Peace, not
politics, key theme of events
By Michael Schroeder,
Herald-Times Staff Writer
September 8, 2003
From Cherokee Indian drums to haunting Buddhist chants. From a
bright
array
of traditional dress the world over to two of the planet's most
recognizable
figures - the Dalai Lama and Muhammad Ali.
The
Tibetan
Cultural Center's interfaith Chamtse Ling Temple dedication and
the
festivities that followed provided a unique opportunity Sunday
for
cultural
and philosophical exchange while presenting an overlying message
of
international peace, understanding and compassion.
"I'm
really
honored to have a role here ... but more than anything, I'm
really
proud that
this is opening here," said Elaine Irwin- Mellencamp, a
model and the
wife of
Seymour-born rock star John Mellencamp.
Following the dedication,
she
joined the Dalai Lama's sister, Jetsun Pema;
Muhammad Ali and his
daughter
Hana; and Chinese film star Bai Ling in an
afternoon youth program,
during
which teenagers and adults discussed
conflict resolution.
Ling,
who
was banned from China after co-starring in the movie Red Corner
with
American
Buddhism advocate Richard Gere and who is now living in Los
Angeles,
said she
felt a peacefulness as she got closer to Bloomington.
"I felt
somehow
that I was approaching some place very peaceful," she said
of her drive
from
the Indianapolis airport.
Her premonitions, she said, jibed with
the
atmosphere at the dedication.
"I feel at ease ... I feel that all
people
who came here have no agenda,"
she said.
This peaceful focus,
with
talk of love and compassion taking precedence over
debate,
characterized the
comments made by members of most of the world's
major religions at the
ceremony. Accounted for were Christianity, Islam,
Judaism, Buddhism and
the
Sikh faith, among others.
"My faith, it commands all humanity is
one
race," said Sardar K.P. Singh, a
representative of a national Sikh
council on
religion and education who
lives in Indianapolis. "It is one
brotherhood."
Singh said he was pleased with Sunday's ceremony.
But, he
said, the final
verdict rested on how lessons of love and understanding
that
were shared
would become lessons revisited.
"It's not enough to
say
all humanity is one brotherhood," he said,
explaining one must
"proclaim,
preach and live it."
Jesus was talking about love, so was Mohammed,
the
founder of Islam, and
Buddha, said fellow presenter Shahid Athar, a
Muslim.
Rather than advocating pluralism, the religious leader said
interfaith
cooperation was about maintaining one's spiritual identity
while
respecting
others.
"We believe that interfaith is showing your
faith,
not merging your faith,"
he said.
For family man Yeshi Zopa,
simply
having freedom to worship is a gift, he
said.
Zopa spent 12
hours on
the road with his wife, Tenzin Zopa, and their two
children, driving
from
Minnesota to Bloomington. It was a long drive but a
relatively short
journey
for the India native and husband of an exiled
Tibetan, who said his
father's
entire family was killed by the Chinese
following China's occupation of
Tibet. He moved to Minnesota seven years
ago, and this was the second
time he
made the drive to Bloomington to see
the Dalai Lama.
Clutching
his
sleepy daughter in one arm, he said, having peace of mind and
freedom
were
most important to him.
For the Buddhist Zopa, religions were like
roads,
he said, with many leading
to the same destination.
Reporter
Michael
Schroeder can be reached at 331-4371 or by e-mail
at
mschroeder@heraldt.com.
http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2003/09/08/news.0908-HT-A6_SLH73798.sto
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