Wednesday’s Words
We were strolling through the annual art fair in Minneapolis last Saturday. Amidst comments on the size, quality and geographical origins of the many exhibits, we noticed ourselves at the World Market section of Hennepin Street. right before us is a Tibet shop. I always support the Tibetan community when opportunity arises. Among the many Dharma books and colorful wall hangings, imported hand-made crafts, clothes, and jewelry, were a few of the Dalai Lama’s teachings printed on burlap for inexpensive wall decor. One in particular, my (non-Buddhist) wife appreciated, nodding her head in time to the meter of the message.
The Paradox Of Our Age
We have bigger houses but smaller families;
more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense;
more knowledge but less judgment;
more experts, but more problems;
more medicines but less healthiness.
We’ve been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble in crossing the street to meet our new neighbour.
We built more computers to hold more copies than ever,
But have less real communication;
We have become long on quantity,
but short on quality.
These are times of fast foods but slow digestion;
Tall mean but short characters;
Steep profits but shallow relationships.
It’s a time when there is much in the window
But nothing in the room.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.