I recently heard from someone who returned from India. Her group met with
            the Dalai Lama for several days. The meetings focused on dialoguing what
            they believed were the 5 most important questions to be considered moving
            into the new millennium. The group was asked to come up with five
            questions before meeting with the Dalai Lama. They asked:
 

            * How do we address the widening gap between rich and poor?

            * How do we protect the earth?

            * How do we educate our children?

            * How do we help Tibet and other oppressed countries/peoples?

            * How do we bring spirituality - deep caring for each other - through all
              disciplines?

            The Dalai Lama said all the questions fall under the last one. If we have
            true compassion, our children will be educated, we will care for the earth,
            and for those who "have not".

            He asked the group:  Do you think loving on the planet is increasing or
            staying the same? His own response was,  "My experience leads me to
            believe that love IS increasing."  He shared a practice with the group that
            will increase loving and compassion in the world, and asked everyone
            attending to go home and share it with as many people as possible.
 
 

The Practice

            2. Spend 5 minutes cherishing yourself and others. Let go of judgments.
               Breathe in cherishing yourself, and breathe out cherishing others.
               If the faces of the people you are having difficulty with appear,
               cherish them as well.

            3. During the day extend that attitude to everyone you meet - we are all
               the same, and I cherish myself and you (do it with the grocery store
               clerk, the client, your family, coworkers, etc.)

            4. Stay in the practice, no matter what happens.