Khashyar | January 19, 2010

The Dalai Lama Renaissance film, narrated by Harrison Ford (www.DalaiLamaFilm.com), and a Q&A with Director Khashyar Darvich, offer insights on inner peace to men behind bars, half of whom are incarcerated for murder.

HOUSTON, TX – In a rare opportunity to contemplate the nature of their own existence and explore the essence of inner peace, dozens of inmates at two Texas prisons gained insights during screenings of the award-winning documentary film Dalai Lama Renaissance, narrated by Harrison Ford (www.DalaiLamaFilm.com). The film screened at the prisons as part of an ethics program organized by “Project Clear Light,” a nonprofit Buddhist volunteer organization that works with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and is scheduled to screen at other prisons across the United States in the coming months.

“There is such joy in being able to show films like Dalai Lama Renaissance to inmates,” said Terry Conrad, a certified volunteer Chaplain’s assistant, and Director of Project Clear Light. “It is so rewarding to sit in meditation and have a conversation with them about what is really important, and to understand who we are and what we are capable of.”

Conrad asked the film’s Producer-Director, Khashyar Darvich, to show Dalai Lama Renaissance to inmates whom Conrad regularly meets with and teaches. With approval from prison administrators, two screenings were scheduled: one in the Stiles prison in Beaumont, Texas, and one in Ramsey prison, south of Houston. Darvich then volunteered to fly to Texas to speak with inmates after each screening. About half of the inmates in the prison audiences were convicted of murder.

“The intention of making this film was to impact audiences in a positive way,” said Director-Producer Khashyar Darvich of Wakan Films. “I had never been to a prison before, but I had a deep sense that inmates may have something to say about the film’s theme of overcoming the ego and opening one’s heart.”

Both Darvich’s and Conrad’s purpose in screening the film for inmates was to provide them with a message that urges them to focus on improving themselves from the inside out.

“I heard the Dalai Lama talking about the importance of compassion for compassion’s sake, because it’s the right thing to do,” said David, an inmate at the Ramsey Unit. “Because that’s what makes you happy inside, it’s what helps you develop inner peace…. When he started talking about it, I just started getting tingly all over…. It really touched me.”

“What I thought was so profound about the film was the child-like simplicity of the Dalai Lama and the profoundness of his understanding of how human nature and humanity works,” said Deon, another inmate at Ramsey.

The award-winning film, which is narrated by Harrison Ford, and has screened in hundreds of cinemas around the world in several languages, follows a group of Westerners who travel to India with the task of solving world problems under the spiritual guidance of the Dalai Lama. The film contrasts the Westerners’ intellectual approach to problem-solving against the enlightened approach of the Dalai Lama, and illustrates how the participants experience a profound personal transformation.

Besides opportunities for introspection, the film also offered inmates some chances to laugh at the imperfection of humanity.

“It was funny to see these super-smart people and realize that they were too smart for the task,” said Jason, a prisoner at Ramsey, about the scientists and other world thought-leaders in the film.

Inmate Kelly added, “I saw something in the Dalai Lama that I now see in my own personal life, which is joy and compassion and peace.”

At both prisons, the inmates were attentive to the film and looked for ways to apply its lessons to their personal lives.

“I took a few notes, but I feel like I missed about 20,000 more than I was able to put down,” said John, an inmate at Stiles prison.

Fellow Stiles inmate Antoine added, “I could watch something like this every day, especially in the environment I’m in. You know, it’s like a snake pit. But if you’ve got inner peace, you will affect every person around.”

Darvich plans to offer the film for screenings at other prisons around the country, and would like to attend and speak with other inmate groups in person.

“The fundamental intention of making this film was to impact and transform audiences in a positive way,” Darvich said,  “and I can think of no better place to screen the film than a prison.”

Details about Dalai Lama Renaissance and prison screenings are available at www.DalaiLamaFilm.com.

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Tags: beaumont texas, compassion, Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama Renaissance, documentary film, ethics program, film producer, harrison ford, inmates, inner peace, Khashyar Darvich, maximum security prison, men behind bars, peace, prison administrators, ramsey, rare opportunity, Screening, Screenings, serving time, south of houston, stiles, texas department of criminal justice, texas prisons, Tibet, volunteer chaplain, volunteer organization

Khashyar | November 14, 2009

Date of Visit: May 18, 2010

Location: McLeod Center, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa (2501 Hudson Road, Cedar Falls, IA)

Topic: importance of education in an increasingly global society

Ticket Information: available in January

*****

Dalai Lama to make historic visit to UNI in May 2010

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Dalai Lama to make historic visit to UNI in May 2010

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet will visit the University of Northern Iowa Tuesday, May 18, to share his views on the importance of education in an increasingly global society.

“UNI is honored to host the Dalai Lama, who has received awards from around the world that recognize his messages of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, and universal responsibility and compassion,” said UNI President Benjamin Allen. “At UNI, we take great pride in providing quality education and preparing future educators. The Dalai Lama imparts a message to the world that stresses the importance of learning, and the role education plays in developing socially responsible citizens. This is a great opportunity to provide inspiration and cultivate new thoughts and ideas at UNI.”

The day of his visit will be an opportunity to celebrate education and discuss its importance while encouraging the exchange of ideas and views. A committee has been established to coordinate academic initiatives, campus and community programs, and K-12 activities to take place during the fall and spring semesters leading up to the Dalai Lama’s visit.

More information about the day of the Dalai Lama’s visit and associated events will follow in the fall.

*****

Message from President Ben Allen

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Tags: 14th dalai lama, compassion, Dalai Lama, dalai lama of tibet, dalai lama visit, happiness of others, nobel peace prize, universal responsibility

Khashyar | November 13, 2009

HOUSTON, Texas - When documentary film Producer-Director Khashyar Darvich was invited to screen his award-winning film about the Dalai Lama, ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ (narrated by Harrison Ford - www.DalaiLamaFilm.com), for inmates in maximum security prisons near Houston, Texas, he immediately said ‘yes.’

He offered to purchase his own an airline ticket, attend the screenings, and then speak with the inmates afterwards.

“I had never been to a prison before,” said Director Darvich. “But, I had a deep feeling that the experience would be meaningful and powerful, for the inmates, but also for me.”

“When I sense that my heart responds to something, and I feel warmth in my chest, then I take this as a clear sign that it is the right thing for me to pursue that course of action. The fundamental intention of making this film was to impact and transform audiences in a positive way,” Darvich says,  “and I thought of no better place to screen ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ than a prison.”

Half of the inmates who attended the screenings in the two Texas prisons, were convicted of murder, some of them for double murder. There were some in the audience who were convicted of fraud.

However, Darvich was very surprised at how insightful and intelligent the inmates comments were about the film, and how the inmates applied the themes and insights in the film to themselves in a very personal and direct way.

“One of the main themes of the film,” says Darvich, “is resolving both inner and outer conflicts, and understanding that the best way to resolve conflicts in the world and in your community is to first resolve issues within yourself. I was very surprised at how the inmates understood this right away, and applied the message of the film immediately and effortlessly to themselves.”

One of the inmates in the Stiles maximum security prison in Texas, was emotional and expressed, as he pointed his fingers to his chest, that the issue of Tibet and China mentioned in the film and the realization that we all have our own “Inner Tibets,” really impacted him.

“One of the realizations that was crystal clear to me while I was at the prisons,” Darvich says, “was that some of the inmates would never be able to get out, and were to spend every day of their lives in prison. For most people, this would be a depressing and unfathomable thought. Before I visited the prisons, just imagining the thought of being incarcerated created fear and panic within me.”

Many of the inmates who attended the screenings have life sentences, and had a lot of time to think and reflect.

And yet, Darvich says, a person who is not physically in prison, can appear to have all of the freedom in the world, and yet be imprisoned by their thoughts, habits and the jail that they create within their own mind.

“Inmates who lose their freedom through their mistakes and actions,” Darvich says, “can choose to see their time in prison as an opportunity, and a place for spiritual learning and person growth.”

Darvich was speaking with the person who invited him to screen the film in the prisons, Terry Conrad, the Director of ‘Project Clear Light’ (www.projectclearlight.org), about how the life of an inmate is somewhat like a monk who lives in a monastery.

Except in the case of inmates, their world is often surrounded by violence, which is an added incentive to work on finding inner peace.

After the screenings and Q&A sessions, Darvich said that many of the inmates mentioned that they do not experience many positive life-affirming experiences in prison, and they felt inspired and impacted by the screening, and listening to the Dalai Lama’s words about compassion and personal responsibility.

“But,” Darvich says, “it felt good to my heart and one of the most meaningful things I have done with the film to show inmates that someone cares and wants to show compassion…”

Darvich says that he would like to screen the film in other prisons, and have further open dialogues with inmates.

Khashyar Darvich is the Producer-Director of both the ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ documentary film (narrated by Harrison Ford), as well as the newly released ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance Vol. 2: A Revolution of Ideas,’ both of which are available on DVD here: www.DalaiLamaFilm.com

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Tags: airline ticket, audiences, compassion, conflicts in the world, Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama Renaissance, documentary film, film producer, fraud, harrison ford, houston texas, inmates, intention, Khashyar Darvich, main themes, maximum security prison, maximum security prisons, outer conflicts, ramsey, renaissance, stiles, texas prisons

Khashyar | September 12, 2009

“All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.”

“I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.”

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

“I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. That is clear. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in this religion or that religion, we all are seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness…”

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”

“Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.”

“I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.”

“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”

“If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.”

“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”

“If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it.”

“If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it.”

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

“As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery… we have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness.”

“In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.”

“Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.”

“It is necessary to help others, not only in our prayers, but in our daily lives. If we find we cannot help others, the least we can do is to desist from harming them.”

“All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness … the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.”

“It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.”

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”

“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.”

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”

“Be kind whenever possible.It is always possible.”

“Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day.”

“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”

“Sleep is the best meditation.”

“Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.”

“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.”

“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.”

“The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual’s own reason and critical analysis.”

“There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.”

“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”

“Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.”

“We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.”

“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.”

“Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.”

“Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.”

“With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.”

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Khashyar | September 11, 2009

Public Talk in Melbourne, Australia on December 10: His Holiness will give a public talk on World Peace: Who Is Responsible? organized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Australia Committee.

Contact Website: www.dalailamainaustralia.org

Dalai Lama Public Talk: World Peace, Who is Responsible?

Thursday 10th December 2009, 2pm-4pm
Melbourne Convention Centre

Event Information

“Compassion and forgiveness, these are the real ultimate sources of power for peace and success in life. We need to use differences in a positive way. Try to get energy from different views, from different opinions. Make dialogue - this is the proper way to solve problems. Only then will genuine peace between nations come - from mutual respect not from weapons or force.”

His Holiness has been a champion of World Peace for over 50 years and on this day 20 years ago, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his non-violent, middle way approach to finding a solution to the situation in Tibet.

Today His Holiness will speak of the responsibility we all have for World Peace. By applying wisdom and compassion, we have the ability to resolve firstly our own differences with offers and then work together to create peace and harmony in our own community and the greater world.

Do not miss the opportunity to hear one of the most respected and thoughtful figures of our time. Reconsider what is important to you and how you can make a difference to Our Future.

Schedule:
Date	Event	Location
Tue 1st & Wed 2nd	Teaching - Awakening the Mind	Sydney
Thu 3rd	Mind & Its Potential Conference Our Future, Who is Responsible? Public Talk	Sydney
Sat 5th & Sun 6th	Visit to New Zealand	Auckland
Tue 8th	Visit to the University of Tasmania Our Earth, Who is Responsible? Public Talk	Hobart
Wed 9th	Parliament of World Religions	Melbourne
Thur 10th	Nobel Peace Prize Breakfast World Peace, Who is Responsible? Public Talk	Melbourne

Contact Website: www.dalailamainaustralia.org

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Tags: Australia, compassion, Dalai, Dalai Lama, dalai lama in australia, Dalai Lama schedule, Dalai Lama Teachings, Dalai Lama Tickets, genuine peace, holiness, melbourne australia, melbourne convention centre, mutual respect, new zealand auckland, nobel peace prize, parliament of world religions, peace and harmony, sources of power, th parliament, th visit, university of tasmania, world peace

Khashyar | September 11, 2009

Public Talk in Hobart, Australia on December 8: His Holiness will give a public talk on Compassion in Diversity organized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Australia Committee.

Contact Website: www.dalailamainaustralia.org

Dalai Lama Public Talk: Our Earth, Who is Responsible?”

Tuesday 8th December 2009, 2pm - 4pm
Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart

Event Information

As long as we are on this planet together, it is important not just to live harmoniously but also to take genuine care of the environment.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a passionate advocate for individual and universal responsibility. This is his message and is the very basis of his teachings and those of the Buddha. During the Hobart public talk His Holiness will present, demonstrate and discuss how responsibility for the future of the earth lies with each of us.

Our Earth, Who is Responsible? is about helping people to become aware of their individual responsibility as global citizens for their own actions, the world in which they live and for all other living beings they share it with.

Do not miss the opportunity to hear one of the most respected and thoughtful figures of our time. Reconsider what is important to you and how you can make a difference to Our Future

“As people alive today, we must consider future generations. A clean environment is a human right like any other. It is therefore part of our responsibility toward others to ensure that the world we pass on is as healthy, if not healthier then we found it.”

Schedule:
Date	Event	Location
Tue 1st & Wed 2nd	Teaching - Awakening the Mind	Sydney
Thu 3rd	Mind & Its Potential Conference Our Future, Who is Responsible? Public Talk	Sydney
Sat 5th & Sun 6th	Visit to New Zealand	Auckland
Tue 8th	Visit to the University of Tasmania Our Earth, Who is Responsible? Public Talk	Hobart
Wed 9th	Parliament of World Religions	Melbourne
Thur 10th	Nobel Peace Prize Breakfast World Peace, Who is Responsible? Public Talk	Melbourne

Contact Website: www.dalailamainaustralia.org

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Tags: Australia, buddha, clean environment, compassion, Dalai Lama, dalai lama in australia, Dalai Lama schedule, Dalai Lama Teachings, Dalai Lama Tickets, derwent entertainment centre, diversity, earth, future generations, genuine care, global citizens, hobart australia, passionate advocate, universal responsibility

Khashyar | September 11, 2009

Public Talk in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on October 3: His Holiness will give a public talk on Educating the Heart: The Power of Compassion at the Bell Center.

Visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Montreal, QC

The Dalai Lama Foundation Canada (DLFC) has invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama to give a public talk in Montreal entitled: Educating the Heart: The Power of Compassion.

We welcome everyone to this event. Together, join us in warmly greeting him; bringing a singular receptivity to his message of peace and compassion.

Visite de Sa Sainteté le Dalaï Lama à Montréal (Qc)

La Fondation du Dalaï Lama Canada (FDLC) a invité Sa Sainteté le Dalaï Lama à donner une conférence publique à Montréal sur le thème « L’Éducation du cœur : la puissance de la compassion ».

Vous êtes toutes et tous cordialement invités à cet événement. Ensemble, accueillons chaleureusement Sa Sainteté, en portant une attention particulière à son message de paix et de compassion.

Contact Website: www.dalailamamontreal2009.org

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Tags: bell center, compassion, Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama schedule, Dalai Lama Teachings, Dalai Lama Tickets, dalailamamontreal, fdlc, foundation canada, heart, lama foundation, message de paix, montreal qc, montreal quebec canada, peace