The Dalai Lama and Lady Gaga

tenzin-gagaEvery now and then, we hear about a “new voice in the neighbourhood” and it turns out that the so-called new voice is the voice of youth. And the Dalai Lama – along with his friend Desmond Tutu – often spend time listening to youth. And this time, the Dalai Lama was with one of the well-known icons of youth, Lady Gaga, who frequently represents gender fluidity. Here, the Dalai Lama, Lady Gaga, and the billionaire business tycoon Philip Anschutz shared a stage on Sunday during a panel presentation for The United States Conference of Mayors in Indianapolis.


The Dalai Lama and Lady Gaga

If it sounds like an unlikely trio, the subject chosen for this meeting was just as remarkable. The three big personalities spent their time together talking about the power of kindness and how to make the world a more compassionate place.

During the wide-ranging conversation, which was often more philosophical than practical, all three leaders emphasized the idea that kindness is a basic human value.

 

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 The Dalai Lama and singer Lady Gaga appear together for a question and answer session on “the global significance of building compassionate cities” at the U.S. Conference of Mayors 84th Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana United States, June 26, 2016

The Dalai Lama told the assembly of leaders from more than 200 of the nation’s mayors that it is important for American cities to spreading kindness.

“America, in material development, is a leading nation, particularly in innovation [and technology],” the Tibetan Buddhist leader said during a keynote speech before the panel. “Now [the] time [has] come, America should be leading nation of promotion of human compassion, human love in order to achieve compassionate world.”

He added that mayors have an important part to play in this effort.

“Mayors, you have direct contact or influence to the people in the city. The federal government is sometimes a little bit far,” he said. “So the mayor is a direct link with people.”

 

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During the panel, which was moderated by journalist Ann Curry, the trio talked about the factors that divide Americans — things like sexual orientation, health, and economic class.

“None of this can matter anymore,” Gaga said. “We are unified in our humanity and the only thing that we all know, we all appreciate in one another, is kindness. So this has to come before all things.”

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