About a month ago, the Dalai Lama said something about women that is just now making the rounds on Twitter. His statement, "The world will be saved by the western woman," was delivered during the Vancouver Peace Summit 2009, which opened on the morning of Sunday, September 27th.
Although I'm still trying to track down a transcript of the speech containing the above statement, the Dalai Lama participated in more than one panel discussion that day, and the event most likely to have provoked such a strongly worded declaration was the "Nobel Laureates in Dialogue: Connecting for Peace" presentation held that afternoon. Moderated by former Irish president and peace activist Mary Robinson, the panel discussion featured four Nobel Peace Prize Laureates: the Dalai Lama (who won in 1989); Mairead Maguire and Betty Williams, founders of the Northern Ireland Peace Movement and winners of the Nobel in 1976; and anti-landmine crusader Jody Williams, an American peace prize winner in 1997.
If the "western woman" statement were made in the context of the Dalai Lama's appearance with these extraordinary women, the words would seem less stunning than sensible. Truly, these western women have already changed the world, and have been doing so for more than three decades.
Writing for the Interaction Institute for Social Change (IISC) blog, executive director Marianne Hughes ponders the idea of the aging women as hag (originally a representation of feminine power) and how it relates to the Dalai Lama's statement:
I'm not entirely sure what he meant...but I am wondering if when he travels across the globe and sees so many of our sisters impoverished and repressed he sees western women of all ages in a position to speak out for justice and to take on the responsibilities of the hag... to take loving care of the planet and its people.
The Dalai Lama's comment about western women was not the only notable pro-female statement he made during the summit. In the Vancouver Sun, Amy O'Brian quotes others including a call for "increased emphasis on the promotion of women to positions of influence."
In response to a moderator's question about what he sees as priorities in the quest for world peace, here's what the Dalai Lama said:
Some people may call me a feminist....But we need more effort to promote basic human values -- human compassion, human affection. And in that respect, females have more sensitivity for others' pain and suffering.
World-saving aside, women do what they do because it's work that needs to be done. None of them do it with an eye toward winning a Nobel Peace Prize, but the acknowledgment is valuable in that it draws attention to these efforts and eases the ever-present fund-raising struggle...and recruits more followers, like those who are retweeting the Dalai Lama's statement. Hopefully every woman who forwards those words will dig down deep enough to find the source of his inspiration and understand that he honors real women whose work continues day in, day out...regardless of whether they're in the limelight or not.
Comments
Women disregard their biggest power. Imagine the impact if all women fed their families healthy meals. Would we be having health care discussions? Would there be an obesity problem? Would depression or illness or ADD be a problem?
Or how about if women were to spend less time in front of the TV and more time with their kids?
I hear the screaming – why is it up to women?
Because we have the strength. We can change a lot of what is wrong with the world. And we can still have a career.
I think a lot of women are starting to wake up and realize that the manly approach is not working. Not for them, or the world.
Instead of feeling like a victim, we need to celebrate our strength. We have a lot of power that the world needs right now.
Just my 2 cents…
Thank you for this excellent report – you have summed it all up nicely – women do what they were created to do – we chose our sex – let us not forget the power we have for bringing about change – it is linked to our ability to sustain life – i especially like your comments on the hag or chrone – the first time I was addressed as such by a beautiful young goddess who runs our Moon circle I was hurt and shocked until I read about the crone – we crones still use our feminine ability and power to nurture and create, it does not stop at menopause – only for those of us unlightened enough to believe that our life’s work is finished and that we are no longer “attractive”
sexual that is – of course we are – we nurture the planet and we are given all of humanity to work with after our own children lent to us have grown – we should search within ourselves because we are wise beyond the many years under our belts and showing on our faces.
Bishop Tutu should try and get the ANC in South Africa to practice equality and try uplift people that are not so called “black”.Non black women have very little chance of growth in South Africa.
I think the reason why the Dalai Lama mentioned western women rather than eastern women is because only Western women have the political power to get things done.
In many eastern countries women are not allowed to obtain any political power and so are very limited in what they can do. It is not a lot better for western women but at least western women are getting more and more involve in the political system.
The truth of the matter is that while men continue to rule our world we will always have conflict, wars and injustice. We need far more women in positions of power throughout the world, if we are going to live in a more caring and compassionate world.
Women know and have known discrimination. Even the comment about the love and compassion of women is feeding a stereotype. (Not that I disagree, it is just that perhaps these qualities come from experience, and all downtrodden people know suffering, and therefore can access compassion for others who suffer?) As Western women step out of the stereotyped roles, they are in a position to build a new self, outside of the established “norms”. This “emptiness” of the proscribed “self” coincides very nicely with the Buddhist goals of overcoming the manufactured self-image to see the Ultimate Reality that is relational, not individual. Western women are in a sufficiently advantaged position to be able to lead, and perhaps have the luxury to really examine “self”, and from that, as the majority in this country, enact a change which can impact the entire world. (Read Mary Daly’s Beyond God the Father … behind the feminist anger are some very good points.)
a google page w lots of info on the Dalai Lama visit; including video! i’ll let YOU do the searching for the actual statement made. BEST!
http://odurl.com/gUu
I would love to have a conversation with you, Linda and talk about a conference I am putting together.
Please call me at 310-597-1462.
thanks
andrea
The Dalai Lama is right – men use harsh words and weapons to create order. Woman can use reason and love. I think you will like my idea of creating a currency with handbags (and other fashion items eventually) – see http://www.susanhaywardoflondon.com – we women can work together to improve everything if we really want to. I’m doing my bit and starting with building up communities – will you join me?
I hope I didn’t sound sexist
I love men but I just think they have had their own way for so long, it’s about time we tried something different. I have tried to contact Angelina Jolie in Pakistan because of the idea I have but am happy to share on skype if you email me.
ddsnorth…I’m trying to view the link you left but to no avail….I am looking for the transcript of these comments…can you help me?
I’m a longtime admirer of HHDL and try to follow the basic tenets of Buddhism as I understand them from his teachings.
I would agree wholeheartedly with his attributed wisdom here.
Carole: Although women can generally cook better meals than men, generally as a result of classes taken in school, I would disagree with you that men are incapable of performing the home-parental role, and know of several men who have successfully performed this role. The key, I think, is that a couple needs to be earning sufficient for their needs so that one or other can be available for when the children are at home.
Susan: I like your idea very much
One thousand years ago, some vietnameses woman ( hai ba Trung ,ba Trieu) who collected people and arms to fought back Chineses invaders.This land is being good place to produce stronger women.So if Google interest,please come to visite Women Museum in 36 Ly Thuong Kiet Ha Noi.I am Vietnamese American woman,love and support to respect women in the world.
my favorite dalia lama quote, is that if you lose, don’t lose the lesson… here is a funny joke I saw about the Dalai Lama retiring, http://ponderingstuff.com/2011/03/19/dalai-lama-retires-groupon/
He means, the return of the DIVINE FEMININE is the energy coming back to usher us through the Golden Age.
The ultimate goal is for balance or a marriage of the male/female energies within each person… think Yin/Yang, or as above, so below… equal…
Now add in the fact that the male energies throughout the world and history have been overbearing and unbalanced. This is where we see war and other extremes of power.
To balance the male energies, or unite both, it is merely a matter of the action/strength (male) within us all to merge in the compassion, love and nurturing that is the divine feminine nature.
It is that simple.
It is not women conquering men, and men need not fear this. It is merely men incorporating and being OK with and accepting that they can display and openly show emotion, love, compassion and nurturing.
The fact it is the western woman is that we have the technology and know how to spread the word and show the way in a much bigger way.
Namaste all, this is going to be a fun ride!
This, will
As an eastern woman who grew up in Asia in an economically advanced but heavily patriarchal society, I agree with HHDL’s statement. Also, I think it is fair to say that western men have been relatively supportive in promoting the progress of western women and not being threatened by it- by educating the female child, having laws in place to fight against gender discrimination & violence against women. In many parts of the eastern world, the upliftment of women through education is seen as a corruption of their moral values and to the detriment of the society they live in.
This quote – about the Western Woman saving the world – has been in my brain ever since I first heard it. Finally, the seed has sprouted, and I founded the Sacred Feminine Leadership Institute to support women to make sure that happens.
Please check it out, if this is a topic that interests you. The address is http://sacredfeminineleadershipinstitute.com.
Perhaps, as little girls, we watched too many “Disney” features and are still waiting to be rescued by the prince. Substituting “Hallmark” fits this line of thought also.
In maturity we learn that we can be self-directed in our approach to our dreams. We can be an example by demonstrating to our children that they too can create their own reality and their own world without waiting for someone to decide they are worthy enough to have it.
There is no doubt in my mind that the world will improve as technology makes it possible to have clean water, food, and communication. The best is yet to come and western women are certainly in a position to influence positive change.
you don’t know if he ment one or many