So I was at a ground blessing1 this morning with the Dalai Lama at Emory. Goofy guy, it turns out.
After a bit of going on about religion and politics and history, he pauses to say, “But of course the most important thing is that I will become an Emory professor tomorrow…a hopeless professor.” The monks all giggle.
Toward the end, he bumps into a pitcher of water—silencing the room for just a moment—spilling just a little on himself and Emory’s President. The Dalai Lama says, “I’ve been baptized!” Emory’s startled President responds, “Oh no! Oh! Yes…” Everyone laughs.
But in the middle of his address, he lifts up India as a model of religious tolerance, then starts to compare Tibet to India. He pulls his orange robe over his head, saying, “We Tibetans are just cold Indians!” And then pretends to shiver.
You heard it here folks. The boddhisatva does physical comedy.
- Since when is there something wrong with breaking ground? But maybe then you have to fix it? [↩]
Yeah… I noticed his levity very quickly at Centennial Park. He was right in the middle of telling a story when he realized he had forgotten it. “Oh well, Sorry… I forgot,” and moved on. He also says he a lazy professor and doesn’t like to give out homework. Not only very wise, but very likable.