Cross-Posted Article Written by Geeta Goindi  "Dalai Lama Celebrates 76th Birthday in Washington"

WASHINGTON, July 6 – It was an event extraordinaire: the 76th birthday celebration of the Dalai Lama, one of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world, here in our nation’s capital.  The program, which opened the 10-day Kalachakra for World Peace ritual which is being guided by him, was held at the cavernous Verizon Center and drew thousands of his avid supporters.

Highly respected as a man of peace and great wisdom, it was only appropriate that the Dalai Lama was joined on stage by Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King III, son of the 1960s civil rights advocate.  Hailing them as “the “apostles of peace”, the Dalai Lama admitted, “I have never met Mahatma Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr., but I have always admired their contributions”.  A lifelong champion of non-violence, he carries Gandhi’s legacy forward.

“Non-violence is not just absence of violence”, he told the gathering.  One must have “a sense of compassion”.

Far from desiring anything material, he made it abundantly clear that “the best gift for my birthday is that people here follow non-violence.  The best gift for me is if you practice compassion”.

Tibetan monks folded their hands with reverence and the crowd broke out into an impromptu song of “Happy Birthday to You”, both when the Dalai Lama came on stage and just before he left.

Dressed in traditional robes, simplicity writ large on his face, the Buddhist leader appeared happy to share his thoughts with the scores of followers who were all ears.  He speaks to compassion, he speaks to kindness, he speaks to the goodness of the human spirit! There is a tranquility about him which comes from being a man of peace.

He advised the crowd to look into their minds and hearts as the key to happiness is inner peace.  “We want a happy society”, he said and “happiness - it is not money, it is not material things, it is not power.  It is (when you are) full of self-confidence ... In reality, more money (means) more worry.  The real source of happiness is within ourselves”.

He acknowledged that one does need money to live, but it must be utilized effectively, as in promoting education, and not for alcohol, gambling, drugs or even jewelry.

He dwelt on the importance of education which he classified into: modern education for material development; and traditional education which focuses on inner values and preserving your culture.

Earlier this year, the Dalai Lama stepped down as the day-to-day political leader of Tibet’s government-in-exile.  He fled Tibet in 1959 and has lived in India ever since.

Explaining his decision to relinquish power, he said, “religious and political institutions must be separate.  If I myself combine these two, it is hypocrisy”.  Since he has retired from politics, “my statement is now honest”, he added.

Arun Gandhi implored supporters of the Dalai Lama to strive to end all forms of violence.  “Pledge today as a birthday gift to His Holiness that we will no longer hate, that we will no longer discriminate, we will no longer be greedy and that we will always respect each other irrespective of religion or philosophical outlook”, he told the gathering.

“We have to become the change we wish to see in the world”, he said, quoting his grandfather, the Mahatma.  “We have to transform ourselves”, he added.

Martin Luther King III hailed the Dalai Lama as a “tireless champion of compassion, human rights and peace”.  He offered prayers for the Buddhist leader’s “continued health and the successful mission to bring freedom and peace to Tibet and all nations around the world”.

The Dalai Lama is in Washington to confer the Kalachakra for World Peace, from July 6 to 16.  Kalachakra literally means the time wheel which has no beginning and no end.  The ritual is so powerful that it holds the power to transform individual lives, the environment, the community and the world beyond.  It draws several thousands of people because the practice can confer enormous blessings and generate a great positive force, now and in the future, for both the individuals attending it as well as the world at large.

Rarely given in the West, the Kalachakra World Peace Initiation with the Dalai Lama is being offered in Washington, for the first time.  The event is being hosted by the Capital Area Tibetan Association (CATA).

About the initiation to the Kalachakra, the Dalai Lama has said, it “is one of the most important because it takes everything into account, the body and the human mind, and the whole external aspect - cosmic and astrological.  By its complete observance, it is possible to achieve Awakening in a single lifetime.  We firmly believe in its power to reduce conflict and we believe it is capable of creating peace of the spirit and therefore, peace in the world”.

(Article crossposted from Asian Fortune August 2011 http://www.asianfortunenews.com/site/article_0811.php?article_id=10)