If George W. Was a Buddhist

(Published in The Valley Journal after I visited the Dalai Lama. What an inspiration!)

"My religion is kindness" Dalai Lama

I wish I spent the weekend with George W. Bush. I do.
If Bush would’ve come along with me, he would’ve traveled far from his cozy home in a small economy car burning radiator fluid.
It’s further than you think it’s going to be to the Shambhala Mountain Center outside of Fort Collins, Co, just 20 miles from the Wyoming border.
Bush would’ve seen the Dalai Lama who was to visit the center early Sunday morning to bless the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, the largest Buddhist shrine in North America.
Bush and I would have camped in the biting cold on Saturday night, not quite asleep, as it was much too cold for that, but soberly looking up at a smear of stars and planets in our solar system of which we are one tiny part of.
We would awake before dawn with the same excitement and anticipation I remember on Christmas eve knowing Santa Claus was coming to bestow gifts upon me which I so righteously deserved.
We would walk somewhat dumbly along the path with the other 2,500 people who had managed to make it high up into the mounting this clear, cold morning.
W. Would’ve been freezing cold down to his pinky toe but he would’ve been smile at all the people he met along the trail. They would have given him hope that there is a chance for a better world. We will evolve.
When the Dalai Lama’s helicopter flew over the Stupa, to land in the field below, Bush might have clasped his hands together in excitement and anticipation as so many others did. Perhaps an elevator of emotion would shoot up from his gut and lodge itself in his throat like it did for me. Maybe his arms would have risen into the air to wave a greeting to this figure so many relate to and hold so dear.
"‘This is the 14th Dalai Lama," he might muse to himself recalling all of the times he’d seen this gentle man’s face on book covers, calendars, newspapers and the like and felt as if he’d known him. But this was the first time to see him up close and personal.
"The Tiger, Lion, Garuda and Dragon have all landed, " announced the MC of the event sending chills up my spine. I would look at G. W. and see a spark.
If George W. spent the weekend with me he would’ve heard Buddhist prayers in Tibetan and English, Queen Noor of Jordan’s prayers in Arabic and English, a Jewish rabbi’s prayers in Hebrew and English and prayers for grandmother earth from Chief Looking Horse in Lakota.
He might have been moved.
"This century should be the century of dialogue," said the Dalai Lama. "The past century somehow became a century of violence, century of bloodshed."
Later the Dalai Lama added, "If we don’t increase kindness, more Bin Ladin types will come."
Could Bush hear this pedestrian wisdom? Would he share it with others in his camp?
"There are no national boundaries. The whole globe is becoming one body," His Holiness said. "In these circumstances, I think war is outdated ... Destruction of your neighbor is actually destruction of yourself."
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, one of Tibet’s highest and most respected lamas, said cultivating compassion is the best, most practical way to preserve the world. "Aggression is shortsighted," he said.
Are you listening G.W.?
"Let voices of moderation and reason call out to all religions...all religions are based on respect for freedom, justice and compassion in the name of God," said Queen Noor who continued to say compassion is essential and means opening our hearts to one another and assuming responsibility for the happiness and well being of others.
"Compassion is a practice," she said. "Peace is a practice. It’s not something we achieve, it’s something we do everyday."
What is that you call yourself G.W., a compassionate conservative? Aggressors are not compassionate. Conservatives don’t live off their great grandchildren’s bank accounts.
"Living time should be utilized constructively, so the person feel(s) better at the time of death and remembers those positive deeds," said the Dalai Lama. "The most important thing for a meaningful life, a purposeful life is peace of mind and that comes from compassion, unbiased compassion.
"Everyone has the seed of this compassion, all traditions: Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity. It is a different philosophy but I think the real message is the same - forgiveness, compassion, tolerance, love... these are common values in all different religions."
What if your gun-toten’, tough-guy Texas Jesus is really fundamentally the same as the Taliban’s scarf headed, robed Messiah? Who ever win’s these wars?
"Our destructive, negative reality is based on false appearances," said the Dalai Lama. "Action is the most important, action is karma, action makes a difference. Brother’s and sister’s; to have a meaningful life action is important. Try to be more compassionate."
After the blessing of the Great Stupa we would walk a mile back to our car, which still had a leak, and drive into the heart of Denver to see the same man address 15,000 people at the Pepsi Center while more than 70,000 exuberant fans cheered loud and clear over at Invesco field for the Broncos. The Broncos won in overtime. The Dalai Lama won our hearts and gave us hope.

The Dalai Lama has lived through 2,500 years of murderous times where people kill to solve perceived problems. He tells us, through his vast experience, that it does not work. I believe him. George W., do you?