Thoughts at Christmas 2004
Several year ago, the Dalai Lama came to the
Brandeis University Field House to address nearly 10,000 of his followers,
those who admire him and many curious to see and hear this world famous and controversial
spiritual leader. I was there also, as
a Christian ex-monk who finds his most simple message resonating in my
inmost being.
As he
entered the building, the 10,000 stood and applauded for 15 or 20 minutes as
the retinue wove its way through the crowd to the stage. As he mounted the stairs
a deafening roar arose which gave me "goose-bumps". Several times as
he stood facing the crowd the roar rose
and fell in waves.
Finally,
quiet filled the Field House, and he began to speak.
His very
first words were:
"I have nothing to give you".
Hearing those words, the crowd roared for
about 10 minutes. It set me to thinking, how many people would understand those
words and understand the joyful response that followed his speaking them.
His
message is Buddhist to be sure, but it is also a message for Christmas. How
many of us work ourselves desperately to purchase the right gift for each of
our loved ones at this time of year. But Christmas celebrates the coming into
space and time of the Creator of space and time. The closest conception we as
humans can have of God directly is "No-Thing". A reality our minds cannot perceive directly.
And what did this conception of God speak to us at the beginning of the gospel
message?
Change the way you think about "reality",
For
the Kingdom of God is within you."
I think that all the truly great religious
leaders in the world;
Siddartha Gautama, Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu,
Mohammed, Moses and the OT Prophets; and Jesus, himself, would understand and
see the union they all possess.
It is we
at the bottom of the mountain who feel our separation and who thereby suffer such
terrible conflict.
Let us
take this most sacred time, when the Inconceivable
conceived of Himself, to show us the Way.
Merry
CHRISTMAS
Charlie
Mc
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