I had a great experience helping with the Dalai Lama event.  The Dalai Lama's talk was really inspiring.  I left feeling really enthusiastic and it made me think about whether or not I was  doing the things I needed to do in my life to be happy.

Blogging was also a good experience.  I never was really exposed to it, but Sky was really helpful in giving us bloggers a good start.

Shelley Baker, General Merchandise Manager, U.C. Irvine Bookstore

April 16th was a special day for the UC Irvine community. This was a day that a seed was planted in many people's gardens, as well as my own.

This was the day His Holiness, The 14th Dalai Lama came to our campus. It was a day where the work of so many people from the UCI campus contributed to making the event a complete success. It was a day filled with guiding messages.

I was honored to be part of the organizing committee that coordinated the event. I volunteered my time so that I would be able to offer, in some way, my gratitude toward His Holiness. I work full time at the UCI campus and have a busy schedule, but I wanted to offer extra help so that I could give back to someone who has been an inspiration and guide for me on the path that I travel on this journey called life.

My journey on this path started in my twenties when I first encountered Buddhism and yoga. As the years went by, I found that the challenges I faced on my journey were always strengthened by the teachings of His Holiness and other Buddhist writings.

Two years ago my husband had a serious bicycle accident and we had some challenging times to deal with. Five surgeries, a serious infection, the mental strain of dealing with the reality that my husband's life would change, taking care of a mother with health issues, trying to maintain my job and our household were all on my plate at once.

It was during this period that I read His Holiness's book,  The Art of Happiness.  I was able to persevere through these challenges, and now look back on this time as a blessing, for it strengthened my faith and gave my husband new-found strength.

Just as my life at home and at work began to settle down a bit, I heard that His Holiness would be visiting our campus. It was by chance (you could say that I was inspired by His Holiness to act) that I was able to be on the committee that organized the event. One thing led to another and before I knew it I was gathering help from many of my co-workers at the bookstore. His Holiness's writings from  Happiness at Work were being played out on a daily basis. With the culmination of the event I received this feeling of affirmation that the path that I had chosen back in my twenties was leading me in a direction that would bring peace and serenity to my life.

April 16th began filled with sunshine, gratitude and joy, throughout the campus. We hung prayer flags on the trees outside the Bren Events center. I escorted a group of monks and nuns to the arena so that they could meditate before His Holiness arrived. A special chair was set on stage for His Holiness.  The stage was filled with redwood seedlings that were to be blessed with the presence of His Holiness sitting next to them.  As UCI staff ushered the community into the arena we listened to the sweet sounds of music from artist Nawang Kechog. You could feel everyone's enthusiasm. The inspirational messages that His Holiness shared with the UCI community relating to ethics and the art of living compassionately will remain in my heart forever. My hope is that His message touched the hearts of others as well.

The inspiration continues to guide me to this day as I have been working to “Continue the Dialogue” by collaborating with students that participated in the event.  The Seeds of Peace project and the Blogging site on the Dalai Lama Foundation website are two projects that we are still working on developing. The students involved in the Blogging (online journaling) take time out of their work and school schedules to work with me in trying to get information out about the Dalai Lama Foundation. Gathering support and interest in the Seeds of Peace process is still in its developing stages. We are continuing our efforts with getting information out about this community service project.

Recently I received confirmation that we will be able to plant a grove of the blessed redwood seedlings here on the UCI campus. Aldrich park will be the new home to a small grove of trees within a year, commemorating the visit of His Holiness. To think that this idea of the grove on campus sprouted from a brief conversation after the event between myself and Laura, the woman who so lovingly planted all the seedlings and transported them down to Irvine, is confirmation that seeds can sprout with love and attention.

His Holiness continues to guide me on this path, on the journey that is my life. No one knows what may sprout along the way, but I now know that I am ready to tend the garden.

Top

Bunthoeun Hack, Graffiti Artist, Oakland, California

When I first heard about the Dalai Lama coming to visit California in mid April of 2004, I was excited like a baby with a new toy. Randy Taran, who’s part of the Dalai Lama Foundation, gave me info on His Holiness, but little did I know that I was chosen to fly to Irvine and be within His Holiness's presence. It came all so suddenly, like a thunderbolt on a sunny day. It surprised me. I couldn’t believe it myself. So as Randy and I got into details of the event a little more, she widened my eyes with yet another surprise! She told me I would be selected to be a part of the four youth groups selected. Each speaker, on behalf of their organizations, would be giving a speech and presenting His Holiness with a gift. I was speechless after the announcement. That night, I couldn’t sleep. I knew this would be an experience I’d never forget.

When I arrived at my hotel, I worked on a rough draft of my speech. I had an introduction of myself and the Dalai Lama Foundation that I was representing. During my turn to speak, I spoke about practicing peace activities around my community, such as painting positive murals on schools and community centers. I mentioned that each one in our own lives can influence where we live in a lot of ways. By the end of my speech, I presented His Holiness with a gift from the Dalai Lama Foundation. It was a mouse pad of peace, that’s the name I gave it, and His Holiness accepted it with a smile. I showed my respect and bowed. His Holiness then gave me a hug that was so uplifting that I felt enlightened at the very spot I was standing on. I felt so overwhelmed with joy, that I couldn’t stop smiling.

From the time I arrived to the time I left the whole experience was blood rushing; it was so adrenaline pumping that I almost forgot to breath. The morning of the event, many students, staff, and people in the audience didn’t have any idea about my part in the program, but soon after, I was known for my straight to the point speech and recognized all over campus. I felt like a celebrity. It was fun while it lasted. I had never thought that an opportunity as rare as meeting the Dalai Lama would come my way.

But I didn’t just have fun on the trip. I also learned that being up there made me open my eyes to understand that one individual, such as myself, can change and/or influence others’ way of living by simply promoting a little pinch of peace. I realize now more then ever that each and every one of us plays a universal role in this world and it is up to each of us to teach one instead of beating one. I just want to say, violence will only bring silence, let us increase our peace.

Top

Page Harkness, Senior, Homestead High School, Santa Clara, California

I have to admit that this was the most humbling experience I have ever engaged in. The presence of His Holiness is alone life changing, and on top of that the thoughts he shared on ethics and morals were very inspiring for a youth like myself. The change was so great that I now find myself referring back to his words when I find myself in sticky situations. For me it was clear that going on this trip has definitely influenced me positively. I feel very lucky that I was able to attend such a trip.

Top

Kelly Mayeda, Cupertino High School, Cupertino, California

Being able to listen to the teachings of the Dalai Lama was truly a life changing experience. It is incredible to me that one man can achieve so much peace in himself, as well as those around him. He opened my eyes to a world filled with so many imperfections, yet incredibly flawless.

Top

Randy Taran, Founder, SpringBoard to Peace

On April 16th, a young man named Bunthoeun Hack had the opportunity to meet His Holiness. If one meeting can transform a life, this was it.

Bunthoeun was raised in East Oakland, a tough community where the sounds of gunshots outside a bedroom window were not unusual. To survive on the streets, kids often found strength in numbers... and in the gang life.

I first met Bunthoeun when casting for my documentary film on peace entitled Focused on Peace. We were putting cameras in the hands of teens in order to see peace in action through their eyes.

Meeting Bunthoeun for the first time, I was struck by his combination of strength and sweetness. He had, at great personal risk, made the tough decision to pull out from his gang. A talented artist, he immersed himself in a program that took on “at risk” kids and taught them the fundamentals of graffiti art – to speak the visual language of the street in order to send out a positive message to kids. He and his group were commissioned to paint murals on community centers, public buildings, and even his old middle school. In the film, Bunthoeun says, “As long as I'm breathing I'll continue to show art in my work. I do have another road instead of violence. Painting these murals is not only fun for me...I also feel like I'm bringing a message out, showing a message.”

When the time came to select a youth to present the gift of the Dalai Lama Foundation mouse pad to His Holiness, there was not a doubt in my mind that Bunthoeun would be great; and more than that, this could be a catalyst for fortifying his life in a positive direction. I also was hopeful that Bunthoeun and His Holiness would have a special connection.

Walking up to the lectern, Bunthoeun's nervousness seemed to disappear in the presence of the warmth and wisdom he felt emanating from His Holiness. Afterwards, it was obvious that Bunthoeun's spirit, sense of hope and his place in the world were profoundly transformed.  I look forward to witnessing the expansion of his life, and all the ways Bunthoeun will inspire others, in the years to come.

Top

Dr. Steve Rowley, Executive Director of Schools for Highline School District (Seattle)

The Dalai Lama's appearance at UC-Irvine was nothing short of incredible. His presence permeated the auditorium with a strong sense of personal connection to each student. His remarks and his way of relating to the students were predictably warm, genuine, humorous, and deeply insightful.  I know I was moved to tears when five very “ordinary” students told of their individual efforts to better the world. My group of twenty-five students, parents, teachers, and knew we had experienced an event of lifetime. From this day with His Holiness, we better know that to live with compassion is to live a life with greater hope and greater purpose.

Top

Chris Yun, Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, California

Hearing from the 14h Dalai Lama opened my heart and eyes to truly realize how privileged I am to simply be alive - to have friends, a family, a home. However, an experience such as this did not transform me into a prefect person. Rather, it improved who I was - that being more compassionate towards others.

Top

home — contact — join — privacy — site map