The Dalai Lama in the Land of the Free

Had the opportunity to attend a lecture in Washington, D.C. with the Dalai Lama this past weekend. When son Tom and I were standing in line a Japanese Zen Buddhist monk went on line in back of us is yellow garments and a large ornamental pin holding them together. The Japanese was very striking and beautiful like a porcelain statue but the Tibetan’s is a peasant religion. What a contrast with the Tibetans. The Dalai Lama was completely unselfconscious - scratching his head and blowing his nose - Tom said when he started coughing and talking at the same time it reminded him of Master Tang in the comic video Kung Pow - which we have seen about a million times. He sounded a little like Yoda. It is interesting that the Christians today are in rabid and contentious dialog with the Darwinists (the one with a fish on their bumper pointing one way – Christians to the left, the other with the fish pointing to the right – these are surely the countervailing fish in the zodiac sign of the Age of Pisces in its Twilight – and surely they are Samurai fighting fish, one trying to eat the other) while the Dalai Lama and the Buddhists are in friendly dialog with theoretical physicists. The day before we saw him the Dalai Lama addressed a convention of thousands of physicists. His Holiness was grateful that Chinese were present in his audience, but I saw very few. There were, however, many tall and thoughtful-looking Episcopalian women. Here in the north country of New England, Old School Yankees – Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Unitarians are Turning East. The Chinese apparently are turning Presbyterian. I don't see that the Christian world can adapt to this. Perhaps the world will start again here with this. Never underestimate the power of a simple monk.