Purpose of Life (according to the Dalai Lama)

My family lives in Washington, D.C. and the climate is of course very charged with all things political. When His Holiness came to speak one summer, I thought it would be important for my youngest to have the experience of hearing a spiritual teacher. A different door than the political or religious into who we are. We sat outside with thousands of others. Capitol building behind us and the atmosphere a strange combination of casual picnic, anticipation, and nervousness that seemed to me a wondering about how to behave. Symphonies, marches, festivals, church - all good…But the Dalai Lama? Here we were on picnic blankets. That didn’t seem fitting. I know others felt the same because while there was easy chatting, it’s not like there were frisbees being tossed around. In that particular space and time, there was the presence of anticipation, fun, nervousness. All those Energies were simultaneous and discernible.

They came from behind us - in a line, monk heads bowed. There was an energetic shift that happened to all of us collectively as he was escorted and that energy wasn’t just reverence. It was that, but mixed with a feeling of belonging. Of communion. Just think! HHDL didn't enter from the stage. He didn't suddenly appear at a podium in front of us as the focus. Instead, he was just there in the community, in a processional, and so he was with us. It was an energy that was palpable and swept forward with the procession and through the crowd, tapping us gently in invitation. Like a call and response hymn, we knew how to behave. We knew to stand. We knew how to be. So many heads bowed! And yes, of course I was peeking. Incredible that the crowd all at once was doing the same thing but had no experience doing it. What an easy yes to be part of this communal escort that wasn’t asking for reverence but signaling us to be in reverence. Be in reverence for and with one other. The recall now is not so much a memory, but more of a physical feeling. I try to call that energy up when I’m stuck and need a door. The silent invite that day felt like it was a door. And when I do call it up, it’s a feeling of being so deeply OK that whatever was making me stuck (usually worry), just leaves. “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” Julian of Norwich’s wisdom comforts the mind, but feeling all is well in your body is next level.

From behind, there came this approach of silence. To hear silence approaching is a strange thing. And of course the ‘approach’ was the crowd quieting row by row, but since it came from the back, it had the quality of something building, not something leaving. The monks and their walking and their silence, then our silence, built to this incredible feeling of a reciprocated reverence, and as that built from the back to the front, it was that energy that escorted His Holiness to the podium. No unwrapping of candy wrappers. No rustling of paper programs. Guy who coughs during important pauses in the dialogue or the music - was quiet. This collective silence had such a connected presence and was probably the most powerful Energy I have ever felt.

So there we thousands silently were – humbled in this very present moment –  a little bit enthralled and waiting. Waiting to hear the reason for life . . . for how to be better . . . to be more alive . . . to be more connected . . . to be more anything . . . to save this communal feeling forever. I know I wasn’t the only one yearning to understand the purpose, secret, and meaning of life from someone who believes in and prays for peace, even while in exile and even while his country is occupied. I wasn’t the only one hoping to receive all that from someone who isn’t ignorant or hateful in his response to reality.

He began his talk by reading our minds I suppose and acknowledging that we were there to learn a secret. "The purpose of your life . . . ."

When he told us the answer the crowd laughed. In unison! Such a big joke! Every different person instantly in the same chagrin. We got the joke! His punchline wasn't the punchline - the punchline was we already knew the answer! Soooo much effort and yearning and eagerness, so much leaning to another person to provide guidance, and then in the end - oh yeah - I knew that already!

"The purpose of your life . . . ." comedic beat anticipatory silence         

 “ . . . . is happiness."

He had that cute zen grin when he said that.

I forget and then remember this message, over and over in my life. Whenever I remember I've forgotten, and then allow myself to re-discover 'my secret purpose', I roll my eyes and laugh. I forgot. Again! I know the answer already! It’s freaking hilarious.

It’s all so EASY. Be happy; find happy; do happy!! Could there be a higher purpose, really, than for each of us to plug-in to our happiness so that we can get busy doing anything we're supposed to be here for?

In the remembering/forgetting cycle - my hope is that we can all find reverence in and with one another.