’s safety, I noticed that he still made eye contact with those who had paused in the lobby to catch of glimpse of him.

But I wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

He fixed his gaze on me, walking towards me with his arm outstretched to shake my hand. His small hand was soft. He held my hand for what seemed to be a long time, all the while holding my gaze. His eyes were warm and his face full of expression. It was as though all that wisdom could be felt through those eyes. After all, the eyes are the window to the soul.

And then he had moved on. I felt my eyes fill with tears. Why - I cannot tell you. But somehow I felt uplifted and my heart was full of joy for the opportunity of that impromptu meeting and two strangers connecting.

The day I met the Dalai Lama made me realize the raw power of his message of peace and happiness. And to stop in our busy lives for just one moment to ponder what that actually means.