DREview

Last weekend, I traveled to Ann Arbor with some very dear friends to hear the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. The University of Michigan's Crisler Arena was sold out, and His Holiness spoke mostly in Tibetan with a translator. His voice was deep and warm, and he giggled a lot (unfortunately, the translator didn't relay many of the funny bits).

His topic was "Engaging Wisdom and Compassion," interpreting an ancient text by Arya Nagarjuna, who is known as the "second Buddha." His teachings on compassion are at once simple and complex: he recommends exchanging self-interest for the interest of others. By practicing this exchange, one can develop an awakening mind, and help to co-create a happy world.

Compassion plays an important role in the children's and youth programming at UUCGT. We show them how to be compassionate with each other, by helping them create a behavior covenant at the beginning of the year, and by conducting weekly Joys and Concerns-type rituals. We teach them compassion for the community, by guiding them in social service projects, and we teach them compassion for people whose beliefs differ by studying world religions and talking about Unitarian Universalist principles that encourage diversity.

In the words of the Dalai Lama: "To gain maximum benefit, show genuine affection to others." May we all offer and receive such compassion and affection, this week and always.

Karen McCarthy, DRE
dre@uucgt.org

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