Story by Ben Kendall
Photos by Will Kanellos
Milling about on the concrete under that hot sun or chasing the shade where they could, the crowd slowly and silently multiplies outside the Matthew Knight Arena. They’re all waiting for the special presentation by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, an event that was 10 years in the making.
Sitting on the small low-lying wall outside the arena doors is attendee Anne Phillips.
“I’ve been studying Buddhism for the last four months. I was raised Episcopalian. That religion doesn’t really give you any tools… I mean it says be good, do good works, take care of each other. But this gives you the ability to train your mind to alleviate suffering,” Phillips says.
As part of the agreement for the Dalai Lama coming to Eugene, any money that was made in profit from door proceeds had to go to charity and the tickets also had to be priced reasonably, in this case at $20 a head. But not everybody had the experience of buying them so cheaply.
Audience member Don Martinez was able to get his ticket after he took the place of a friend that changed his mind on seeing the Lama at the last minute. Those that missed the mad dash to buy tickets weren’t as lucky.
“They sold out in like, four minutes. About 10 minutes after that, I see tickets for this thing going up on Craigslist and StubHub, places like that, for 240 bucks a pop,” Martinez says.
Inside the arena, the air is electric. The chill in the room against the heat of the outside at the Dalai Lama is offset by the calm warmth that almost radiates from those in attendance. There seems to be an expectation of something important to come; as if all were momentarily connected in anticipation.
“I saw him 10 years ago at Portland State [University]. I was so moved. He has a lot of charisma. He could have been speaking about the weather and I’d listen,” says attendee Al Skeesick who drove from Roseburg to catch the event. “In order to change the world we have to change our corner of it and that is the beginning.”
After introductory statements by Associate Professor of Religious Studies Mark Unno, the Dalai Lama receives a Presidential Medal from University of Oregon President Micheal Gottfredson, who drapes the large golden medal over the neck of the visiting spiritual leader. But when the President presents him with a University of Oregon visor the crowd goes wild, howling in their seats.
Addressing those in attendance, the Dalai Lama asks the crowd to raise their hands if they are under 30.
“The twentieth century was one of much bloodshed. I think that the beginnings of the worst violence in this century are the remnants of the twentieth century’s negligence,” the Dalai Lama says. “The 21st century should be one of dialogue. And for those of you under 30, you have the opportunity to see a much happier world. You cannot build a better world with meditation or prayer. Action is more important than prayer.”
After his lecture questions are posed to the Dalai Lama. One is asked by an inmate in the Inside Out program via a student: “If you could say something to the next Dalai Lama, what would it be?”
“I don’t know. If I may say so, that’s a very foolish question. Next question,” the Lama replies to the laughter of the audience.
Not all the reaction to the Dalai Lama’s presence is positive, however. Outside the arena, standing in the grass of the dorms, are two student protestors. One of the holds up a sign that reads: “Dress like a sage, plot violence.” The two demonstrators hand out small red cards with YouTube addresses on them.
One of them is University of Oregon student Chao Liu. “[We] basically just want to show that he isn’t as good as everybody thinks he is. He helped plot riots in 2008,” Chao says.
As the crowd passes by Chao, most ignore him. One woman marches up and quietly but sternly asks, “What are you doing?” When Chao replies with his opinion, the woman says, “This is ridiculous.”
Nonplussed, Chao returns to his protest.
Despite the uncommon display against the Dalai Lama, most attendees seem genuinely pleased with the experience.
“He’s completely inspiring. I think we’re completely wrapped up in our own thing and if we don’t step back and take care of ourselves, we won’t have anything left,” said UO student Asha Stork.
