O'odham meet with Tibetan spiritual leader

By Brenda Norrell, Indian Country Today, October 31, 2005

TUCSON, Ariz. (USA) -- His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with O'odham from the border region, connected in hearts and spirits through the bonds of exile and oppression by the governments of the world, O'odham said.

<< Photo courtesy Ofelia Rivas -- the Dalai Lama met with "O'odham Voice Against the Wall" founder Ofelia Rivas and other members of the O'odham communities while in Tucson in September to speak on "Creating Peace in a Violent World."

Encouraging warm-heartedness and compassion in a region where border crossers are harassed, arrested or die of thirst in the desert, the Dalai Lama spoke on ''Creating Peace in a Violent World.''

During his visit to Tucson in September, the Dalai Lama met with O'odham, including Ofelia Rivas, founder of ''O'odham Voice Against the Wall,'' a community group opposing a border wall which would dissect traditional O'odham communities in the United States and Mexico.

Rivas said the Dalai Lama's presence would have a lasting benefit for her tribe.

''His Holiness came out through the security personnel smiling and extending his hand to touch and bless the O'odham children. His Holiness listened to greeting words in O'odham and accepted a special gift and a single flower from one of the children.''

After meeting with the children, the Dalai Lama embraced Rivas and shared a message with her.

''Our lives and our children's lives are forever changed,'' Rivas said.

''We experienced the struggle and the peace of the life of His Holiness, which is the same struggle and effort of the O'odham living on the borders of the United States/Mexico international boundary.

''We experienced His Holiness as the living light and the living presence of peace.''

Meanwhile, John Halpern, Buddhist and filmmaker from New York, has produced the film ''Refuge'' with Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone, on the everyday life of the Dalai Lama.

''John came to O'odham territory to film the existence of the wall,'' Rivas said. Filmmakers interviewed O'odham along the international border and filmed construction of the ''wall'' that is under way along the border of Arizona.

''Refuge'' was slated for a West Coast premiere at the Century City (Calif.) Film Festival in the last week of October.

Rivas said ''Dalai Lama'' means ''Ocean of Wisdom.'' Tibetans normally refer to His Holiness as ''Yeshe Norbu'' (the Wish-Fulfilling Gem) or simply ''Kundun'' (The Presence).

The Dalai Lamas are manifestations of the Buddha of Compassion, who chose to take rebirth for the purpose of serving other human beings. His Holiness is the 14th reincarnation of the Buddha of Compassion.

Comparing the Dalai Lama's struggle to the indigenous who are on the border, Rivas said that in 1959, the Dalai Lama was forced into exile in India after the Chinese military occupied Tibet. He has resided since that time in Dharamsala, northern India, seat of the Tibetan government in exile.

Rivas said the U.S./Mexico international border as established in the Treaty of Guadalupe and, in 1853, the Gadsden Purchase, dissected the territory of the O'odham.

Today, O'odham live on both sides of the international border. However, she said many O'odham live in exile from their original birthplaces.

Rivas said the U.S. government's ''wall'' project is intended to permanently seal the entire international border of the United States and Mexico, as documented in a 350-page report released by the Department of Homeland Security in 2002.

Currently, there is increased militarization of the United States border, the northern O'odham territory, and increased danger to the remaining traditional O'odham using ancestral routes.

''The O'odham are harassed and held at gunpoint during interrogations, as well as killed by the Border Patrol military,'' she said.

Referring to the traditional route across the border, she said, ''The traditional O'odham, since the time of creation, have held ceremonies and used ancestral routes to visit sacred holy places and visit families.''

We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot
NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)



For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.


Dear Friends in the Dharma,

We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.

Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:

One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.

How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.



For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.

Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.

Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.

Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.

Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!

May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,

With deepest gratitude,

Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team


Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv


TOP