His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 2019
Dalai Lama embraces a commitment to inner and world peace
A breathtaking climb by compact car in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India served as a metaphor for one of its occupants, Bishop Thomas Zinkula of the Diocese of Davenport. Following months of planning and a 7,200-mile overseas journey, the bishop was about to have a mountaintop experience with one of the world’s preeminent peacemakers: the Dalai Lama.
On that chilly morning of March 4, 2019, Bishop Zinkula anticipated presenting the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award to the Dalai Lama, the 83-year-old spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists and 1989 Nobel Peace Prize recipient. The Norwegian Nobel Committee honored him for his nonviolent efforts seeking to liberate Tibet and his concern for care of the earth.
People worldwide admire the humble Buddhist monk for his lifelong commitment to setting an example of cultivating inner peace and world peace. So it did not surprise Bishop Zinkula to see large groups of people mingling inside and outside the reception area of the temple complex where the Dalai Lama lives. Stacks of passports sat atop a security officer’s desk in the crowded reception room as visitors waited for an audience with the renowned peacemaker, who drew people from around the world to his home in Dharamsala, in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The Tibetan government-in-exile also makes its home there.
Bishop Zinkula’s 10-minute audience was to take place between 10 and 11 a.m. At 11:20 a.m., he was still waiting but another group ahead of his group of three traded places. As the bishop, his priest friend and a diocesan reporter were escorted into a comfortable room with couches, the Dalai Lama rose from his chair, with a bit of assistance. A warm smile formed on his face and he extended his hand in greeting to each guest.
After everyone took a seat, Bishop Zinkula shared a brief description and history of the Pacem award before presenting it to the Dalai Lama. “The Pacem in Terris Coalition of the Quad Cities recognizes your vision and your commitment to human rights, world peace and the nonviolent resolution of conflict. It is clear from your words and deeds that you are a person who is deeply rooted in the spirit of peace,” the bishop read from the plaque. “Your leadership to promote respect for the dignity and culture of the Tibetan people fills all oppressed people with hope that peace can overcome injustice.”
The Dalai Lama listened attentively and took special notice when Bishop Zinkula read the list of member groups that comprise the coalition, which nominated the humble peacemaker. He turned to an aid with a pleased expression on his face, clearly impressed with the coalition’s diversity.
Speaking in English, the Dalai Lama described the award as a great honor. He said that despite different views among the religions of the world, all convey the same message of love. All human beings are children of God, the Father. All 7 billion of them are truly brothers and sisters, human beings of the same nature, so all should love and respect one another.
He recalled that someone once asked him at the time what it felt like to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He said he told his questioner that as an individual, as a Buddhist monk, he felt no more, no less than before receiving the award. He viewed that award as recognition of “my little contribution” to world peace. He felt the same way about the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award. He saw it as recognition of his “little contribution” to world peace. Then approaching his 84th birthday (July 6), he told Bishop Zinkula that he has spent almost his entire life dedicated to inner peace and world peace.
He told Bishop Zinkula that today’s world very much needs the peace message. Tensions between India and Pakistan at the time of the bishop’s visit underscored that message. The brief audience didn’t allow time for the bishop to discuss the situation with the Dalai Lama. However, three days earlier, Indiatvnews.com described the Buddhist leader as a voice of calm amidst tensions between India and Pakistan. The news website referenced the Dalai Lama’s tweet that day: “The kind of behavior that really is spiritual practice consists of refraining from falsehood and abiding by the truth, neither humiliating nor mocking others, being humble, and having a good heart and helping others.”
The Dalai Lama has been practicing what he preaches for decades. In 1959, he was forced to flee from Tibet “following the brutal suppression of the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa by Chinese troops,” according to his website. “China views the Dalai Lama as a threat to its efforts to control Tibet and Buddhism.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, with Bishop Zinkula
In 1987, the Dalai Lama proposed a “Five-Point Peace Plan for the restoration of peace and human rights in Tibet,” the International Campaign for Tibet said (https://tinyurl.com/2p9d9kwc). The plan called for:
Transformation of Tibet into a demilitarized zone of peace and non-violence.
Abandonment of China’s population transfer policy, which threatened the existence of the Tibetans as a people.
Respect for the Tibetan people’s fundamental human rights and democratic freedoms.
Restoration of and protection of Tibet’s natural environment and abandonment of China’s use of Tibet for production of nuclear weapons and dumping of nuclear waste.
Commencement of negotiations on the future status of Tibet and of relations between the Tibetan and Chinese people.
“[P]ressure tactics by China have thwarted efforts to make substantive headway to resolve the issue,” the International Campaign for Tibet said.
The Dalai Lama does not give up. His commitment to working for the wellbeing of his fellow Tibetans and all people requires the practice of compassion. On July 6, 2022, the Dalai Lama celebrated his 87th birthday expressing gratitude for warm greetings and good wishes. “Your words are a firm support to my efforts to be of service to others,” he said in a post on his website. “My message, based on simple logical reasoning, is that compassion – caring for the wellbeing of others – is essential. Regardless of one’s beliefs, it is important to be compassionate in our everyday lives. He noted, “Through cultivating peace of mind within ourselves, I believe that there is a real opportunity for the world to become a more peaceful place” (dalailama.com).
Bishop Zinkula’s expectation that the Dalai Lama would exude peace, love, joy and warmth was reaffirmed in their 10-minute visit, a visit that culminated a years-long dream of both the bishop and the Pacem in Terris Coalition to honor one of the world’s most respected peacemakers.
Usually, the award’s distinguished recipients — including Martin Luther King Jr., Desmond Tutu and Dorothy Day — travel to Davenport to accept the award. The Dalai Lama was unable to travel to Davenport, so the coalition arranged for the bishop to take the award to him. Bishop Zinkula gladly traveled halfway across the world to present the award as an expression of gratitude for a spiritual leader who paves the path toward peace.
By Barb Arland-Fye