Angelqueen.org

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By JAY TOKASZ and JAY REY
News Staff Reporters
9/19/2006
Link to original


His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet presents a khata scarf Monday to Bishop Edward U. Kmiec as the two shared a stage during a service at the University at Buffalo's Alumni Arena.

The Dalai Lama opened his three-day visit to the University at Buffalo on Monday afternoon by joining Sikhs, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Jews and just about any other religious group in celebrating what was likely the largest interfaith service in Western New York history.

Drawn together by the world's most famous Buddhist, about 6,000 people from all sorts of religious backgrounds set aside their differences for an hour inside UB's Alumni Arena.

The Dalai Lama, who spoke briefly and without notes, emphasized the importance of spirituality in people's lives and encouraged harmony among faith groups.

He acknowledged strife among faiths, but insisted that religion can still play a positive role in developing happier and better human beings.

"We need religious spirituality," he said. "Please practice sincerely and seriously. Religious teaching should be part of our daily life."

The remarkable service brought the red-and-gold robed Dalai Lama on a dais with a Muslim imam, Catholic bishop, Baptist preacher and Jewish rabbi, as well as 10 other clergy and area religious leaders.

"I don't think we've ever had that kind of gathering in Buffalo before, certainly not in my time here," said Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, who was seated directly to the Dalai Lama's left.

Nawang Khechog's Tibetan flute-playing, which sounded at times like a flock of finches chirping around a backyard feeder, started the event.

Several dozen religious leaders, including a group of eight Tibetan monks, then proceeded into the arena, greeted by a group of children from UB's Early Childhood Research Center and a traditional performance by a delegation of Haudenosaunee, the first people to settle in Western New York.

There were readings, prayers and chants from sacred texts, as well as a ritual gonging and three minutes of meditative silence.

Rabbi Jerry Seidler sang a contemporary Jewish peace song in Hebrew and in English. Sawsan Tabbaa read a verse from the Quran in Arabic; her son, Hassan Shibly, followed her, reciting the passage in English.

"It was a needed service for this community at a time when people were suffering and turning away from peace. This was so much needed at this time," Tabbaa said afterward.

Dr. Kailash Lall, who marched in the procession, said he was happy to see so many religious groups working in harmony.

"We're trying to get everybody together. It's a very good opportunity for people of different faiths to express their own views and accept other peoples' views in a positive manner," said Lall, a Hindu.

The Dalai Lama sat in a large chair between Kmiec and Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede of the Rochester Zen Center, often responding to a reading or prayer by clasping his hands and nodding slightly.

Entering the arena, he greeted enthusiastic spectators with a wide, cherubic smile and outstretched arms.

"It was really amazing to be in the same room as him," said Amy Lipsitz of Buffalo. "Just to see him sitting there with all those other people, and seeing the energy come off him."

"He's got the most wonderful smile and expression," added Janet Grossman of Elma.

The service was especially important in light of so much global conflict, she said.

"The world right now - there's so much unrest, so much poverty, so much war going on everywhere," said Grossman. "I think people need to realize we can all work together."

The Dalai Lama, with a bow to the crowd and the religious leaders on stage, took to the podium at 4:30 p.m.

Before his commentary on materialism and the value of religion, he lightened the solemnity of the event with his characteristic humor.

Struggling for the exact words to describe the performance of a group of UB theatre and dance students - who did a series of interpretive dances on the running track located above the seating in the arena - he compared them to "angels from different directions come to bless us."

Then, he added, with a hearty laugh, "Something like that."

The crowd roared with its own laughter.

He also poked fun at a minor mistake in the otherwise well-planned program. The master of ceremonies, Bert Gambini, had introduced a Baha'i prayer; instead, a woman took the microphone and read a popular Christian prayer.

"Everything precise, except the announcements there," noted the Dalai Lama, glancing playfully in the direction of Gambini.

Again, laughter.

He spoke for about 15 minutes and didn't disappoint.

"He didn't have to say much, just being there was enough," said Bob Merritt, 62, a practicing Buddhist from the Town of Tonawanda. "He just has a charisma about him."

Anyone who attended the service was handed a thin yellow string. Toward the end, they were asked to help each other tie the strings around their wrists, as a gesture of mutuality and good faith.

The Dalai Lama tied the string around Kmiec's wrist.

He then handed out embroidered white silk scarves, known as khatas, to Kmiec and other religious leaders on the dais - a sign of reciprocating blessing.

The group proceeded out of the arena after a performance by the the Nu Revelation Choir of True Bethel Baptist Church.

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It never stops. Sigh!