Dalai Lama Brings Peace Message To Inner-City

By David Giambusso
c. 2011 Religion News Service

NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) The Dalai Lama has a substance for Newark: Peace does not come easily, but the scheme for attaining it is simple.

Flanked by blue orchids, Buddhist monks and a security detail from the U.S. State Department, the Tibetan religious leader made his opening appeal for peace Thursday (May 12) as the city kicked off a three-day summit advocating for nonviolence.

For many throughout the world, the leader of Tibet's government-in-exile is a symbol of pacification and a reservoir of inspiration, but on Thursday he urged Newarkers to attend to themselves for change.

"I mean a one-time conference may not have a big impact on your community, but you yourself must have an endeavor to repress violence," he said.

The 3 years of panels and workshops will insure a broad scope of peaceful enterprises. The Dalai Lama outlined a mere program to affect harmony: Reduce poverty and increase education.

"We must address seriously this gap of ample and poor," he said, citing poverty as the future great battle for equality in America, after the abolishment of bondage and the 1960s battle for civil rights.

"Not only morally, but practically, we must make (an) effort. Poorer people's living standards must be brought up."

Almost as the Dalai Lama spoke, gunfire erupted across town in two afternoon shootings, punctuating the urging of his appeal.

"I see the opinion of frustration," the Dalai Lama said. "However, these causes of defeat will not go out through violence."

(David Giambusso writes for The Star-Ledger)

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