Dalai Lama Brings Message of
Compassion Mixed with Humor
Emphasizing compassion as a tool for happiness and longevity, the Dalai Lama spent a day at the University of San Francisco giving public teachings and receiving an honorary USF degree on Sept. 5.
The exiled Tibetan leader appeared before thousands of alumni, students, faculty and staff, and guests at St. Ignatius Church and at War Memorial Gym. He also met privately at St. Ignatius Church with the local Tibetan community, and in the Handlery Room for a private breakfast with donors to The USF-Tibetan Scholarship.
More than 20 Bay Area faith leaders were on hand at St. Ignatius Church to witness the bestowing of the degree. Wearing red and gold robes and beaming at the audience, the Dalai Lama thanked the university at first through a translator and later in English. “To receive a degree from such a university is a particularly great joy,” he said. “I’m very happy to receive this degree as recognition of my practice and contribution to a better humanity.”
The ceremony was part of an interfaith prayer service, with readings from different religions and the Dalai Lama’s writings, a performance by USF dancers, and an academic procession of university faculty, administrators, and trustees.
Later in the day at War Memorial Gym, the Dalai Lama continued the theme of compassion and affection he started at the church. “We are all human beings who want a happy life,” he said. “If we deny that, we will experience more difficulties.”
In a letter to the USF community Monday, USF President Stephen A. Privett, S.J. thanked the hundreds of university volunteers who helped seat guests, hand out programs, and direct the approximately 50 journalists who covered the events.
“I want to thank the entire USF community for its dedication and hard work in making Friday’s visit of the Dalai Lama such a success,” Fr. Privett said. “Literally hundreds of faculty, staff, and students worked thousands of hours to make the day possible.
“We were especially pleased at how closely the Dalai Lama’s call for “smart brains and warm hearts” reflects the university’s motto, ‘Educating Minds and Hearts to Change the World.’ The Dalai Lama agrees that education is vital in fostering tolerance and mutual respect. Understanding, he said, is the source of happiness.”
Despite the many triumphs of the day, there was one genuinely disappointing development. A number of ticket holders were denied admittance to the afternoon’s teaching in War Memorial Gymnasium after the U.S. Secret Service determined that the gym was full and ordered the doors shut.
The university had tried to safeguard against any seating problems, at both St. Ignatius Church and the gymnasium, through tight ticket controls. Each ticket was numbered and not a single ticket was printed in excess of the number of seats available. After the doors were closed, a number of unoccupied seats inside the gymnasium could be seen.
The Secret Service eventually re-opened the doors and additional ticket holders were allowed inside. By that time, however, most of those turned away had moved to the University of San Francisco Presentation Theatre, where the university had previously arranged for a closed-circuit, big-screen viewing of the Dalai Lama.
In his afternoon teaching, the Dalai Lama also emphasized developing sensitivity to world poverty and violence by understanding the interdependence of all beings. “People believe war is the way to protect oneself,” he said. “It was true in ancient times but today we are interdependent so destruction of your enemy is destruction of yourself.”
The Dalai Lama is the sixth in a series of Nobel Peace Prize winners to visit USF in as many years. His campus visit was the first stop on a three-week tour of the United States.
With his characteristic good humor, the Dalai Lama punctuated his more serious messages with jokes. Upon receiving his degree, he said he wanted to warn the university, “I am a very lazy student.” Later, when asked at War Memorial Gym what to do when faced with violence, he answered, “run away. When there’s no possibility to run away, smile and try to talk...but if the other person is really mad and you have the physical ability, use it. Later you can tease him about it.”
Two freshman USF students who attended both the St. Ignatius and gym events said they found the Dalai Lama’s messages inspirational and positive. “I’m taking away his message of compassion,” said Casey Boyle. Boyle’s friend, Zach Maxey, said he “felt like we got to know him.” 
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