A day with the Dalai Lama.
What would you talk to the Dalai Lama about?
So the big day had come - we had already brainstormed on a wide range of themes from our social and business perspectives and had decided on a list of questions and stories that we could share with the Dalai Lama. I really wanted to have his Holiness's ear to tell him all about Fair Trade and how it is living proof of a widening bridge between the social and business sectors and widely supported by the public. But it was going to be difficult. As I've said, in Canada Fair Trade is not very well known (although fellow social entrepreneur Pierre Legault is soon to change that with a new Fair Trade shop format idea and he has just received his first order from People Tree from the UK!).
The problem was that I kept getting myself locked in the loo. It happened twice! Was it nerves that prevented me from opening the lock or was it a message from somewhere? Shouldn't I be there? Should I just go back to my hotel room? We were the first group scheduled to open discussions with him, fortunately being small I was able to crawl out under the toilet door. Not a very respectable challenge to undertake in your favorite Fair Trade silk dress and heels!! It was difficult trying to look dignified, especially with someone in the loo next door!
We rose from our seats, white scarves around our necks as the Dalai Lama entered the room, and made his way to his chair. After a few formalities the questions started. Fourteen of us and the Dalai Lama were seated around a large round table.
A Positive Mind
The social leaders amongst us shared with him the stories of the struggle people in our communities face and asked what we should do when overwhelmed by the size of the problem. The Dalai Lama thought for a while and looking very serious said: " I have admiration for your work, your successful stories of engaging and overcoming. People appreciate, give you more encouragement, self confidence and determination and more able to help more people." I recall him saying that even if you save one person's life or lessen their struggle, we should feel it is worthwhile. Later in the dialogue, hearing a similar story he said that we have to start some non-violent revolutionary work. The oppressed must have self confidence. The West provides equipment, money but real progress has to be made by the people, not the outside dictating what kind of development there should be.
Connecting for Change
Asked what advice he could give to help the informal (social) and formal (business) worlds engage, the Dalai Lama reiterated that:
"We should not feel discouraged, work continually, the key is education and training on both sides. Utilise every opportunity. The formal sector should learn the realities of the informal sector."
On business he said: "The business world is a very important part of society - without money you can't do much." He went on to say that business should give some of its profits to the community and towards charity work.
Here was my chance I raised my hand: "I'm confused. We are beginning to hear business also talking about the triple bottom line, not only financial, but social and environmental. The Fair Trade movement does this, working with marginalised communities with natural and organic fabrics, but our products have to compete in an uneven playing field with products that don't cover these costs. Even big companies are asking for regulation as it costs more to meet higher ethical standards. They cannot compete with companies making products to lower standards. Do you feel we should be pushing for more regulation or work towards more consumer awareness so that they learn to seek out and support these new initiatives?"
Phew... that was a long question.
He smiled at me and answered thoughtfully "I think more consumer education and maybe ... some regulation too." He came back to the idea in discussions later. He either liked my smile, or thought me mad.
To a question put forward on peace, the Dalai Lama responded that it's very dangerous to suggest that Islam and Christianity are at odds with each other. “This is totally wrong. Just a few mischievous people cannot represent all. I am a Buddhist monk but I am protecting Islam.” He concluded with the importance of not pushing Muslims into isolation.
When asked about the environment, he became very grave indeed. He said that scientists have now proved the causes behind global warming and that man is a major cause to climate change. “When I came to India I had no idea of ecology. People would say you can drink from this spring, this one you cannot. In Tibet you can drink all the water" He went on to describe the delicate situation of the ecology of Tibet, and how important it is that the Chinese new guests be educated to care about the environment of Tibet. Later he became very passionate and raised his voice: "We think we can control nature, that is a false perception."
Asked how he deals with conflict and tension he said: "I am always realistic. I won't say something high lama, or sometimes formality becomes a barrier. I have been a monk since I was a 4 year old boy. I didn't volunteer!” He laughed. “I trained and realised the value of this as an adult. No conflict. I don't care about status. I talk to people like I am a monk. I prefer informality, but the elder ones think differently. On one occasion in Argentina a Japanese Zen Buddhist was holding a rosary very formally and the string broke and the beads scattered (The Dalai Lama makes a gesture showing how they covered the floor) and he remained pretending to thumb the beads. If it were me I would have...” and he bends on his chair and mimics picking them up.
The continued struggle for equality
“I think that during Buddha's time 2,500 years ago there were many social ills due to caste discrimination, so Buddha said "All people are the same. Unequal is wrong”.
The Dalai Lama recalls meeting Chairman Mao, who told him that Buddha is a Revolutionary and an ancient feminist. I remember brightening up when I heard this, and he told the story of a sick monk who was lying there neglected, and Buddha told a brother to bring water to wash him - like Jesus Christ. “The master demonstrated that people are equal.” The Dalai Lama is beaming.
There was much, much more shared by the Dalai Lama but I cannot do it justice.
The day was nearly over, hugs all round to many wonderful people who had shared the journey. No one in the room disagreed with the Dalai Lama that together we need to build a new education system to promote the universal values of empathy, compassion, warm heartedness to build a sense of responsibility and community. An education of the heart was needed and it was simply up to all of us to get on and start it right away at home with our children showing them genuine affection extending through family, friends, colleagues. The next thing you know you could have cleaned up the way your company does business or at least taken some big steps in that direction. The message was loud and clear - it was down to us!
On the journey to Japan I read 'The Wisdom of Forgiveness - Intimate Conversations and Journeys' by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Victor Chan. A great and fun read but I am very tearful. Was it early PMT or had His Holiness really got to me and had a profound effect on me?