Being with the Dalai Lama by Rabbi Michael Lerner
July 20, 2011 Tikkun.org: to heal, repair and transform the world
Being with the Dalai Lama–my experience on Monday, July 18
by Rabbi Michael Lerner
The Dalai Lama speaks with Rabbi Michael Lerner, Jewish theologian, chair of the Network of Spiritual Progressives www.spiritualprogressives.org, and editor of Tikkun magazine www.tikkun.org, and Ingrid Mattson, former president of The Islamic Society of North America and professor at the Hartford Theological Seminary, at the conclusion of Monday’s event at the Harris Theatre in Chicago. (JosÈ M. Osorio, Chicago Tribune / July 19, 2011). The Dalai Lama was in the process of putting a Tibetan prayer shawl on Rabbi Lerner’s shoulders.
I was honored to be invited to be on a panel with the Dalai Lama yesterday in Chicago. This is the third time I’ve been invited to be on a panel with him, and by now he recognizes me. His first words when we embraced yesterday were: “Last time your kippah was red, now it’s white—but very nice!” He was referring to the head covering that religious Jews wear on our heads, also known as “yalmekah” or skullcap. He had his usual twinkle in his eye and smile on his face. This great spiritual leader is renowned for his impish qualities, his humility, and his smarts, and all were in full view both Sunday, July 17th, when he addressed some 8,000 people in a huge auditorium in Chicago, and on Monday when we sat together on a panel in a smaller venue of 1,500 seats, every seat filled, and discussed interfaith connections.
Unlike Sunday, when the sound system was imperfect and it was sometimes hard to make out what he was saying, on Monday July 19th, it was impossible to not be astounded by the Dalai Lama’s combination of cleverness and spiritual depth. His themes are well known, and he returned them over and over again: the need for compassion, the importance of recognizing that all religions are pointing to the same realities, the centrality of non-violence in changing the world, and the need to work on one’s own spiritual life simultaneously with any work in changing the world.
Panel members with me were:
Peg Chemberlin. Reverend Peg Chemberlin is Executive Director, MN Council of Churches and President of the, National Council of Churches
Ingred Mattson was the first woman elected to be national chair of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).
Eboo Patel moderated the panel. He is a Muslim who has written for Tikkun magazine and is a leading advocate for interfaith dialogue and cooperation. He is currently building the Interfaith Youth Corps.
I’m not going to try to summarize here all of the fascination conversation that took place, though if I hear of a way to get you a video of the event, I’ll send you the link.
What for me was particularly wonderful was:
Being in the presence of such a fully realized spiritual teacher as the Dalai Lama
Learning from the insightful and deep comments made by Ingred Mattson and Peg Chemberlin, both of whom have agreed to write something for Tikkun!
The strong audience response to my presentation of the ideas of the Network of Spiritual Progressives—particularly our ESRA Environmental and Social Responsibility Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, our Global Marshall Plan, and our call for a New Bottom Line in American society.
The wonderful humanity of the folks who sponsored this event, The Theosophical Society, and of the people working with the Tibet Fund which helps the Dalai Lama.