[Ailist] The Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education

[Christine Whitney Sanchez]

Dear Bill,

Thank you for sharing your own experience and turning us on to the wonderful
resources at http://www.dalailamacenter.org/.  

In September 1993, I had the profound pleasure of being with the Dalai Lama
at a five day retreat in Tucson, AZ (along with 5,000 other kindred spirits)
as he shared his teaching and practice on patience.  A few years later, I
discovered Appreciative Inquiry and Open Space Technology.  

Today, I often use AI,  OST and World Café in concert because they liberate
the human spirit while reminding us of our deep connections, passions and
willingness to act on behalf of the whole.  In my experience, each of these
methods embody the practice of patience and help us to tap into the ocean of
compassion.

Namasté,   

Christine
 
Christine Whitney Sanchez
KAIROS Alliance Inc.
2717 E. Mountain Sky Avenue
Phoenix, AZ  85048
480.759.0262
www.kairosalliance.com

-----Original Message-----
From: ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu
[mailto:ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu] On Behalf Of Bill Scott
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 7:47 AM
To: ailist at lists.business.utah.edu
Subject: [Ailist] The Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education

Hello all,

 

With all of the posts related to 9/11, I was somewhat reluctant to break the
mood and thread of this very important conversation. I also apologize for
what I know will be a lengthy post.

 

When I rethought whether to send this post now or wait a few days. I
realized that what I wanted to tell you about is ever so closely connected
to the tragic events of
5 years ago. More importantly, it is connected to the healing that must
occur if we are ever to witness the end of terrorist activities. 

 

This past weekend, the Vancouver Dialogues brought together a wide range of
spiritual, social and corporate leaders, health care professionals,
academics, children, youth and the general public to discuss meaningful
topics such as cultivating happiness, nurturing compassion, and educating
the heart. The Vancouver Dialogues introduced the world to the Dalai Lama
Center for Peace and Education - the first and only Center to bear the name
of His Holiness.

 

When I think of the events of 9/11 as an outsider, it strikes me that the
lessons that the Dalai Lama conveyed over this past weekend are exactly the
ones that we need to heed if events like 9/11 are ever to be confined to a
reprehensible and disgraceful past.

 

Over the course of three days, His Holiness engaged children and youth in a
dialogue on nurturing compassion and one on educating the heart. He heard
their stories and then answered their questions. On the second day, the
Dalai Lama spoke with scholars and researchers about the impact of happiness
and stress as determinants of mental health. He also captivated close to
18,000 people filling a hockey rink to hear his thoughts on cultivating
happiness - and doing so inclusively, with every effort to honour the
experiences of secular, spiritual and religiously based individuals.

 

On the final day, the Dalai Lama met with 120 social and corporate leaders
from around the world. These individuals had met the previous 2 days in
sessions facilitated in part by Peter Senge and Peter Block. Their purpose
was to seek the Dalai Lama's thoughts and insight relative to a wide range
of matters where the interests of their two groups converge. It was a
remarkable session to witness on the final day as these distinguished
leaders engaged in dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

 

And perhaps best of all, these dialogues were recorded and can be viewed by
anyone interested in the materials on a web site launched by the Center.

 

As part of the celebration of His Holiness's visit to Canada, a rare honour
was bestowed upon him. The 14th Dalai Lama became the third honourary
citizen of our country. His predecessors are Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish
diplomat who saved thousands of Hungarian Jews during the Second World War
and Nelson Mandela. To say he is in rare company is to say that AI is a
strengths-based model - it states the obvious and nothing more. 

 

As a simple volunteer blessed with the privilege of observing an
extraordinary series of events that also happens to be a member of this
List, I invite you to visit the web site at http://www.dalailamacenter.org/,
peruse the materials there and get involved at whatever level feels
comfortable to you.

 

Regards,

Bill Scott

Vancouver, B.C., Canada

 

World peace must develop out of inner peace. 
        - Dalai Lama

 

 

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