Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Hello Dalai...



His Holiness, Dalai Lama was at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for a check-up.

While there, he spoke to a group gathered in the Clinic's Catholic chapel dedicated to Our Lady.  I know I'm not supposed to, but I like the Dalai Lama.  I'm not a follower of course, and I do not buy Buddhist nun soap,  but I think he's very cool.  He was seated in the sanctuary of the chapel, so I expect some people may have issues with that, but when the Popes have traveled, they have sat in non-Catholic holy places whenever they were asked to speak as well.  I'm sure there were no religious services held yesterday while he was there.  It's a pretty chapel, isn't it? 

His Holiness strikes me as a very affable man, and though a Marxist, he has good things to say.  From yesterday's address:
Using humor and wearing a University of Minnesota visor that matched his maroon and gold robe, the Dalai Lama spoke to hundreds of Mayo Clinic staff members about compassion and finding peace.

"Compassion means an open mind," he told about 300 people Tuesday morning at a discussion titled "Resilience Through Mindfulness."
 
Speaking at Saint Marys Hospital's chapel on Tuesday, the Dalai Lama addressed a concern that's arisen during previous visits to Rochester: Compassion fatigue. In other words, how do you maintain an attitude of compassion when there is so much suffering in the world?

In response, the Dalai Lama talked about the danger of treating compassion as solely a focus on suffering.

"If we look at it as suffering only, you really develop hopelessness," he said. 
- Source

Asked privately what he thought of the AofA vs. Patheos controversy, the Dalai Lama said, "They're no damn good."

What?  I'm kidding, I just made that up......


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16 comments:

  1. Terry this is so damn funny it should be on PulpIt.

    Signed, Surely

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  2. You should have emailed the Dalai Lama about this before posting it, you know.

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  3. Hahaha, there are several Buddhist Catholic nuns in Rochester.

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  4. Hey Larry: Wow. What a smack down. You didn't even return my E-mail. Please forgive me for not confining my remarks to the subject at hand ;) I just never pay attention in class.

    Interesting history about Mayo--it came to be becuase of NUNS! I guess now it wouldn't happen. Who can afford Carol Keehan? She is raking in a cool million a year.

    Anyway here is the link:
    http://youtu.be/UakgbYcr0Bs

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  5. What's the basis for your statement that the Dalai Lama is a Marxist? That's something I've never heard before, and is a little surprising in light of the fact that he went into exile in 1959 to ESCAPE the Marxists who invaded and annexed his country, and that he has not recognized the Lamas the Marxists have appointed.

    Also, why are you not supposed to like him?

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  6. Pentimento - actually the Dalai lama made a statement to that effect while he was visiting the Twin Cities about a year ago - he said that he was probably more Marxist than anything. I'll find my source for you.

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  7. Found it:

    His Holiness, the Dalai Lama announced it right here in river city, Minneapolis, Minnesota that is: “as far as socio-political beliefs are concerned, I consider myself a Marxist.”

    http://abbey-roads.blogspot.com/2011/06/dalai-lama-marxist.html

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    Replies
    1. And another site:

      http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2011/06/dalai-lama-china-marx-communism/1

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  8. Terry, thanks for following up on the source. That is very decent of you.

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    Replies
    1. I just posted one more, with more serious commentary.

      Delete
  9. susan9:28 PM

    Why, oh why, do you keep calling him "His Holiness"????

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  10. I spent a lot of time in that chapel a few years back. My mom had 3 heart valves replaced and my dad got a pacemaker. It's a beautiful chapel. I could feel all of the prayers that had been offered up there over the years.

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  11. Susan, because that is his title and ordinary form of address in the world.

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  12. I agree. "His Holiness" is a title, like "Your Eminence", etc.

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  13. susan4:11 PM

    Titles and words mean things Terry...If a Dr. isn't really a doctor I wouldn't call him one. The Holy Father is the ONLY one as a Catholic I would call "His Holiness" I'm all for giving respect to the Lama, but sorry, the leader of a pagan (false) religion can in no way, by a Catholic, be called "His Holiness" just to mollify the PC crowd. "...everyone called him that" isn't gonna cut it at your particular judgment. Think for one second about the trice hagion...God is holy, holy, holy, and the things of God are holy and deserve that moniker; but as a Catholic, to call the Dahli Lama "His Holiness", smacks of a syncretism that gives me the heaves.

    other than that...love your blog of late! :)

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Please comment with charity and avoid ad hominem attacks. I exercise the right to delete comments I find inappropriate. If you use your real name there is a better chance your comment will stay put.