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Here's another "backupdate."
I am delighted that I was able to buy a ticket for the Interfaith Ceremony held in UB's Alumni Arena Monday, September 18. It was scheduled to start at 4pm with doors open at 3, so -of course- I got there at 2pm. Especially after Sunday's Sacred Music Sacred Dance performance, I begged my Mom to bring Aidan and stop in with me to see the Mandala. Between traffic and parking, she begged off. I don't blame her. It was logistically straining.
Anyhow, I spent some of the time going in and watching the mandala. I think I stood there for a good half hour, watching the monks work, before I even had an inkling that I should move on. After that, I went into the Arena. Checkpoints hadn't even been set up yet. The volunteer ushers were all standing around waiting to be called in for their briefing. Once they filed off for information, I took a seat on the steps.
I find it interesting that I am a shy person more often than not, yet in situations like this I end up talking with total strangers. I chatted with a woman on the steps, just some small talk about the Dalai Lama and why we were there.
After awhile, I realized that my ticket had a section number on it. So much for general seating. I went up the stairs and followed the signs to find the right door in front of which to wait in a line. As more arrived and the scraggly queue turned into a press of people, I ended up conversing with a woman who seemed familiar though we'd never met before.
When I asked her what brought her to see the Dalai Lama, she told me a beautiful tale. She'd lived in an old farmhouse previously. At one point she and her family needed a stone wall built in front. I do not recall how the arrangement was initiated, but they hired a group of Tibetan monks to build their stone wall for them. She told of their hard work, that they would not even stop for food or drink if her family did not offer it. As the work progressed, they became friends. She recalled inviting them along for a trip to the lake for swimming, which they had not done before. She told of a reception her family held, which the monks catered, cooking wonderful dishes as a gift to them. She even allowed them to carve the words "Free Tibet," written in Tibetan, into the keystone. Simply by sharing a space in line with this woman, I was given the gift of this glimpse into this special friendship
As the heat generated by bodies got stifling, the doors opened. With my program I was given a saffron-colored string and told not to let it drop. At first I was sent in the wrong direction, but another usher set me straight. The man right behind me at first, was behind me again as I headed to section 117. When I figured out that a row letter was printed on my ticket as well, I looked up and saw his face in the row I was assigned.
In the noise of the crowd it was difficult to hear his name. From the moment I sat down until the service began, we talked. He was originally South Korean. He mentioned that his mother was Buddhist. He had been going to a Methodist church until a member of the church was visiting, noticed that he had a statue of Mary and Jesus, and told him that it wasn't OK for a Methodist to keep images like that. That put him off Methodism. Now he's been looking into Buddhism, but is generally not that religious. After telling him my interests and aspirations, I learned that he was a doctor. I asked him if he liked his job. He tried to skirt around the question, but admitted that late nights on call followed by long days were tough. I can imagine!
For the prelude of the ceremony, they had Tibetan flute master Nawang Khechog play. Then a delegation of the Haudenosaunee danced and sang while a panel of community religious leaders and the Dalai Lama processed in. Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede from the Rochester Zen Center was seated at the Dalai Lama's right hand! Prayers of many varieties were offered: Lakota, Jewish (in Hebrew and English), Christian, Muslim (in Arabic and English), Sikh, Hindu (in Sanskrit and English), Buddhist, and Unitarian Universalists were represented by a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "The Oversoul." There was supposed to be a Baha'i prayer as well, but it seemed to be skipped over. Between each selection, dancers from UB's theatre department did interpretive dance moves with scarves and backlighting, adding emphasis and allowing time for pause and reflection.
With the ringing of a Japanese monastic bell, we were given three minutes for silent meditation. Three minutes is really on the short side for that, but in a program this involved the time limit is understandable. Still, I was just really sinking into the meditative state when the bell rang again to end it.
A responsive reading followed the meditation. The repetition for those attending was, "We are peace -- we make peace. That's really what the Dalai Lama's message was about: peace, communication, understanding, and learning from one another. When he spoke, he complimented those who organized the program on its uniqueness, especially regarding the interpretive dance. He was personable and, over anything else, human. He emphasized the importance of practicing our spirituality every day, whichever path we are on. Even for those without a spirituality, he encouraged reflection on and appreciation of life. He also encouraged open dialogue between people of different faiths, since we all have much to learn from one another. His words were practical, straightforward, and heartfelt.
Next, the focus shifted from the stand to the seating. It was time to pull out those saffron-colored strings. We were asked to tie it for someone seated nearby and to have ours tied in return. After our long conversation earlier, I was honored to tie one on the doctor seated beside me, and for him to tie mine. I might not recognize him in a crowd, or even remember his name, but I will remember that conversation for years to come. That string is still around my wrist, since the Buddhist custom is to wear them until they fall off. It serves both as a blessing and as a reminder.
On the way out of the building, I saw ushers with more strings. Since
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mechanchaos couldn't be there with me, I picked one up for him. When he arrived back late that evening, I tied it on him as I told him about the event. He, too, is wearing his still. While I was waiting for my mom to return and pick me up, I noticed a car go by with a woman waving. An instant later it hit me: that was the woman I'd spoken with on the stairs. She remembered me and waved. A little belatedly, I waved back with a smile. I don't know if she saw, but I hope so.
Sometimes touching each others lives for but a moment can have a lasting impact.
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... and now I've gotten distracted by work, and I can't remember what the actually /relevant/ thing I was going to say was. I've re-skimmed the post several times, and nothing is triggering my memory. Mnrg.
What is Lakota? I'm not familiar with that term.
It sounds like a beautiful experience, and I'm glad you were able to be there for it.
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Lakota is a Native American people.
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Re: Lakota, interesting that I hadn't heard the term before. Not that I'm an expert or anything. *chalks it up as something new learned today*
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I first learned a little about the Lakota watching the animated movie Spirit with Aidan.
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*GIANT HUGE MONSTROUS HUGS OF DOOM!*
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For me, it goes back to the Theatre Director at Sacred Heart Academy. His axiom was, "Early is on time. On time is late. Late is wholly unacceptable."
I've got a long road to letting go of perfectionism...