Archive for September, 2009
Dalai Lama jokes of being ‘lazy student’ after receiving honorary degree
September 30th, 2009 | 
Author: CALGARY – The Dalai Lama was welcomed to Calgary on Wednesday with a white cowboy hat reserved for distinguished visitors and an honorary degree that he joked was especially appreciated because he’d always been a “lazy student.”
Speaking to an audience of 15,000, made up largely of students ranging in age from elementary school to university, the Tibetan spiritual leader recalled being given ancient texts at an early age that he couldn’t seem to memorize.
He told the crowd his tutor had two whips – a yellow one for the “holy student” and another for the other pupils.
“If the holy whip is used, I don’t think there’s any difference of holy pain,” he said, laughing.
The Dalai Lama is in the city for the first time in three decades to take part in a conference organized by the University of Calgary, which awarded him the degree.
In his opening address, he said that people need to change their thinking from us versus them to realizing we are all fundamentally the same.
Everyone is loved the same by their mother and grows up with that essential affection and capacity for understanding, he said.
“In our blood, the seed of compassion is there.”
He also said that the path to peace is not just a lack of war, but a deliberate and determined attempt to avoid violence. He called former U.S. president George W. Bush a very nice man who entered conflict in Iraq with good intentions.
“But the method is violent … so unexpected consequences happen.”
Earlier in the day, the Dalai Lama was welcomed at the airport by Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier, who placed a white cowboy hat on his head, a traditional western welcome.
The Tibetan spiritual leader laughed as he tried to figure out which way the hat fit on his head. He then posed for pictures wearing his traditional scarlet and gold robes, with the white hat perched atop his head and one furry mitten on his hand.
He made a fist with the mitten, one of a number of small gifts from First Nations groups, then chuckled, turning to shake Bronconnier’s hand before being presented with a white scarf – a symbolic Tibetan greeting.
Former South African president and Nobel laureate F.W. de Klerk also spoke at the conference, which was aimed at getting students to think about how they can help those in their community.
South Africa barred the Dalai Lama from a peace conference in Johannesburg in March, saying the government didn’t want to endanger its relationship with China.
China claims Tibet as part of its territory and accuses the Dalai Lama of touring the world with an agenda of separation for the region. The Communist regime doesn’t like when world leaders choose to meet with him.
The Dalai Lama fled China as a young man in 1959 after a failed uprising against community rule and has lived in exile in India ever since. He has since said he isn’t campaigning for outright Tibetan independence but rather meaningful autonomy and democracy.
De Klerk withdrew from South Africa’s conference in protest of the country’s decision to deny the Dalai Lama entrance. He said Wednesday that Canada has set a good example by inviting the Dalai Lama because he espouses “tolerance and compassion.”
“Who could be against that?” de Klerk asked.
“(The South African government) must just get their own house in order and resist pressure from China and say we take our own decision.”
The Dalai Lama appeared in Vancouver earlier this week, telling a peace summit that technology may be eliminating compassion. The 74-year-old leader warned that the 20th century was one of violence and he urged those in attendance to make the 21st century a peaceful one.
His last visit to Canada, in 2007, was greeted with controversy when China objected to his public meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He had been granted honorary Canadian citizenship a year earlier.
University of Calgary president Harvey Weingarten said this visit is about spreading peace and he has not heard of any plans of protests.
Weingarten said he hopes the Dalai Lama’s appearance will encourage students to think about what they can do to help others.
“Most of us worry about what is the future of our community, what kind of community are we trying to build, what will the future look like for our children,” he said. “These kind of themes are exactly the kind of themes that someone like the Dalai Lama prompts us to think about in a deep way.”
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Dalai Lama jokes of being ‘lazy student’ after receiving honorary degree
CALGARY – The Dalai Lama was welcomed to Calgary on Wednesday with a white cowboy hat reserved for distinguished visitors and an honorary degree that he joked was especially appreciated because he’d always been a “lazy student.”
Speaking to an audience of 15,000, made up largely of students ranging in age from elementary school to university, the Tibetan spiritual leader recalled being given ancient texts at an early age that he couldn’t seem to memorize.
He told the crowd his tutor had two whips – a yellow one for the “holy student” and another for the other pupils.
“If the holy whip is used, I don’t think there’s any difference of holy pain,” he said, laughing.
The Dalai Lama is in the city for the first time in three decades to take part in a conference organized by the University of Calgary, which awarded him the degree.
In his opening address, he said that people need to change their thinking from us versus them to realizing we are all fundamentally the same.
Everyone is loved the same by their mother and grows up with that essential affection and capacity for understanding, he said.
“In our blood, the seed of compassion is there.”
He also said that the path to peace is not just a lack of war, but a deliberate and determined attempt to avoid violence. He called former U.S. president George W. Bush a very nice man who entered conflict in Iraq with good intentions.
“But the method is violent … so unexpected consequences happen.”
Earlier in the day, the Dalai Lama was welcomed at the airport by Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier, who placed a white cowboy hat on his head, a traditional western welcome.
The Tibetan spiritual leader laughed as he tried to figure out which way the hat fit on his head. He then posed for pictures wearing his traditional scarlet and gold robes, with the white hat perched atop his head and one furry mitten on his hand.
He made a fist with the mitten, one of a number of small gifts from First Nations groups, then chuckled, turning to shake Bronconnier’s hand before being presented with a white scarf – a symbolic Tibetan greeting.
Former South African president and Nobel laureate F.W. de Klerk also spoke at the conference, which was aimed at getting students to think about how they can help those in their community.
South Africa barred the Dalai Lama from a peace conference in Johannesburg in March, saying the government didn’t want to endanger its relationship with China.
China claims Tibet as part of its territory and accuses the Dalai Lama of touring the world with an agenda of separation for the region. The Communist regime doesn’t like when world leaders choose to meet with him.
The Dalai Lama fled China as a young man in 1959 after a failed uprising against community rule and has lived in exile in India ever since. He has since said he isn’t campaigning for outright Tibetan independence but rather meaningful autonomy and democracy.
De Klerk withdrew from South Africa’s conference in protest of the country’s decision to deny the Dalai Lama entrance. He said Wednesday that Canada has set a good example by inviting the Dalai Lama because he espouses “tolerance and compassion.”
“Who could be against that?” de Klerk asked.
“(The South African government) must just get their own house in order and resist pressure from China and say we take our own decision.”
The Dalai Lama appeared in Vancouver earlier this week, telling a peace summit that technology may be eliminating compassion. The 74-year-old leader warned that the 20th century was one of violence and he urged those in attendance to make the 21st century a peaceful one.
His last visit to Canada, in 2007, was greeted with controversy when China objected to his public meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He had been granted honorary Canadian citizenship a year earlier.
University of Calgary president Harvey Weingarten said this visit is about spreading peace and he has not heard of any plans of protests.
Weingarten said he hopes the Dalai Lama’s appearance will encourage students to think about what they can do to help others.
“Most of us worry about what is the future of our community, what kind of community are we trying to build, what will the future look like for our children,” he said. “These kind of themes are exactly the kind of themes that someone like the Dalai Lama prompts us to think about in a deep way.”
Dalai Lama jokes of being ‘lazy student’ after receiving honorary degree
CALGARY – The Dalai Lama was welcomed to Calgary on Wednesday with a white cowboy hat reserved for distinguished visitors and an honorary degree that he joked was especially appreciated because he’d always been a “lazy student.”
Speaking to an audience of 15,000, made up largely of students ranging in age from elementary school to university, the Tibetan spiritual leader recalled being given ancient texts at an early age that he couldn’t seem to memorize.
He told the crowd his tutor had two whips – a yellow one for the “holy student” and another for the other pupils.
“If the holy whip is used, I don’t think there’s any difference of holy pain,” he said, laughing.
The Dalai Lama is in the city for the first time in three decades to take part in a conference organized by the University of Calgary, which awarded him the degree.
In his opening address, he said that people need to change their thinking from us versus them to realizing we are all fundamentally the same.
Everyone is loved the same by their mother and grows up with that essential affection and capacity for understanding, he said.
“In our blood, the seed of compassion is there.”
He also said that the path to peace is not just a lack of war, but a deliberate and determined attempt to avoid violence. He called former U.S. president George W. Bush a very nice man who entered conflict in Iraq with good intentions.
“But the method is violent … so unexpected consequences happen.”
Earlier in the day, the Dalai Lama was welcomed at the airport by Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier, who placed a white cowboy hat on his head, a traditional western welcome.
The Tibetan spiritual leader laughed as he tried to figure out which way the hat fit on his head. He then posed for pictures wearing his traditional scarlet and gold robes, with the white hat perched atop his head and one furry mitten on his hand.
He made a fist with the mitten, one of a number of small gifts from First Nations groups, then chuckled, turning to shake Bronconnier’s hand before being presented with a white scarf – a symbolic Tibetan greeting.
Former South African president and Nobel laureate F.W. de Klerk also spoke at the conference, which was aimed at getting students to think about how they can help those in their community.
South Africa barred the Dalai Lama from a peace conference in Johannesburg in March, saying the government didn’t want to endanger its relationship with China.
China claims Tibet as part of its territory and accuses the Dalai Lama of touring the world with an agenda of separation for the region. The Communist regime doesn’t like when world leaders choose to meet with him.
The Dalai Lama fled China as a young man in 1959 after a failed uprising against community rule and has lived in exile in India ever since. He has since said he isn’t campaigning for outright Tibetan independence but rather meaningful autonomy and democracy.
De Klerk withdrew from South Africa’s conference in protest of the country’s decision to deny the Dalai Lama entrance. He said Wednesday that Canada has set a good example by inviting the Dalai Lama because he espouses “tolerance and compassion.”
“Who could be against that?” de Klerk asked.
“(The South African government) must just get their own house in order and resist pressure from China and say we take our own decision.”
The Dalai Lama appeared in Vancouver earlier this week, telling a peace summit that technology may be eliminating compassion. The 74-year-old leader warned that the 20th century was one of violence and he urged those in attendance to make the 21st century a peaceful one.
His last visit to Canada, in 2007, was greeted with controversy when China objected to his public meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He had been granted honorary Canadian citizenship a year earlier.
University of Calgary president Harvey Weingarten said this visit is about spreading peace and he has not heard of any plans of protests.
Weingarten said he hopes the Dalai Lama’s appearance will encourage students to think about what they can do to help others.
“Most of us worry about what is the future of our community, what kind of community are we trying to build, what will the future look like for our children,” he said. “These kind of themes are exactly the kind of themes that someone like the Dalai Lama prompts us to think about in a deep way.”
Alberta should call inquiry into murder-suicide of father and autistic son
EDMONTON – The Alberta NDP is calling on the Stelmach government to hold an inquiry into the murder-suicide of a man and his 11-year-old son who had autism.
Rachel Notley says questions have been raised about whether the deceased child’s family received adequate help from the health-care system or through government funded community supports.
Karen Phillips, program director for the Autism Society of Edmonton Area, says the mother said her husband couldn’t cope anymore with his son’s situation and was worried his son wasn’t going to get what he needed.
Police found the bodies of a 39-year-old man and his son in the basement of their Edmonton home on Sunday.
Philips said the government and community must step forward to offer parents of autistic children more support, especially for emergency relief.
Notley says the government has an obligation to care for seriously ill children and adults, regardless of whether they live in an institution or in the community.
She also expressed concern over recent changes to mental health legislation.
“The government is closing mental health beds and downloading the burden of care onto families that already have difficulty coping. “
“They’re enhancing demand for mental health beds while at the same time cutting supply. It seems the right hand doesn’t know what the left is doing.”
Police say the causes of their deaths have not been released, at the request of the mother to protect her remaining young son.
Philips noted there are no emergency services for autistic people when parents lose control.
The 11-year-old spent 20 hours strapped to a hospital bed, screaming, said Phillips.
She said it was the breaking point – after 10 years of home care, the family sought to have their son sent out for care.
Alberta should call inquiry into murder-suicide of father and autistic son
EDMONTON – The Alberta NDP is calling on the Stelmach government to hold an inquiry into the murder-suicide of a man and his 11-year-old son who had autism.
Rachel Notley says questions have been raised about whether the deceased child’s family received adequate help from the health-care system or through government funded community supports.
Karen Phillips, program director for the Autism Society of Edmonton Area, says the mother said her husband couldn’t cope anymore with his son’s situation and was worried his son wasn’t going to get what he needed.
Police found the bodies of a 39-year-old man and his son in the basement of their Edmonton home on Sunday.
Philips said the government and community must step forward to offer parents of autistic children more support, especially for emergency relief.
Notley says the government has an obligation to care for seriously ill children and adults, regardless of whether they live in an institution or in the community.
She also expressed concern over recent changes to mental health legislation.
“The government is closing mental health beds and downloading the burden of care onto families that already have difficulty coping. “
“They’re enhancing demand for mental health beds while at the same time cutting supply. It seems the right hand doesn’t know what the left is doing.”
Police say the causes of their deaths have not been released, at the request of the mother to protect her remaining young son.
Philips noted there are no emergency services for autistic people when parents lose control.
The 11-year-old spent 20 hours strapped to a hospital bed, screaming, said Phillips.
She said it was the breaking point – after 10 years of home care, the family sought to have their son sent out for care.
Alberta should call inquiry into murder-suicide of father and autistic son
EDMONTON – The Alberta NDP is calling on the Stelmach government to hold an inquiry into the murder-suicide of a man and his 11-year-old son who had autism.
Rachel Notley says questions have been raised about whether the deceased child’s family received adequate help from the health-care system or through government funded community supports.
Karen Phillips, program director for the Autism Society of Edmonton Area, says the mother said her husband couldn’t cope anymore with his son’s situation and was worried his son wasn’t going to get what he needed.
Police found the bodies of a 39-year-old man and his son in the basement of their Edmonton home on Sunday.
Philips said the government and community must step forward to offer parents of autistic children more support, especially for emergency relief.
Notley says the government has an obligation to care for seriously ill children and adults, regardless of whether they live in an institution or in the community.
She also expressed concern over recent changes to mental health legislation.
“The government is closing mental health beds and downloading the burden of care onto families that already have difficulty coping. “
“They’re enhancing demand for mental health beds while at the same time cutting supply. It seems the right hand doesn’t know what the left is doing.”
Police say the causes of their deaths have not been released, at the request of the mother to protect her remaining young son.
Philips noted there are no emergency services for autistic people when parents lose control.
The 11-year-old spent 20 hours strapped to a hospital bed, screaming, said Phillips.
She said it was the breaking point – after 10 years of home care, the family sought to have their son sent out for care.