I Vote for HH the Dalai Lama

On his most recent visit to the US, I was privileged to hear His Holiness the Dalai Lama speak. First in Los Angeles, where he spoke mostly about Cultivating Compassion, in a series of events sponsored by Whole Child International; and then in Ft. Lauderdale, where he broached such subjects as The Responsibilities of Ethics in Higher Education In Today’s Society and Compassion as a Pillar of World Peace. Whether His Holiness’ message is global or specific, I always find it simple and beautiful, touching the hearts of all who hear it.

As I followed His Holiness from event to event, I began to think about my relationship with him and with Tibet. Why is this important to me? Why would I spend a week of my time following him, listening to him, supporting him?

I realized that, to me, His Holiness and Tibet represent my highest values: human values. When I look at the world and humanity, I see we are sorely lacking these values. It seems we believe, and are taught to do so from the minute we can perceive, that everything we need to fulfill us comes from the outside world.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

When I hear His Holiness say over and again to the world – to celebrities, educators, leaders, politicians, and to the millions of people watching Larry King, the “real source of peace is inner peace,” it resonates with me. In stark contrast to almost everything else society teaches us, His Holiness advocates wherever he goes that joy, love, peace and security are not in things, but in us.

This message deeply resonates with me and is at the core of the World Ethical Foundations Consortium (WEFC.) If we believe our experience of peace and joy come from things, it is understandable we would want to protect and control having those things, and perceive each other as potential threats and perpetrators. If however we can experience reality – what we seek in things and others is in us – our perspective and feelings toward each other as humans can shift. Rather than see each other as threats to our happiness, we can see each other as the key to experiencing more.

This alignment of values and perspectives is why my relationship with His Holiness and with Tibet is so sacred to me. I have, and will continue to take a strong stance, in whatever way I can, supporting Tibet in its struggle with China simply because I see their struggle as humanity’s struggle and as my struggle. Tibet and China represent opposing forces within me: the struggle between my quest for internal peace and love, and my fixation with gaining those things from the external world. Supporting and upholding His Holiness and Tibet is supporting and upholding my own humanity. Every time I vote for him with my words or actions, I vote for a better, safer, more humane world, both internal and external to me.