Remembering September 11th
September 11, 2007
This is always such a difficult day, isn’t it? For the last six years, September 11th has been a consistently blue day for me…I am still so terribly saddened by the historic events that changed our country on this day and I am so discouraged by how we’ve reacted to them. Unfortunately, a mysterious backache kept me sidelined all day today, so I sat perched in my bed- laptop by my side- watching a stream of coverage in remembrance. After a full day of sorrow, I met my friend Robin for a dose of hope- which is what I so desperately needed.
We attended a screening of 10 Questions for the Dalai Lama at Columbia’s Nickelodeon Theater. An amazing film about the hostile takeover of Tibet and the mission of Tenzin Gyatso, it was both powerful and moving- a celebration of hope and nonviolence. It was particularly special as my Geshe-la (Buddhist teacher) spoke immediately following the film. He’s a Tibetan refugee himself and a man possessed of an intoxicating cocktail of courage and calm. He spoke of how peace begins in our hearts, of how we must refuse to rise to anger, of how we should strive to be people of compassion and kindness. It was a critical message on a very important day.
Robin and I took in a bit of jasmine tea and Asian stir fry immediately following the screening, as we indulged in some daydreaming about how we’d love to take our children to Nepal and Bhutan. Robin- be forewarned- I have already looked into which airport to fly into and I am deadly serious. Until we can make it to the other side of the world, we’re trekking to Atlanta next month to see His Holiness The Dalai Lama in person. Regardless of your religious leanings, I invite you to come if you feel so moved. There’s a public talk on Monday, October 22nd- free and open to the public- where His Holiness will address the community.
May we all have a dose of hope and peace today…and every day.
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