In May, I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cover His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to Portland, Oregon for The Asian Reporter newspaper.
The 2013 visit marks the Dalai Lama's first visit to Portland in 12 years. Maitripa College raised funds and brought together a wide array of partners to make the visit happen.
Here's an excerpt from the article that I wrote for The Asian Reporter:
"Underscoring the relevance of spirituality and religious faith in the human condition, the Dalai Lama proclaimed the convergence of faith, a reason to inspire lasting change and cultivate hope.
"Religious faith is the ultimate source of hope and comfort, peace of mind," he said. "All major religious traditions promote the basic message of love, compassion, tolerance, and forgiveness."
Ecological concerns are interlocked with the harsh economic realities of everyday life in developing countries. Millions of people have no access to clean water; hundreds of millions breathe polluted air. The world’s population is estimated to increase to 10 billion by the end of this century. The impact of global climate is expected to increase as the health of forests, rivers, and oceans collapse under the weight of excessive human consumption.
"We have to think very seriously about future of humanity. Our own behavior makes a difference. This is our only home, we have to take care of the planet," he said. "On a global level, there’s a big gap between rich and poor. We must make every effort to reduce this gap. It’s not only morally wrong, but also practical. We must uplift living conditions of those in poverty."