Hello Dalai

Yesterday morning, the Dalai Lama gave a talk on the west lawn on the Capitol . Gates opened at 7am. We arrived around 7:15 with all the necessities to while away the next two hours until the program began: blanket, freshly made zucchini bread, water, magazines, a MiFi, and Scrabble.

A little over two hours later, after a sonorous chant by several Buddhist monks , Whoopi Goldberg , the MC for the event, began the introduction. A few minutes later, the Dalai Lama, who turned 76 the day before, took the stage . The next hour or so was filled with his unscripted thoughts on living a compassionate life, embracing and learning from ones enemies, and the development of inner beauty.

It was a refreshing way to spend a Saturday morning.