"Let him that would move the world first move himself"

- Socrates

Welcome

The project to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama for a series of events in Spokane has generated strong endorsements from diverse sectors of the region. The enthusiasm is not just for the Nobel Laureate himself, but for the values he embraces and for the possibility of giving compassion a visible place in the region's civic affairs. Rotary 21 and Sravasti Abbey, co-sponsors of the invitation, recently learned that His Holiness is unable to accept the invitation at this time. But the proposed two-year plan to explore compassionate action has developed a momentum of its own. An organization and structure are now forming under the title of Friends of Compassion. Implementation of the ideas can have a positive effect on the community and could open the door for His Holiness to accept an invitation in the future.

For 5 months, members of Rotary Club 21, Sravasti Abbey, and others have worked with people of faith, education, government, social services, and business on a framework to discuss kindness and compassion for others. This central question arose: "How can institutions, not just persons, act compassionately?" The Dalai Lama's message of tolerance, personal responsibility, and charity has provided a unifying commonality. Many organizations are now pursuing community advancement, and all express ideals of compassion in their own language. Friends of Compassion seeks to harness this positive energy for common good, in the pursuit of civic goals and local needs.

The project began with the discovery by Downtown Rotary Club 21 of a Buddhist teaching class presented by Venerable Thubten Chodron at the Airway Heights Correctional Facility. She is the leader of a mountaintop Abbey near Newport, Washington, and is known internationally as a leading teacher and author on Buddhist practice in the English-speaking world. Rotary funding has now assisted the Abbey with the distribution of her video teachings to prisons throughout the US. Her speech comparing Buddhist philosophy with ethical practices of Rotarians electrified the Club, and launched this project.

Many people who came together as planners and advisors liked each other, as well as the message of compassion. From the start, the potential for collaborative support grew as quickly as our friendship. We have discovered much commonality in the compassionate ideals expressed in religion, education, spirituality, law, philosophy, parenthood, psychology, and social services. To advance these ideals, Friends of Compassion will embrace diversity, encourage personal and organizational development and practice of compassion, and endorse local and regional endeavors.

Downtown Rotary Club 21 has been practicing "Service Above Self" since 1910. Its 350 members form one of the largest of the 33,000 Rotary clubs all over the world, representing 1.3 million members in service to their communities and to the world. The fountain in Riverfront Park in Spokane is the largest of its recent projects.

Sravasti Abbey is a Buddhist monastery cultivating and doing its best to practice the values of non-harmfulness, mindfulness, compassion, respect for nature, and service to living beings. We conduct teaching programs, retreats, and seminars at the Abbey and around the world.

For more information contact

John Hancock, Project Chair, Downtown Rotary Club 21 (509)244-8559