Today I had the experience of attending lunch with the Dalai Lama at the invitation of my dear friends Governor Gary Herbert and his wife Jeanette. (Quick reminder to my fellow Utahns that we all need to vote on June 28th in Utah’s primary election so we can ensure Governor Herbert can continue with the amazing job he does as our Governor… #Herbert2016  ).  When I received their invitation I was thrilled because over the years I have read so many of the Dalai Lama’s quotes that have really inspired me. I felt it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to get to meet him today.

When His Holiness the Dalai Lama walked into the room you could feel the positive nature and energy he has. He has such a joyful and lighthearted presence. And I have to say he looks incredibly young for his age!! Clearly there is something to all the suggestions that having a positive attitude can keep a person looking young! He is walking proof of that!

His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV today at our lunch

I have to admit that I struggled to understand his accent at times but the messages he shared were powerful. One of my favorite things that he shared today was in response to a question that was posed to him. He was asked how he feels about enemies or people who see him as their enemy. His response was awesome. He shared that we should love our enemies, not because they are necessarily lovable people, but because they are our best teachers – they teach us how to have more patience, more tolerance, and to be more forgiving. He shared that our greatest enemy is feelings of hatred toward another person as hatred is what destroys people. What a great way to look at things!

He shared many other great messages about holding to your values, spreading kindness and compassion and living a happy life. I love how positive he is and I love that in a world full of so much turmoil and violence and hatred that here is a man who spends his time spreading messages of peace and joy and happiness. We need so much more of that in this world.

I wasn’t able to write down any of his exact quotes today to share with you but I will share a past quote from him that I love:

“To be kind, honest and have positive thoughts; to forgive those who harm us and treat everyone as a friend; to help those who are suffering and never to consider ourselves superior to anyone else: even if this advice seems rather simplistic, make the effort of seeing whether by following it you can find greater happiness.”     – Dalai Lama XIV

Have a HAPPY day everyone!

~Amy Rees Anderson