Laughter and happiness ripple around as rapt audiences welcome man in the robes

At engagement after engagement, the Dalai Lama struck a chord with his joyful wisdom

IF SCIENTISTS took the time to investigate such matters, they might discover that it is physically impossible to sit straight-faced in the company of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Maybe it’s the random high-pitched laughter.

Or his tendency to finish compassionate verbal offerings with: “Okay? What you think? Make some sense?”

Maybe it’s because he radiates an infectious contentment.

Whatever the reason, even a room filled with seen-it-all hacks couldn’t hold back the smiles yesterday in the Citywest Hotel, Dublin.

He was here, his first visit to the State in 20 years, for the sold-out Possibilities Civic Summit organised by three organisations: Afri, Spunout.ie and the Children in Crossfire charity set up by his friend Richard Moore. Moore lost his sight after being shot by a rubber bullet aged 10 in Derry.

“He is my hero,” said the Dalai Lama, holding Moore’s hand throughout the press conference. “Despite what happened to him, never have I seen bitterness or anger on his face”. His Holiness calls him the Derry Lama, apparently.

Moore invited the Dalai Lama to come to Ireland last May while on a trip to Dharam Sala, north India, where the exiled Tibetan leader lives. The Possibilities event was set up to create a sense of community and empower people in the face of current social, environmental and economic challenges. “There’s no one on this planet that would inspire people more, I believe, than His Holiness,” Moore said.

Wearing his red and saffron robes, the Dalai Lama answered questions on religion (“We are all the same”), Ronan Kerr’s murder (“Senseless”) and on how Irish people should cope with the economic crisis. He confessed that his knowledge of “money matters” was “zero”. He advised people to work hard and have self-confidence and to look inside themselves for happiness.

“The ultimate source of happiness, peace of mind, cannot be produced by money,” he said. “Billionaires, they are, I notice, very unhappy people. Very powerful, but deep inside, too much anxiety, too much stress”.

He received a standing ovation at the Possibilities conference, where he spoke to 2,000 people for almost an hour. Afterwards, he had lunch with fellow conference speaker, former president Mary Robinson at the hotel before travelling to Kildare town square, where over 1,000 people were waiting. In honour of the visit, there was free parking, said a local source, but only as long as His Holiness was in town.

It was drizzling and cold when the Nobel Peace Prize winner arrived. “He is absolutely adorable,” sighed Audrey Dunphy, leaning over the barriers to catch a glimpse of the man in robes. “And look at the nuns, they are so happy. It’s their big day, bless them.”

It was true. Three happier nuns than Brigidines Sr Rita Minehan, Sr Ann Minehan and Sr Phil O’Shea, the reception committee from local Christian centre Solas Bride, you could not have found.

As the crowds in the square cheered, the Dalai Lama was presented with a handwoven St Brigid’s cross and another mounted on bog oak crafted by Newbridge Silverware. Then Liam O’Flynn played the uillean pipes as the Dalai Lama took the short walk through a guard of honour of local children waving white flags to St Brigid’s Cathedral. Inside there was a private meditation session with religious leaders including Rev John Marsden, dean of the cathedral, and Msgr Brendan Byrne, vicar of the Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.

A car took the Tibetan entourage from the cathedral to the parish church, where 700 ticket holders waited.

Before it began the Dalai Lama hung a white prayer scarf on the neck of four-year-old Ronan Hansey from Co Sligo. His delighted mother Lauren beamed.

Standing on the church altar, the Dalai Lama spoke about the importance of religious unity and of compassion, before taking questions. One man asked him if he would like to come to his house for a cup of tea. Sadly the request got lost in the translation.

Earlier the spiritual leader spoke about the importance of being grateful to irritating people for providing opportunities for patience, which prompted this question: “Are you grateful to the Chinese for giving you so many opportunities to practise patience?” “Oh, yes!” he replied to laughter and applause.

If the three nuns had their way, the Dalai Lama would still be in Kildare now but, with a presentation on forgiveness to give to 3,000 people at Limerick University today, it was time to go in what locals were calling the “Lamamobile”. He left a few of them, including Peggy Dempsey, in tears. “I shook his hand. I am just so happy,” she said.