American Soul: The Politics of Religion [View All]

[H2O Man]

"I had wanted to meet the Dalai Lama for a long time. He is a sweet and humble man who works tirelessly for peace. As an exhiled spiritual leader and outspoken advocate for the Tibetan people, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. He has made a tremendous difference in the way the world understands peaceful movements for self-determination.

"We finally met in 2003 at an interfaith temple just outside of Bloomington, Indiana. The Dalai Lama had named the temple, which is on the grounds of the Tibetan Cultural Center, Chamtse Ling or 'Field of Love and Compassion.' His older brother, Thubten J. Norbu, had spent decades working on the temple in fulfillment of a long-cherished dream.

"Leaders from sixteen religions and denominations were there to speak. The Dalai Lama wanted to impress upon everyone that 'all religions have the same potential and capacity to serve humanity.' He stressed that religious teachings should be part of all of our lives. I understand that there are many paths to God, and I believe that Islam is the correct path for me. Like the Dalai Lama, I respect people of different religious beliefs and agree that spirituality should be a central focus of our daily lives. Spirituality helps us achieve self-discipline, forgiveness, and love, which are so essential to a peaceful existence in living among others. ....


"I was grateful for the time I had with the Dalai Lama. I have come to understand that there are those who believe in God and those who make God a reality.The Dalai Lama is among those who manifest God in the journey of their everyday lives. Before leaving, I thought about how I would say good-bye, then I realized there are no right words. So I parted from him the only way I knew how -- with a hug and smile. It just felt right."

-- "The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey"; Muhammad Ali; Simon & Schuster; 2004; pages 199-201.

In the mid-1960s, Muhammad Ali fought Uncle Sam in one of the most important political, religious, and cultural conflicts in American society of that decade. There were numerous people who said that Ali's religious beliefs were a threat to the political fabric of America. I admire Ali's strength, and appreciate how his religious and spiritual beliefs helped to improve the political lot of the majority of Americans. There are those who believe that Muhammad Ali and the Dalai Lama should not participate in political discussions in the United States. I'm happy that they do.