Lunch with the Dalai Lama

One of the many perks of attending grad school has been taking part in once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to expand my horizons… isn’t that one of the greatest goals of continued education? Well, it is my goal.

Growing up, this poster hung in my basement:

I remember staring at it thinking, “Is that what it is really all about?” Even at a young age, I had my doubts. Sure, it would be nice to have all that, but will that make me happy?

On April 26th, Loyola University of Chicago partnered with the Tibet Center of Chicago to bring His Holiness, The XIV Dalai Lama, to Chicago and honor him for exemplifying Loyola’s ideals and traditions through the awarding of an honorary degree. Over lunch, he was awarded this honor and gave a speech on interfaith collaboration.

It was during this speech that I thought again about this poster. Sure, “more stuff” can be a justification for education, I guess that looks best on a motivational poster. I think the Dalai Lama would agree that there are much grander goals to be achieved through higher education, and life in general.

Below are some of the most poignant pieces of wisdom he shared with us that day, along with some of my own thoughts (I have included Loyola’s recording of the talk below, which starts around the 16:50 minute mark – watch some of it, he is a very adorable man)

1. Happiness comes from Affection.

Happiness primarily comes from yourself. The emotions you feel and express to others is ultimately a form of control you exercise everyday. We all have issues in our lives, challenges we face, obstacles we must navigate past during our relatively short lives – the one thing we can control through it all is our attitude and how we treat others around us. This ultimately means that happiness is a choice you make day in and day out.

We all want a happy life. Everyone has the right to achieve that happy life. The ultimate source of happiness is not money, a big house or fancy car or just the collection of mere great knowledge (just think of all the miserable millionaires you read about), but rather the ultimate source of joyfulness comes from within. Self-confidence leads to true happiness and this is fed by affection.

Photo from blogs.luc.edu

All life starts and flows from affection. At the end of your life, at your death-bed, you will not have money in your pockets, fame won’t matter, power can’t stop you from dying. At that time, surrounded by your best friends, only those around you, those who you love and love you in return, will matter.

The concern you have for others’ well being, this affection you have for people around you, is the ultimate source of self-confidence, psychological health and positive emotions. Irrespective of your religious beliefs, inner peace comes from genuine affection and love for others.

2. God’s Message

It is necessary to know that religions have different views and philosophies that result in the same goal. One religion in the world will never be, but this is not a problem, rather, have respect for all religions, believers and non-believers. Under God’s law everyone is equal. Under man’s law, the gaps appears huge. God’s message in all religions is love.

Atheism is not anti-God, the word itself comes from Greek ἄθεος (atheos) meaning “absence of God”. Those who say “ethics must be based on religious faith” should remember secularism is not necessarily negative, it was established on respect. In India, and the United States, the countries had multiple faiths, so secularism was established to respect all religions, believers and non-believers instead of putting preference on one religion over another. You can have secular ethics and have a good and moral society.

Some religions have a creator, like Judaism and Catholicism, some do not, such as in Buddhism, which primarily teaches to reduce the self. All self-centered tendencies are removed from the equation in all of these religions, despite the apparent differences between them. All the worlds’ religions have the same aim but different approaches. All teach humility, love and kindness. A person who sincerely follows Islam tradition (1:01:41 in on video), loves Allah and loves His creations. He should not create bloodshed, someone who does so is no longer an Islam practitioner. Jihad really means to combat your own negative nature and raw emotions. To practice Islam, like the other religions, is to love and have affection for others. To understand these things you can develop respect for all religions without any contradictions.

To me, this means that we should not judge people based on their theologies, but only from their behavior. It really doesn’t matter what YOU believe, or I believe, there are people with beautiful theologies but despicable behavior and beautiful people with weird theologies. Not everything you or I think is totally rational (as much as we would like to think we’re totally rational beings), I mean, can you name one religion that is 100% rational!? Even Atheism seems a little weird when it is said “all of this existence came from nothing.”

Buddhism, the Dalai Lama’s faith, asks many questions. Skepticism brings question, which brings investigation, which brings answers. Without skepticism, no questions, no answers. The Buddhist approach is very much in line with the scientific way. This does not lead to contradictions, only truth.

We must make an effort to understand each other, especially those with beliefs which appear different from our own. Not doing so is what causes all the problems. Practice love for each other through education, which leads to tolerance and understanding people with different backgrounds. Logically, we must accept that there are different religious institutions and promote unity among them.

3. Spreading Genuine Peace

To spread peace means simply to create inner peace within yourself first, then share it with others. Peace is not achieved through prayer, only through action and effort. We all must educate others on genuine peace, it must come through inner peace. Peace is not just the absence of violence.

Billboard run by the Foundation for a Better Life. http://www.values.com

4. The Greatest Challenge Facing All of Us

When asked the question: “What is the greatest challenge, as a spiritual leader, you face in your own life?”

He answered: “My own negative emotions”.

Even the greatest men and women on this planet have to fight away anger, jealousy, and selfishness. Only through our ability to control these feelings can the world truly become a better place.

The Rocking Chair

“Every man dies. Not every man really lives.” ~ William Wallace

Someday, God willing, I’ll grow old.

I wonder what I’ll remember most… What will be something(s) I accomplished that I’ll be proud of? What kind of lasting impact was made on others as a result of my mere existence?

When I retire, sitting in this rocking chair looking out at the beauty of the world, will my reflections of the life passed leave a smile on my face? Will my time on this planet have been lived to its fullest? Will I have loved life (because, after all, what else is there)?

For consideration: http://www.inspirationandchai.com/Regrets-of-the-Dying.html

These rocking chairs are a reminder that life is but a fleeting moment in time. It is worth turning off the TV and the computer and doing something worth remembering.

Go forth and live today with tomorrow in mind.

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Moon is Upside Down!

Today the sun crosses the celestial equator meaning IT’S THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING! At least in Chicago this is the case.  For my friends south of the equator, today is the first day of fall. While I get excited for the upcoming days of flowers and sunshine, those in Argentina are getting ready for days that are just a bit shorter and have that crisp air that only seems to come in autumn. I have suffered through another Chicago winter and typically spring is my favorite time of year, but for some reason today I am thinking about my time in Argentina and one particularly fantastic and bewildering thing I saw while there.

When I traveled to Buenos Aires during their summer, one of the most astonishing things I saw was up in the sky. My husband and I were at the Velez Sarsfield stadium watching an Argentine football match between Velez and Caracas. He was chatting it up with our friend, Pablo, and I was staring up at the sky in amazement. I expected to see stars I had never seen, but I never knew that, when in the Southern Hemisphere, the moon appears to be upside down.

I had more fun at this soccer game watching the sky and the people around me than actually watching the match (typical for an American?). Endlessly curious as I am, I pulled out a piece of paper to work this out. To this day, I am certain my husband doesn’t understand why this fascinated me so much.

A rough drawing explaining why the moon appears to be upside down - simply viewing the sky from different angles.

View of the moon from the Northern Hemisphere

Here was my conclusion: when you travel from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere, you are technically standing upside down from those in your originating city. This is why the Man in the Moon I had gazed at so many times before didn’t seem to be there.

A view of the moon from the southern hemisphere

The moon also appears to MOVE differently. In the North, all heavenly bodies move from left to right across the sky, however in the Southern Hemisphere, just the opposite is true. With the Argentine perspective, the moon, sun and stars travel from right to left. Even the shadow of a sundial will move counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere (opposite of that in the North).

This unexpected new view of the heavens above was a highlight of my time in Argentina. Whenever and wherever you travel, look up. You never know what you might discover.

“For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.”

- Vincent van Gogh

Life’s a beach, I’m just playing in the sand.

Imagine a place where everyone seems to be smiling and at total peace. Where the sun hugs you with every perfect warm breeze, and the stars shine brilliant in the night sky. This place has beguiling gardens, beaches, mountains and hundreds of waterfalls. The smell of spring lingers in the air all year-long, thanks to the millions of plumerias adding color to the already lush garden landscape.

I don't have a picture of the plumeria, however, the hibiscus can be found almost everywhere on the windward side of Maui. The yellow hibiscus, maʻo hau hele, which is native to the islands became the state flower in the '80s. In Hawaiian tradition the hibiscus is a symbol for the old royalty and is a flower that brings, besides great beauty, great power and respect.

I speak of a paradise that will forever be calling me to come back to it.

Mark Twain once said “I went to Maui to stay a week and remained five. I never spent so pleasant a month before, or bade any place goodbye so regretfully. I have not once thought of business, or care or human toil or trouble or sorrow or weariness, and the memory of it will remain with me always.”

Mr. Twain and I have that in common

Maui is a fairly small island, both in size and population (with roughly 160,000 it has fewer people living there than in Lincoln Nebraska), with an over-abundance of things to see and do. It is just the perfect place to visit, a true paradise found at every turn – I fell in love. As one might expect, Maui is surrounded by all kinds of beaches…and I’m just a big kid who never lost her love for the beach.

Hamoa Beach is easily one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

While I no longer build sandcastles, I still love being knocked over by a big wave. I still get lost when looking out at the endless horizon of the ocean. I’m soothed by the musical rhythm created when waves roll up against the shore.  I feel renewed on the beach as if its nature’s great tranquility spa. When I float off into serenity with the water holding me gently in its grasp, I can only imagine possible ways to be here forever. I still fantasize about living under the water, yes, like Ariel. When you’re in paradise, almost anything seems possible…

Had God created anything better than Maui, he certainly would have kept it for himself. The Hawaiian locals say “Maui no ka oi”, Maui is the best. I wholeheartedly agree…you don’t have to die to go to heaven.

Hamoa Beach is a half-moon-shaped, gray-sand beach (made from a mix of coral and lava) which sits below 30-foot, black-lava sea cliffs.

The Healing Fields…A Message from our Cambodian Guide

Today I read an e-mail from my study abroad professor with a forwarded message from Bunthin, our guide during our time in Cambodia. It is worth sharing because within the e-mail was a proposal to help to build an accommodation center for poor women and girls, who work late at night, to stay in when they leave their work and return home in the morning next day. Women and girls are often raped, robbed, and/or violated in respective ways by evil men during the night-time as they ride bikes 6-11 miles from Siem Reap back to their homes outside the city. As in the night of January 12, three women were murdered and robbed in Siem Reap province. One of those women was brutally raped before she was killed.

These girls deserve better

Siem Reap has seen civil unrest disappear in recent years and, as a result, tourism has increased year over year, providing growing opportunities for women to work in hotels, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, spas, and other entertainment places. It is an amazing and beautiful town with many wonderful people who deserve to be safe as they commute from work and home. I plan to get involved with this project and do what I can to help the wonderful Khmer women and girls of Cambodia find safety as they do what they can to have a better life. Cambodia is a wonderful place, but still has much healing to do, so as I learn more about this project I will post more.

Below is the e-mail Bunthin sent to the professor.

Dear Dr. Cliffford J. Shultz,

I hope you and your students were all arrived home safely. Since you came to my country I have met you in person and led your groups. To meet you and your students was my privilege as my personal. I was always happy and proud to show you and your students of my personal story, country, culture, and  histories etc.

I do know that you and your students have seen our country as well as our people living condition and the problem we are facing right now. On behalf of Cambodian and myself are thank you so much for Loyola University Chicago, which have committed to help me, our poor people, our poor  children to get better education.

Apart from all your above commitment, I have raised the idea of helping poor girls, ladies in general women who works for tourism sector in Siem Reap. These poor women come from countryside which their home located 10km to 18km away from town. These women have to go back home from work at the end of their work shift. Most of tourism work place are required to work in the night shift. These women have to push bike back home in the night which is very dangerous. As our government has reported that Traffic accident is the main killer of our people today. Apart from traffic problem is the human trafficking, sex abuse especially happened in the night  when those women leave work for home.

So please have a look of my proposal concept note in attach. I really want  you and your students to help and make this project to happen in Siem Reap town in order to deduct phenomenon incident and to help to increase their safety and happiness.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,
Bunthin

An Immersion in Thai Consumer Behavior

On my final day in Southeast Asia, I was lucky enough to have a flight leaving at 11pm, allowing me a whole day in Bangkok to literally get lost. With a hotel business card (to give to a taxi or tuk-tuk driver to get me back) and a map in hand, I ventured out alone to explore the city and find the last few items I still needed to buy.

MBK Shopping Center

I rode in a tuk-tuk to the MBK center, a large shopping mall only similar to those in the US. when comparing size. Eight floors are packed with hundreds of stores, most of which are vastly different from anything you’d see in the states. I’m pretty sure there was a floor dedicated only to shoes and purses.

Outside each McDonalds in Thailand you'll find Ronald giving a wai greeting

While having lunch at a little Japanese restaurant I noticed my Pepsi can was in English and wondered why Pepsi and Coca-Cola chose different language/packaging strategies…did they discover different preferences among their Thai target market? Random, I know.

While browsing through an accessory store I struck up a conversation with an older gentleman, Simon, from Perth. Having regularly traveled to and done business in Bangkok, he shared with me some interesting thoughts about the Thais. As strange (and creepy) as this may sound, I remember most him mentioning “Asian women are obsessed with bras”. I had noticed that there seemed to be an overabundance of places to buy ladies underwear, especially at the street markets, but didn’t think too much of it until he mentioned it. I’ve been wondering ever since why Victoria’s Secret doesn’t have a presence in Southeast Asia…especially since many of their items are manufactured in Vietnam. HEY VICKY’S – OPPORTUNITY!!!

Simon and I must have talked for 20 minutes about this city, our respective country’s economic situation, and what’s currently happening in American politics. I always find it interesting how knowledgeable people on the other side of the world are about the U.S. political landscape. Sadly, I’d bet half of Americans couldn’t point Perth out on a globe, let alone discuss whats happening in, say, the Eurozone.

By his suggestion, I left the MBK market and walked further down the road to the ritzy Siam Paragon, the largest, and most impressive shopping center in all of Southeast Asia (think of all of Michigan Avenue shops rolled into a single building complex). This is where all the top-notch designer boutiques like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Versace are found. Seeing this place was like seeing Vietnam’s future 20 years down the road – Dr. Shultz had taken us to see a brand new shopping center in Ho Chi Minh City that was such a big deal to the locals that there was a wedding taking place there.

Outdoor exercise bikes and a Coke bottle tree

I have to admit, I really hate shopping, so much so that I order most everything I wear online. Despite this, wandering around and seeing all the Thai advertisements and Asian shoppers was just, well, it was cool! Even the little things which are totally common in Thailand I found amazing, like the elaborate spirit house outside the Siam Center.

Spirit house or san phra phum

These spirit houses are basically shrines intended to provide a shelter for spirits which could cause problems for the business if not appeased. As seen in the picture of the Siam Paragon’s spirit house, offerings of flowers and/or incense are left to propitiate the spirits.

Even the license plates deserve notice

After leaving the “designer mall”, I wandered the sidewalk shops, snacked on street food, and had one last 2 hour Thai massage. Bangkok is an interesting and exotic place to wander, I’m just glad I had a whole day to myself to do so!

Get Real or Forfeit Your Place in the Sun

Expanding or moving business operations into Southeast Asia requires a deep understanding of the different emerging economies in the region. Navigating the political system, understanding consumer purchasing patterns, recognizing the dark horse that others overlook for investment, and finding the right local business partners are all important factors, as Chris Bruton, Director for Thailand and Indochina at Dataconsult, shared with us during the last official business meeting of the study abroad program.

Chris from Dataconsult

Of the 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian nations, the ASEAN 5 (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam) currently account for 1/4 of its GDP and roughly 39% of ASEAN’s population. Having seen first hand the rapid growth taking place in Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap, and the consumerism rapidly spreading throughout their respective countries, this put in perspective for me the great opportunity present in these developing economies.

Thailand leads, growth and infrastructure-wise, its sister countries in the ASEAN 5. It is considered a manufacturing center, especially for consumer goods, and an air transportation hub (Suvarnabhumi Airport handled 48 million passengers last year, just surpassing Singapore Changi Airport).  The flood, which tragically hit the country in October, actually created a promising infrastructure investment opportunity as $50B in damages presents a chance to build new state-of-the-art plants and facilities. In fact, Habitat for Humanity has been involved in the aid of post-flood rebuilding.

Doing business in Thailand is relatively easy for Americans. The Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations from 1966 allows U.S. and Thai companies’ equal economic access to one another’s markets. Thailand ranked 17th in the World Bank for ease of doing business but lacks adequate education programs to compete on a global scale (ranked 62 in the World Economic Forum, still significantly higher than the ASEAN 4). Thailand also ranks relatively low in political stability because, here, the caste system is still very much in practice. This means that everyone has a distinct place in society – Brahmin social elite, merchant class, peasant & worker class – and it is difficult, if not nearly impossible, to escape their rank. Improved education is the key both to overcoming these challenges and to long-term democracy.  As the boom in internet access spreads through Thailand and the ASEAN 4, knowledge spreads and dissatisfaction grows with current systems, as we’ve recently seen in other regions of the world.

After travelling to 3 of the 5 ASEAN nations, it does appears that Thailand is more “with it” than its neighbors. After learning from Chris for an hour, I would now attribute that to a recent history devoid of war, being more capital-intensive (rather than labor intensive), and possessing the factors which resulted in a higher WEF competitiveness ranking.

The other 4 nations in the ASEAN 5 rank low in ease of doing business (Vietnam ranks 98, Cambodia ranks 138, Laos ranks 165), competitiveness (Vietnam ranks 65, Cambodia ranks 97), and, as we had learned only days before, the education system in Vietnam and Cambodia are quite poor (Vietnam ranks 103, Cambodia ranks 120). Communist authoritarianism in Laos and Vietnam and endemic corruption in the region create substantial challenges for any business to run successfully. As we saw with businesses like Intel, helping the governments with policy formulation and follow through is necessary – these nations have poor records of carrying out newly created policies. My classmates and I learned at Fulbright that, in the case of Vietnam, reform is needed within the banking system as bank insolvency is one of the largest causes of the recent inflation of the dong.

Loyola has an international partnership with Harvard - the mission: to bring U.S. quality university programs to Vietnam.

Mr. Bruton mentioned that Myanmar is a dark horse in the region, showing a lot of potential. Largely ignored because of its relatively ”closed off” history to the rest of the world, it appears to be in a turning point politically. The country has a vast energy, mineral, and agricultural resource base, but like its neighbors, has huge challenges in infrastructure, bureaucracy, financing and labor.

Dr. Shultz thanking Mr. Bruton

During this incredible study abroad program, Dr. Shultz provided us a total immersion in the local customs, a unique exposure  to and perspective of international culture, and lessons of endlessly fantastic opportunity in a truly beautiful part of the world. I am forever grateful to him for the countless lessons he has bestowed upon me.

A Dichotomy of Contradicting Realities

The thing about big cities like Bangkok (population 12 million) is that concessions are hardly made for tourists. Much like in Chicago, or New York City, you’re expected to immediately fall into the city’s rhythm. Unlike in Saigon and Siem Reap, no priority was given to us as new arrivals and nothing but the local currency was accepted (the baht).

Grand Palace entrance

Bangkok is a phenomenon I was hardly prepared for. On one hand, I was impressed by the variety and incredible opulence of the temples…Some buildings are covered in gold, others are decorated with thousands of finely detailed tiles and jeweled mirrors. On the gorgeous days I was there, every building seemed to sparkle and glitter under the tropical sun. On the other hand, I was surprised to see the abject poverty of ramshackle shacks right along side shrines and houses of the rich. The realities of rich and poor, of cleanliness and pollution, of friendliness and sketchiness, and other such dichotomies were everywhere.

House on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok

Luckily, we were sure to study up on the customs to ensure we didn’t unintentionally offend anyone; Thailand is very different from the U.S.! When a local graces you with a wai (a Thai greeting…slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion) it is appropriate to return it. I really loved this custom, and the clear sign it gave of mutual respect.

The wai greeting is said to resemble a closed Lotus flower. Photo by Anthony Ewing.

On the street, you really can experience almost anything – ostentatious shopping malls, eclectic markets, lady boy shows, famous (and at times somewhat scary) night life, tuk-tuk rides, hot-pink taxis, Muay Thai matches, ancient Thai massage, street food a-plenty, and so on.

Prohibited outfits at the Grand Palace - although we took special care to dress appropriately, two girls in our group still had to purchase additional cover-ups.

The only real complaint I had during my couple weeks in Southeast Asia was my experience with the Thai cab drivers – none of whom seemed willing to turn on a meter and tried to scam 3-5 times the cost of a typical ride to or from our hotel.

Thai cabs

I felt as though, in general, Thai people are polite to the point of reverence, however between drivers trying to make extra money, and endlessly being offered “Ping Pong shows” at the Patpong night market (which, in all fairness, is right in the heart of the Red-light district), for the first time on this trip I felt unsafe. I was asked by my professor what exactly I was afraid of…nothing really, it’s just that intuition you suddenly get that isn’t easily explained. I had a heightened sense of awareness that I trusted was necessary.

Patpong night market in the middle of the red-light district

I both loved the city and hated it at the same time. The sheer size of Bangkok can be very overwhelming, however with all there is to do and see, it really is a spectacular place to visit. Overall, Bangkok is very affordable, and with 2 hour Thai massages only costing 400 baht (roughly $14 USD), it is easy to become spoiled.

A Ride down the Chao Phraya River

After touring the Grand Palace, my classmates and I hopped onto a long-boat, crossed the river and had lunch at the amazing water front Supatra River House Restaurant. This was one of those Thai lunches you dream of…the cashew chicken…drool…

View of the Chao Phraya River from Supatra River House Restaurant

As we ate, we were suddenly graced with the presence of an American expat, Jeff, who acted as our “travel agent” of sorts for this trip. He once worked in the travel industry in the states and later started a business in Thailand when he realized that there was a lack of “custom travel agents” in this region of the world. Having the good sense to note that Americans don’t typically like to be herded onto buses and rushed around like many of the local travel and touring companies would have you do, he decided to specialize in creating that one of kind southeast Asia experience, complete with meals at the best restaurants and tours given by award-winning guides. All I know is that he is EXCELLENT at his job and hope I have the good fortune to use his services again.

After lunch, we boarded a river express boat to explore some of the klongs (canals) of the Chao Phraya River. Damage left from the October flooding can still be seen on  many of the wooden river-front houses.

Exploring the canals we saw schools, hospitals, temples, and homes on stilts lining the banks. I even spotted a vine that looked like Jesus!

Hallelujah!

There is an endless variety of things to see along this river – even huge, bread-eating catfish.