By Sheila Orysiek
SAN DIEGO — The Dalai Lama and many of his people fled the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959. Now after more than 50 years in exile, he has been considering the problem of how to keep both the culture and religious heritage of his people alive. It occurred to him that there might be a treasure trove of such survival skills within the Jewish community.
Thus, in 1990, at the invitation of the Dalai Lama, a group of Jewish men and women representing a broad spectrum of Judaic religious thought and practice, traveled to Dharamsala, a small hill town in northern India.
Rodger Kamenetz was part of the invited group and wrote The Jew in the Lotus, (Harper Collins, 1995) detailing the dialogue which ensued between the two major religions: Judaism and Buddhism. Initially one might think that there would be few points of agreement – and yet, to the surprise and pleasure of both – there were many commonalities of intent, goals and even practice. The Jewish group prepared in advance what they wanted to discuss, what they might have to offer, what questions to ask and who would do each.
Characteristically, they spent a great deal of energy on the simple question: “How should we address the Dalai Lama?” The official title of “His Holiness” was problematic to the more Orthodox Jews and to others it recalled an unhappy history with the Vatican. As much as they tossed and turned different titles of address, in the end the Dalai Lama made it easy. He introduced himself as “a simple monk.”
The Jewish representatives found themselves surrounded by the deep natural kindness and courtesy of their hosts. As much as they wanted to share what they thought might be of help to the beleaguered people of Tibet now in exile around the world, they also wanted to learn and take back what they had learned to the Jewish communities they represented. Each side came away enriched.
There are a surprising number of Jews who have embraced Buddhism and are in positions of influence within that community. They sometimes describe themselves as having Jewish hearts and Buddhist wings. Kamenetz met and came to know many of them and gives the reader an in depth look at what led them on this journey.
This book can be read as a fascinating conversation between two very different religions finding surprising commonalities. It can also be read as an exploration into the far deeper question of what we seek in religion, prayer and community. – and what religion can do to feed those needs.
*
Orysiek is a freelance writer who specializes in arts and literature. You may comment to her via sheila.orysiek@sdjewishworld.com