His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, tried his best on Friday afternoon to convince the 11,000 followers and curious onlookers at the University of Oregon's Matthew Knight Arena that he's just another human being – but one with heartfelt opinions about humility and mutual respect.
"We are actually human brothers and sisters," the Dalai Lama said. "Despite our differences, we are basically the same human being.
"We would all like to achieve happy life," he said. "The ultimate source of our happy life depends on the rest of the world (and) the concept of the oneness of humanity."
The Dalai Lama laughed often – at himself, at situations and at life in general – during his hour-long lecture, "The Path to Peace and Happiness in the Global Society," and a nearly half-hour question-and-answer session that followed.
Perhaps the loudest cheer of the afternoon came when he was introduced by UO President Michael Gottfredson, who clasped a UO Presidential Medal around his neck and placed a green-and-yellow UO visor on his head. The Dalai Lama wore the visor and medal throughout his presentation.
"I am deeply honored to join with the Sakya Center, and everyone here, in welcoming His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the University of Oregon," the UO president said as he introduced the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader.
The visit to the UO – 10 years in the making – was made possible by a partnership between the university and the Eugene Sakya Center (Nyen-Gyud Samten Choeling for Tibetan Buddhist Studies).
Mark Unno, associate professor and head of the UO's Religious Studies Department, welcomed the crowd and introduced Gottfredson, who in turn called the Dalai Lama to the stage, drawing a standing ovation.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate focused on the concept of "the oneness of humanity," and the importance of accepting each other despite what he called "secondary differences" such as religion, race and ethnicity.
"If I look at you as another human being, I easily mix with you, then (there is) no possibility of loneliness," he said. "We must act according to reality, not based on our perception.
"In order to know the reality, our perception must be holistic," he said. "If our mind is biased, then we cannot see.
"It is very important to ... teach people oneness of humanity, and in that way, develop a sense of global responsibility."
The Dalai Lama engaged the crowd, trying to get a sense of its demographics. He asked how many were under 15 years of age, how many were under 20, and how many were over 70.
"Those people below 20, you are truly the generation of the 21st century," he said, urging the young in the crowd to commit themselves to personal happiness and global responsibility.
"Those people over age 70, you are my generation," he said. "We are ready to say, 'bye, bye.'"
The Dalai Lama laughed and his audience roared.
He also asked those in the capacity crowd to be tolerant of all religions, whether they choose to embrace religious beliefs or not. "Faith and respect," he said. "Faith in your own religion, respect for all religions."
He told the story of his childhood in a Tibetan village, riding on his mother's shoulders as she walked into the fields to work, and steering her by pulling on one ear or the other. He described the love of a mother for her children.
"Provide maximum affection to your children and spend more time with your children," he said. "That is important."
And he suggested that peace is not an empty dream, but that "the world can be demilitarize – very possible.
"All of these things (are) based on the concept of the oneness of humanity," the Dalai Lama said "One world."
- by Joe Mosley, UO Office of Strategic Communications