The Book of Joy

humanity in this way. Indeed, no one is incapable of forgiving and no one
is unforgivable.”
“I want to mention,” the Dalai Lama said, “one of my friends from
northern Ireland, Richard Moore. His story is very, very touching. He was
age nine or ten during the troubles in northern Ireland, when a British
soldier shot him with a rubber bullet as he was on his way to school.” The
Dalai Lama was pointing directly between the eyes where the rubber
bullet had hit. “He fainted, and when he recovered he was at the hospital,
having lost both of his eyes. He realized that he would no longer be able
to see his mother’s face.
“He continued studying and eventually he got married and had two
girls. Then he found the British soldier who shot him in the head so he
could communicate his forgiveness. They became very good friends, and
on one occasion, at my personal invitation, they both came to
Dharamsala. I wanted Richard to share his deeply moving story of
forgiveness with Tibetans, especially the students at the Tibetan
Children’s Village. In introducing Richard Moore to the students and
teachers there, I mentioned that he is my hero.
“Then Richard invited me to visit northern Ireland, and when I saw
him with his family there, I teased him. ‘Your wife is very beautiful.
Your two daughters are also very beautiful. But you can’t see. I can, so I
can enjoy seeing their beauty.’ I describe him as my real hero. That’s
really a human being.”
“Your Holiness, this brings us to a question from a boy named Jack,
who writes, ‘Your Holiness, I wish you a happy eightieth birthday from
the bottom of my heart. I hope that your next year is full of joy, success,
and many great things. I have the utmost respect for you and your people
and for your undying message of kindness and forgiveness. Yet I wonder,
can you forgive China for all of the harm and pain they have caused you
and your people? Do they deserve it? Thank you, Your Holiness, and have
a wonderful birthday.’”
The Dalai Lama’s hands were pressed together as if in prayer as he
began, “The other day, I mentioned the 10th of March 2008, when
spontaneous protests began in Tibet. I deliberately tried to keep