The Dalai Lama Serves Hope To SF Homeless

April 26, 2009 His Holiness the Dalai Lama was trying very hard on Sunday to make the homeless guests at Martin's soup kitchen relax.

He put on a red and yellow tie-dyed apron to serve up the first plates of pesto pasta. He cracked jokes about what a relief it was to be among rich people who hang on his every word. He broke bread with seven down-and-out men, telling stories and making fun of his English — or lack thereof.

Finally, the head of Tibet's government in exile and one of the most significant spiritual leaders in the world tried this: "You know," he said, "I'm homeless too."

The Dalai Lama was on his second day of a weekend swing through the San Francisco Bay area to talk peace and call attention to the plight of the nation's poor. His visit, arranged by The Forgotten International, a nonprofit that promotes helping the world's poorest people, was two years in the making.

Tom Nazario, the founder of Forgotten International, blamed bureaucratic red tape. "He has wanted to do this for some time," said Nazario, a professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law.

The Dalai Lama beamed and grinned impishly throughout his hour-long visit to Martin's — formally, Martin de Porres House of Hospitality — rooted in the Catholic Worker movement.

"I'm really happy for the opportunity to visit," he said, offering words of encouragement to the approximately 100 guests and volunteers at the Sunday lunch.

"Our lives depend on others," said the Dalai Lama. "Me too. My life depends on others. You are still in human society, human community. Please feel happy and feel dignity."

Buddhist Prayers Universal Love

Universal Love Aspiration

Through the working of Great Compassion

in their hearts,

May all beings have happiness

and the causes of happiness,

May all be free from sorrow

and the causes of sorrow;

May all never be separated from the

sacred happiness, which is sorrowless;

And may all live in equanimity,

Without too much attachment

and too much aversion;

and live believing in the equality of

all that lives. Namo Amida Buddha

Lotus Buddha

So Hum

Easter Meditation "Life is Just Outside the Door."

The Fire Yogi of Tanjore

This documentary portrays a rare and unusual Fire Ritual performed by the Yogi and the subsequent chemical analysis of his clothing & physical tests that examine this supernatural phenomenon. The Yogi has performed this Fire Ritual for a total of 1000 days over the last 45 years. The Yogi, weighing a mere 94 pounds (43 kilos), has been able to survive on only two bananas and a mere glass of milk with a few drops of water twice a day for the last 28 years. Many aspects of the Yogi are on the edge of unbelievability, while at the same time highlighting the power and endurance of human mind, body and spirit.

Yogi Rambhauswami, the 63-year-old yogi, claims that in 1975 he stopped drinking more than a few drops of water each day, that two years later he began limiting his daily diet to a banana and a cup of milk, and that he sleeps only three hours each night. By all rights the Sanskrit scholar should be malnourished and dehydrated, but in director and producer Mike Vasan's documentary, he appears to be a relatively normal, if somewhat slender, senior citizen. Rambhauswami's real claim to fame, however, is his elaborate fire ritual.

Echart Tolle TV Launches on June1st

We are thrilled to let you know that Eckhart Tolle TV will be launching on June 1st, 2009!

Eckhart Tolle TV is a pioneering new medium that will allow people from all over the world to connect with Eckhart's teachings in an ongoing way — including access to monthly private video seminars, an online community, live group meditations, and special monthly contributions from Kim Eng. We appreciate your interest in knowing more about Eckhart Tolle TV and are pleased to let you know about a special opportunity available only to early subscribers.

If you register to become a member of Eckhart Tolle TV by April 11th (details can be found by visiting www.EckhartTolleTV.com), you may be eligible to win a ticket to the recording of a private seminar series that will be broadcast at a later date on Eckhart Tolle TV.