Notes on the Dalai Lama’s speech at UW

I never took the time to write up my thoughts on hearing the Dalai Lama speak at the University of Washington last month. The people I’ve spoken with about the event know that it was a moving experience - one that I will cherish. For those that I haven’t had the opportunity to talk to, you’re in luck! One of my fellow law students, Noah Well, took notes and published his thoughts on Zen Habits today. Here are a few highlights:

But what I most appreciated listening to him was his sense of humor...As he accepted his honorary doctorate, he said he felt humbled being in front of so many learned people and praised education in general. “But if you do seek a degree, being presented an honorary one is certainly how I recommend it.”

Noah is right. Not a moment went by that he didn’t have a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. If an opportunity to laugh presented itself, he took advantage of it. KUOW reported later in the week about a panel discussion with the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in which Mr. Tutu leaned over to the Dalai Lama at one point and said that we better start acting more seriously, the cameras are on us.

One of the most interesting questions from the audience came from a criminal justice student at SU:

Q: How do you show compassion to those who have hurt others?

A: With understanding. Understanding the relationship between all living things allows unbiased compassion to all others. People who have hurt others particularly need compassion for two reasons. One, they work against your goal for overarching peace. Secondly, they are probably hurt themselves as they hurt others, so they need more compassion to heal their hurt within.

I thought I remembered him adding something else about how people who have hurt others have shut a spiritual door for themselves (karmically speaking). They are also already being punished for their behavior by the social mechanisms we put in place. Not having compassion for them doesn’t serve any further purpose.

All in all a very interesting experience. Click here to read the full report from Noah.

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