“The Dalai Lama is my spiritual leader, but also the spiritual leader of the world in opposition to religious leadership, which causes division, war, hatred and terrorism,” said Dr. Eric Fugier who practices dentistry in Beverly Hills and reads all books written by his Holiness. “Through him I have become a better person, and a better dentist. I became more compassionate toward my patients, my staff, friends and enemies.

I also understood why you have to be compassionate towards the people who try to hurt you: they are ignorant, and you have to be sorry for them and try to help them understand better.”

Dr. Fugier, a very successful practitioner treating Hollywood dignitaries, is just one of the many millions whose lives have dramatically changed after gaining full insight into the teachings of the Dalai Lama. Lots of celebrities, including Richard Gere, Sharon Stone, Goldie Hawn, Martin Scorsese (Kundun), Bernardo Bertolucci (Little Buddha) and Keanu Reeves are avid supporters of his Buddhist principles.

Planetary warming, war, arrogance, economic recession and other factors are all calling for a Global resolution to save our planet, and our lives on it. But, with old and outmoded systems our survival is impossible.

Pride being the source of suffering, toward the end of his two-day appearance the Dalai Lama returned to the theme of his life long teaching: compassion. “Some very wealthy individuals come to me for my blessings for a happier life. Thy do not need my blessings. They can give some of their fortune to facilitate education.” By which His Holiness meant, the spreading of information, which then can enable each person to obtain happiness from within. “…that way, by giving back, the person who gives will also become happy. That is the real source of blessings”

Prior to his appearance at the Aspen Institute the Dalia Lama had attended a brain science conference in Washington. With an emphasis on the importance of combining scientific data and metaphysics in order to better understand human behavior, he is preparing us for the next step into our modern 21^st century world.

The Dalai Lama believes that compassion exists on both emotional and physical levels.

“According to science [practicing compassion] makes the body better and the immune system stronger. So many people spend their money on medicine and sleeping pills. People that have compassion don’t need these.”

With a lot of scientific evidence directly linking the mind to physical well-being, the Dalai Lama has become seriously interested in the connection between Buddhism and science in recent years, taking a strong position in favor of science. He has even announced that if certain Buddhist principles are proven unsound by scientific evidence, then they should be discarded in favor of proven principles.

The Dalai Lama’s beliefs in the science of compassion have been supported by many experts in the field. “Project Compassion,” a presentation by a professor from Stanford University that was discussed at the Aspen Institute during the week, is a study in which scientists have been able to measure the relationship between a compassionate mind and the positive physical effects it can have on the human body.

Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State, said in a private conversation, “I am planning to help the work of the Dalai Lama.”

His Holiness certainly represents a cause that is beyond politics and strategies, but rather is about mankind.

Aspen, which has its own fame through the many natural wonders it has to offer, is often home to remarkable events, such as hosting this most unforgettable one. Many of the 4,000 visitors stayed at the St. Regis Hotel, which is not only a landmark building, but admittedly the best hotel in town, and the favorite of the Clintons. Its hospitality and classic elegance matched up well with the style of the audience. Some of the key note speakers included such famed names as Pico Iyer who has been writing on Tibet for more than 20 years and writes for The New York Times, The Financial Times and Time Magazine; Robert Thurman who has been recognized as one of America’s leading voices for sanity and peace in the new millennium; Samdhong Rinpoche, the first Chairman of the Tibetan Cabinet elected directly by the Tibetan people and David Breashears, an accomplished film maker, adventurer, author and mountaineer, who in 1985 became the first American who reached Mount Everest twice and transmitted the first live pictures from the summit.

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