The Dalai Lama brings together business and social leaders.
"Have you not received the invitation, we've sent it three times?"
Finally I noticed the email from the organisers of the "Connecting for Change Conference" in Vancouver. I've been traveling and setting up in London and without a PA, some things had slipped through.
I'm not very good at conferences, and to go that far for one seemed mad - but like many others I was curious. Could the Dalai Lama provide a bridge between people like me, striving for social justice, and business leaders? And could I gain any useful insights? Cynically I feared I wouldn't be at all "convinced" by his thoughts on reconciliation - being a doer myself I didn't want to hear a load of abstract stuff.
I went because I was curious and decided to prepare some questions to ask him. (My kids let me go even though it was their first week after starting a new school, because their grandmother told them who the Dalai Lama is ... and I think in retrospect because she'd met Archbishop Desmond Tutu in a smallish group and found him really inspiring. Thanks Family!!)
You have these times in your life when you feel like nothing is happening by chance. When I sense this I try not to make too much of it, not to jinx it as it were.
I have to tell you here that I am not religious, although I believe in something greater than us. My mother is a Christian and my father was a Muslim (he died of cancer when I was very young). They decided not to instruct me in either. I did join the girls brigade for a year or two at the local church, which raised some scorn from my sister - an avid TV watcher and agnostic. I remember thinking that perhaps a faith or some kind of spirituality was better than worshiping the god of materialism. My dad had forbade us to watch commercial television, but my mum gave up the ban when we turned into uncontrollable teenagers.
So anyway, I am gliding through the airplane aisles with no liquids, gels, tiny hand carry luggage - all very streamlined - and take my seat next to a handsome elderly Italian man, robed to the floor in white and with a white turban and white shoes. He sports rather bling gold worry beads and a snowy beard. I feel a bit awkward. So I strike up a conversation with his companion, a friendly woman, who tells me: "He is a living Saint". There is some small talk and I go off to the loo.
When I come back and I bend to sit down, he touches the crown of my head softly to bless me and I tell him about what I do. Great! I think as I pluck up the courage to ask him some of the questions I have rehearsed for the Dalai Lama. I start asking but from his answers I see that I am a lost child. He suggests the way for peace is to keep the faith you were brought up in, no mixed marriages, etc. Too late in my case. I ask a few more questions, he is getting a little agitated and says that when I meet spiritual leaders I shouldn't ask questions, only ask for their blessing. I shut up and during the following long hours of flying he pets my head a dozen times. I am beginning to feel like a puppy!
Clearly I am ill prepared to meet the Dalai Lama. I have got it all wrong. I don't understand. I step down in Vancouver feeling rather lonely.
More coming...
We are looking for an excellent and experienced PA to be based at the People Tree office. Look out for details on the website soon.