Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/859762
yoga & spirit yoga & spirit the quiet desperation either the religion or the secular worldview produces and strongly force us all into var- ious grotesque self- and other destructive distractions and productions. In the midst of this, the Dalai Lama comes and goes, and comes back again, even after death. He is only the most prominent of an ocean of the emanations of the same compassionate beings, living representatives of the buddha family, tirelessly exemplifying the peaceful, joyous way we could all be living and taking care of each other and this planet. For those who recognize him (he purposefully rejects making any such claim about him- self), the Dalai Lama is an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara (literally "Lord who Looks Down with Loving Care"), a celestial bodhisattva (enlightenment hero) who beams down countless emanation beings to help living beings free themselves from their unnecessary sufferings. For those with that cultural framework, he is like a living Je- sus, a Jesus who keeps on coming back, generation af- ter generation. But unlike the Abrahamic messiah idea of the sole incarnation, Avalokiteshvara is legion. He comes as many beings, some recognized, some not, and not only as Tibetan lamas and not only as Buddhists, and not only males but even more profusely as females. Not only the world's people but also even the world leaders know him and sense his presence in their lives, and yet they don't fi nd it convenient to follow his advice, and don't feel free enough from their preoccupations to implement his positive plan for the world. Nevertheless, he and his teammates stay there in our consciousness and patiently recommend to us all—the leaders and the people who can lead the leaders—a better way forward on this planet, a way beyond the petro-industrial con- sumerism and militarism to turn inward and enjoy lives focused on our own realistic wisdom, blissful compas- sion, and artful activism to achieve the abundant and highly realistic happiness of all. In this light, it behooves us to learn as much as we can about the Dalai Lama, get as close as we can to expe- riencing his life story, its struggles and triumphs, recog- nizing in them a resonance with all that we have gone through, are going through, and will continue to go through. We need to see that his dreams being realized will make our own dreams come true, wherever we are in the world. We need to fi nd out how he remains "of good cheer," in the midst of the most dreadful violations of his people and himself—we need to approach our own pressing problems with the zestful skill that comes from the refusal to give in to despair, and the determination to act out of the joy of self-confi dent love and wisdom. We need to learn from his example and also benefi t from his teachings of the practical and effect methods of fi nding happiness and peace by bringing happiness and peace to as many others as possible. Tibet House US is the American Cultural Center of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, founded at his request and under his patronage with the mission of preserving the unique Tibetan Buddhistic culture for future genera- tions of Tibetans and for the whole world. Our found- ing motto is "Love Tibet!" We feel that "saving Tibet" and "freeing Tibet" can only come from loving Tibet. As part of accomplishing that mission, we have creat- ed a graphic biography of the Dalai Lama, seeing this amazing person in a sense as the proof of the pudding of the value of Tibetan enlightenment-oriented culture. His re-birth in a common farmer and horse-trader family on the far northeast border of Tibet, his recognition as Dalai Lama reincarnation, his education, his insights, his spiritual practice, his teaching, debating, and writing, his leadership of his country under existentially diffi cult con- ditions, his restoration of Tibet's culture among three generations of his people in exile, his striding across the world stage as an icon of in- telligence, self-control, service of others, and his determination as an in- spirational visionary—all these qualities of his life demonstrate the value of Tibetan Buddhistic civilization and make a powerful case for what it offers to a world em- broiled in the violent confusions caused by industrial consumerism and industrial militarism. At this moment, he is, to quote a line from the Dalai Lama's classical inspirer, the great Shantideva: "A FLASH OF LIGHTNING IN THE DARK OF NIGHT!" Robert A. F. Thurman is Jey Tsong Khapa Professor at Columbia University. He is President, Tibet House US, and Co-Author, Man of Peace: The illustrated Life Sto- ry of the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Visit https://bobthurman. com and https://tibethouse.us. August/September 2017 19