#2595 - Monday, September 25, 2006 - Editor:
Gloria Lee The Nondual Highlights
THOUGHTS OF WISDOM, FROM HIS HOLINESS…
My religion is
kindness.
The warm, compassionate heart is the
basis for peace of mind, without
which the mind will always be uncomfortable and disturbed.
Love and kindness are
the very basis of society.
If we lose these feelings, society will face tremendous
difficulties; the survival of humanity will be endangered.
Happiness is not
something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
Love and compassion are
necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.
Compassion is not religious business, it is human
business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our peace and
stability, it is essential for human survival.
The purpose of our lives is to be happy.
Each of us in our
own way can try to spread compassion into people’s hearts.
Western civilizations these days place great importance on
filling the human “brain” with knowledge, but no one
seems to care about filling the human “heart” with
compassion.
One great
question underlies our experience, whether we think about it or
not: what is the purpose of life? From the moment of birth, every
human being wants happiness and does not want suffering. Neither
social conditioning nor education nor ideology affects this. From
the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment.
Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the
greatest degree of happiness.
The realization that we are all basically the same
human beings who seek happiness and try to avoid suffering is
very helpful in developing a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood;
a warm feeling of love and compassion for others.
_____
The Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education is committed
to the Dalai Lama’s vision "to develop the heart, be
compassionate, work for peace in your heart and in the
world."
Founded in 2005 with the active support of the Dalai Lama, the
Vancouver based Center has no religious or political affiliation.
It will build upon the Dalai Lama’s unique and compelling
appeal as a world figure who reaches out to all people with a
message of compassion, kindness and mutual understanding.
The Center will be located in the heart of Vancouver and will
provide a multi-purpose venue with accessible meeting, lecture
and exhibition spaces. It will include a gallery, library, cafe
and bookstore among its warm and inviting spaces.
"The key concepts that define the goals of the Dalai
Lama Center are: one, the promotion of human values; and
two, the promotion of a sense of oneness within humanity.
These two ideas serve to promote peace among different
communities within one nation, within one world. And they
will be particularly useful in shaping the long-term
goals of the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education in
Vancouver, Canada."
The Center will foster and support "education of the
heart" and teachings on kindness, compassion and
interconnectedness through the three pillars of research,
education and dialogue.
____
Advisory Board:
HH
the Dalai Lama, Honorary Chair
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Jimmy Carter
Vaclav Havel
Shirin Ebadi
Tendzin Choegyal
Mairead Maguire
2300 - 515 W.
Hastings St., Vancouver, BC Canada V6B 5K3 Tel: 604-215-2DLC
E-mail: info@dalailamacenter.org
Web: www.dalailamacenter.org ___
The
Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education A Canadian Cultural
Institution in downtown Vancouver
“My
religion is kindness,” the Dalai Lama famously stated. The
Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education (Center) is aligned
with this ethos and to His Holiness’ belief that each person
must “cultivate the heart, and work for peace within
yourself and in the world.” The vision of the
Vancouver-based Center reflects the Dalai Lama’s life-long
commitment to compassion and inner well-being. Founded in 2005 by
Victor Chan and the Dalai Lama, the Center will be a world-class
institution, grounded in Vancouver yet global in nature. While
its physical home will be here, its reach, due to the Dalai Lama’s
far-flung connections, will be world-wide.
The Center will have no religious or political affiliations. It
will promote peace through education, personal transformation,
and dialogue. The Dalai Lama believes that vital, sustainable
communities depend upon many small, individual acts of compassion
and helpfulness. By thinking less about ourselves and more about
the wellbeing of others, we actually enhance our growth and
happiness. By helping others, we contribute to the greater good.
Along the way, our lives and the lives of others are touched.
“Educating the heart” is the Center’s tag line.
The Center will provide an educational environment that
cultivates mindfulness: the integration of mind, body, and
spirit. It will encourage heightened awareness within diverse
practices of art. And it will offer a venue to examine the world’s
wisdom traditions through creative interpretation. By bringing
peace into our own lives, the Center will help to bring peace
into the world.
What makes the Dalai
Lama Center special?
When built, the
Center will be the only institution in the world that bears the
Dalai Lama’s name. As a repository of the Dalai Lama’s
ideals, the Center is committed to advancing his twin goals of
personal growth and acting for the greater good.
The Center is also special in its cultivation of two essential
dimensions of our humanity: our need for intellectual sustenance
and our yearning for emotional and spiritual well-being. The
Center is a venue designed for active, experiential
participation.
Its programs will optimize chance encounters and interaction
between people and ideas. They are designed to maximize synergies
between our minds and hearts.
Where will the Dalai
Lama Center be located?
The Center will be
located in the heart of downtown Vancouver. The high volume of
pedestrian traffic, throughout the day and evening, will help to
anchor the Center in the community. Over time, the venue will
become a hub, a vital link in Vancouver’s cultural DNA.
Who will design the
Dalai Lama Center?
An eminent
architect will design the Center. Our choice of architects will
not be based on their grandiose vision, but on their outstanding
sensitivity to Vancouver’s landscape and spirit. Most
importantly, our architect will excel at creating spaces that
promote psychological and emotional comfort for all who come
within the Center’s orbit.
Their artistry will create a structure that encourages visitors
to connect meaningfully with each other. Our architect will be
attuned to the dual personality of the Center: on one hand, an
energetic setting for animated dialogue and interaction; on the
other, a cloister-like oasis for contemplation.
How will people
experience the Dalai Lama Center?
The Center will be
experienced both actively and reflectively. A wide array of
different-use spaces within the building will promote engagement
between individuals and groups, people and ideas, communities and
spiritual rejuvenation. In Toronto, the multi-million-dollar
addition to the Royal Ontario Museum (the Michael Lee-Chin
Crystal) was designed by Daniel Libeskind to enhance people’s
contact with iconic objects. In contrast, the DLC will be
designed to generate direct interactive experiences between
participants. And to push the potential for serendipitous
encounters.
The Center will have a low psychological threshold for entry. All
it takes will be the purchase of a cappuccino at its sidewalk
café or a stroll into its light-bathed, free-admission gallery.
The Center will be designed to warmly welcome all who
gather or wander into its premises. People from every
walk of life and social strata will be made to feel at ease. They
will be encouraged to drop in, and linger, at all hours of the
day.
What programs will the
Center offer?
The Center is
conceived as an open cultural bazaar, embraced by residents and
visitors alike. It will have a smorgasbord of compelling programs
that offer sustenance to the mind and spirit. The following are
some examples: Literary evenings: Local and
international authors will give readings, followed by informal
discussions in a Dialogue Lounge. Renowned writers such as Pico
Iyer, Doug Coupland, Malcolm Gladwell, or Anne Lamott may be on
hand for casual conversations.
Philosophers’ Café: Informal discussion groups will explore diverse ideas and
issues in another Dialogue Lounge.
Film and video screenings: Thought-provoking documentaries and other genres will be
presented every night, followed by moderated discussions.
Nobel Laureates lecture series: Nobel laureates will give public lectures and facilitate
extended seminars. Our current Board of Advisors includes five
Nobel Peace laureates: HH the Dalai Lama, Shirin Ebadi, Desmond
Tutu, Mairead Maguire, and Jimmy Carter. Other possible invitees
include Elie Wiesel, Oscar Arias Sanchez, Mikhail Gorbachev,
Steven Chu, and Daniel Kahneman.
Science and spirituality dialogues: Workshops by prominent researchers and spiritual leaders
will explore the intersection of science and spirituality.
Faculty may include those at the forefront of positive
psychology: Andrew Weill, Deepak Chopra, Richard Davidson, Ed
Diener, and Martin Seligman.
Contemplative programs: Contemplative practices foster wisdom and allow people to
plug into our natural capacity for compassion, forgiveness, and
inspiration. These ways of knowing, and in particular, the
cultivation of empathy, are at the heart of moral development.
Eminent teachers such as Thich Nhat Hanh, Pema Chodron, Sharon
Salzburg, Father Thomas Keating, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi,
and Jack Kornfield will be invited to lead intensives and
workshops.
A special emphasis on
the arts
Modern aesthetics
and art practices have been strongly influenced by the
mindfulness teachings of spiritual traditions, both Eastern and
Western. These principles are now a major force in contemporary
art, and they continue to inform the global art community.
Artists of differing beliefs are integrating meditative practices
and awareness techniques into their work. For many people,
creative endeavours are powerful tools to further their personal
growth.
The Center will provide an educational environment that
cultivates mindfulness, integration of mind, body, and spirit,
and heightened awareness within art practices. We will develop an
artistic resource center for Vancouverites, local in operation
yet global in influence. The creative process will be used to
cultivate openness to the wisdom of mind and heart, allowing
participants to mature as artists and human beings.
Educating the Heart
The Center will
work to balance the education of the mind with the education of
the heart. We believe that the learning process should be
holistic: a full engagement of our physical, emotional, and
spiritual dimensions. The objective is to advance peace in
ourselves and in the world. The Center will embody spirit,
intellect, and wisdom in service to the greater good.
The Center recognizes the need for all of us to acquire practical
skills for the contemporary workplace. Yet the cultivation of
emotional intelligence and inner fulfillment is also an urgent
need, in light of society’s rapid changes and
unpredictability.
Our founder, the Dalai Lama, believes that the most essential
knowledge arises not from the head but from the heart. The Center
will seek to foster an education that combines both cognitive
development and spiritual self-reflection.
What does the Dalai
Lama Center mean for Vancouver?
The Dalai Lama’s
landmark visit to Vancouver in 2004 generated many fruitful
results. A small group was inspired to initiate the
InterSpiritual Center project. Victor Chan, chair of the 2004
visit, was motivated to create the Dalai Lama Center. Similarly,
the Center can be likened to the imperceptible flap of a
butterfly’s wings: an event with unpredictable and profound
consequences. We know that His Holiness’ commitment to peace
and universal ethics has profound resonance for many people
around the world. The Center will undoubtedly act as a beacon,
drawing like-minded people and institutions to Vancouver. The
city will have the potential to become the model of a socially
sustainable metropolis. And the Center may act as a powerful
catalyst, giving Canadians the vision to create a kinder, more
altruistic society.
___
The Center's Programs
Education Programs
From its foundational concern with "educating the
heart", the Center will give special emphasis to the moral
education of young people. It will support the teaching of peace
at all levels and in all educational contexts. It will build
strong connections with schools, and through its programs will
encourage attention to the emotional, social and moral
development of educators and of the children they guide.
Dialogue Programs
The Center will host seminars, workshops, dialogues and
lectures, including a Nobel Lecture Series. It will invite
distinguished thinkers, educators, researchers, social
innovators, artists and other leaders from diverse cultural,
religious and educational backgrounds.
The Dalai Lama has expressed his intention to return to Vancouver
periodically to participate in the Center's dialogues. The Center
will use its web site as an interactive portal through which
these dialogues will be experienced internationally and through
which the Dalai Lama's thoughts and ideals will have a continuing
archival presence.
Research Programs
The Center intends to establish an endowment fund to support
collaborative research with British Columbia universities.
Inspired by the Dalai Lama's interest in engaging with many
diverse fields of practice, the research programs of the Center
will encourage the development of new perspectives and
multidisciplinary exchange. The Center will also ensure that
these research findings reach the widest possible audience.
The Women of Tibet film project
consists of three one-hour documentary films revealing potent
historical moments of past and contemporary Tibet. The films
touch on themes of women's endurance and their struggle for
freedom, social justice, peace, and human rights. Set against the
stunning backdrop of the Himalayas, the Women of Tibet
film trilogy shows the strength and perseverance of a people
dedicated to the principles of peace, non-violence, and
compassion.
Women of Tibet: Gyalyum Chemo-The Great Mother
is now airing on the PBS national network. Check here for PBS Air Dates and Station Finder