The Book of Joy

We have to live together. In order to live happily, we must respect each
other’s traditions. I really admire other traditions.”
“Kofi Annan, when he was in his last year, set up a commission,” the
Archbishop added. “They called it the High Level Panel, a rather
pompous title. We were from all traditions, and despite our diversity, we
produced a unanimous report. We concluded, ‘There is nothing wrong
with faiths. The problem is the faithful.’”
“That’s true, that’s true,” the Dalai Lama agreed.
I asked what we must do about intolerance and fanaticism, which was
flaring all around the world.
“Education and wider contact are really the only solutions,” the Dalai
Lama replied. “I have gone to make pilgrimages to holy sites all over the
world—such as Fátima in Portugal, the Wailing Wall and Dome of the
Rock in Jerusalem. One time I was in Barcelona, Spain, and I met a
Christian monk who had spent five years in the mountains living as a
hermit—with very few hot meals. I asked him what his practice was, and
he said the practice of love. When he answered, there was something very
special in his eyes. This is really the practice at the core of all the world’s
religions—love. I didn’t think to myself when I met this holy man:
‘Unfortunately he’s not a Buddhist,’ or ‘It’s too bad he’s a Christian.’”
“I often say to people, ‘Do you really think that . . .’” the Archbishop
began. But the Dalai Lama had turned to one of the monks who was
serving food. The Archbishop pretended to scold him: “Are you
listening?”
The Dalai Lama, who had missed the Archbishop’s comment,
launched in with, “So, that shows, really . . .”
The Archbishop continued to pretend that he was offended. “You see?
He’s not listening.”
“Unless you use the stick, I will not listen,” the Dalai Lama said,
laughing.
“But I thought you were nonviolent!”
“Now, please, you speak more. I should concentrate on eating. This is
my last meal of the day.” In the Buddhist monastic tradition, the Dalai
Lama eats only two meals a day, breakfast and lunch.