death of the dalai lama
continuation of first issue story line...
Kalachakra Ceremony
Images of Tibetan monks in full regalia…creating sand mandalas…chanting and meditation…
Dalai Lama seated before a huge audience (usually when addressing an audience, he is seated in meditation pose on a large platform…with his translators and attendants seated on either side…the audience should be enormous (as far as the eye can see, a sea of people as well as tv cameras)
D.L. - “before we begin this ceremony dedicated to world peace…I need to address some of the issues that this world is facing…as political leaders and private corporations continue to follow unhealthy values that lead us towards a path of destruction…we can recognize where those paths will lead us and choose a new course…pessimism seems to dominate our current state of affairs…so much so that we have begun to accept our immanent destruction…forgetting the amazing potential of human creativity in the face of impending disaster…now is the time to ask ourselves on an individual level…what can I do to make a change?”
(as the speech unfolds…show images of dalai lama, monks and audience of wide range of humanity…young and old, different ethnicities, religious backgrounds, etc…all in awed attention)
“and I’m sure many of you will respond as I have to this question…who me? I am no one special…yet despite that fear and contraction in the face of an awesome task… I believe in the path of altruism, love, compassion and non-violence which I try to practice, in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha and the great sages of India and Tibet.
…on behalf of the oppressed everywhere and for all those who struggle for freedom and work for world peace. I accept this path as a tribute to the man who founded the modern tradition of non-violent action for change Mahatma Gandhi whose life taught and inspired me. And, of course, I accept it on behalf of the six million Tibetan people, my brave countrymen and women inside Tibet, who have suffered and continue to suffer so much. They confront a calculated and systematic strategy aimed at the destruction of their national and cultural identities. This path we choose reaffirms our conviction that with truth, courage and determination as our weapons, not only Tibet, but all sentient beings will be liberated.”
“No matter what part of the world we come from, we are all basically the same human beings. We all seek happiness and try to avoid suffering. We have the same basic human needs and is concerns. All of us human beings want freedom and the right to determine our own destiny as individuals and as peoples. That is human nature. The great changes that are taking place everywhere in the world are a clear indication of this.”
“In China the popular movement for democracy was crushed by brutal force. But I do not believe the demonstrations were in vain, because the spirit of freedom was rekindled among the Chinese people and China cannot escape the impact of this spirit of freedom sweeping many parts of the world. The brave students and their supporters showed the Chinese leadership and the world the human face of that great nation. Last week a number of U.S. citizens were once again sentenced to prison terms of up to nineteen years at a mass show trial, possibly intended to frighten the population before today's event. Their only 'crime" was the expression of the widespread desire of americans for the restoration of their beloved country's independence.”
“As a Buddhist monk, my concern extends to all members of the human family and, indeed, to all sentient beings who suffer. I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. We need to cultivate a universal responsibility for one another and the planet we share. Although I have found my own Buddhist religion helpful in generating love and compassion, even for those we consider our enemies, I am convinced that everyone can develop a good heart and a sense of universal responsibility with or without religion.”
“With the ever growing impact of science on our lives, religion and spirituality have a greater role to play reminding us of our humanity. There is no contradiction between the two. Each gives us valuable insights into the other. Both science and the teachings of the Buddha tell us of the fundamental unity of all things. This understanding is crucial if we are to take positive and decisive action on the pressing global concern with the environment.”
“I believe all religions pursue the same goals, that of cultivating human goodness and bringing happiness to all human beings. Though the means might appear different the ends are the same.”
“I pray for all of us, oppressor and friend, that together we succeed in building a better world through human under-standing and love, and that in doing so we may reduce the pain and suffering of all sentient beings…and now, I come to the most difficult part of my talk with all of you…It is my responsibility to you to reveal my recent understanding of the true reason behind this impending war between china and the united states…a war which is certain to swallow up the entire planet…it has been revealed to me through sources within both governments that this war is not intended for any clear victory by one side or the other…but rather a defeat for all of mankind…even as we sit here, secret negotiations are taking place between the Chinese and american leadership regarding a secret plan known as “Project: Fiery Armageddon” (feel free to change this if you have a better name for the secret plan)…(view of D.L. from p.o.v. of sniper’s scope as he finishes this last sentence)…as D.L. breathes in…preparing to reveal the details of “project: fiery Armageddon”…a shot rings out…
Nuwa, Dalai Lama’s shaolin bodyguard, instantly moves to action…attempting to climb atop the dalai lama’s raised platform to shield him from the approaching bullet…but the dalai lama leans forward and out of her grasp…moving his heart in direct line with the oncoming bullet…(should provide for some great images)
Dalai lama glances out amongst the crowd…towards an American that he noticed as he took his seat earlier…close to the front, holding a “make love not war” sign…
In that instant…the bullet explodes into the dalai lama…and the eyes of D.L. and Bo (a tobacco farmer from Kentucky, in Taiwan to attempt a black-market sale of tobacco)…the dalai lama slumps forward keeping his eyes on the American…and whispers into the microphone, “I shall return as the child of these two enemies.”
Bo suddenly feels a jolt of energy course through him (perhaps there is some way to represent graphically this transfer of consciousness…perhaps a ball of light appearing at the crown of bo’s head)…Nuwa looks up and notices this burst of energy over the American as secret police and security agents surround him assuming that the gunfire came from the same area as this flash of energy…nuwa springs forward as this part of the story fades out…perhaps nuwa (in black leather) can be jumping right at the reader in the final panel…filling it with blackness…which moves to the next part of the story line…also opening with darkness
Fast forward 17 years…within the darkness, the lights of New Appalachia are revealed…
Kalachakra Ceremony
Images of Tibetan monks in full regalia…creating sand mandalas…chanting and meditation…
Dalai Lama seated before a huge audience (usually when addressing an audience, he is seated in meditation pose on a large platform…with his translators and attendants seated on either side…the audience should be enormous (as far as the eye can see, a sea of people as well as tv cameras)
D.L. - “before we begin this ceremony dedicated to world peace…I need to address some of the issues that this world is facing…as political leaders and private corporations continue to follow unhealthy values that lead us towards a path of destruction…we can recognize where those paths will lead us and choose a new course…pessimism seems to dominate our current state of affairs…so much so that we have begun to accept our immanent destruction…forgetting the amazing potential of human creativity in the face of impending disaster…now is the time to ask ourselves on an individual level…what can I do to make a change?”
(as the speech unfolds…show images of dalai lama, monks and audience of wide range of humanity…young and old, different ethnicities, religious backgrounds, etc…all in awed attention)
“and I’m sure many of you will respond as I have to this question…who me? I am no one special…yet despite that fear and contraction in the face of an awesome task… I believe in the path of altruism, love, compassion and non-violence which I try to practice, in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha and the great sages of India and Tibet.
…on behalf of the oppressed everywhere and for all those who struggle for freedom and work for world peace. I accept this path as a tribute to the man who founded the modern tradition of non-violent action for change Mahatma Gandhi whose life taught and inspired me. And, of course, I accept it on behalf of the six million Tibetan people, my brave countrymen and women inside Tibet, who have suffered and continue to suffer so much. They confront a calculated and systematic strategy aimed at the destruction of their national and cultural identities. This path we choose reaffirms our conviction that with truth, courage and determination as our weapons, not only Tibet, but all sentient beings will be liberated.”
“No matter what part of the world we come from, we are all basically the same human beings. We all seek happiness and try to avoid suffering. We have the same basic human needs and is concerns. All of us human beings want freedom and the right to determine our own destiny as individuals and as peoples. That is human nature. The great changes that are taking place everywhere in the world are a clear indication of this.”
“In China the popular movement for democracy was crushed by brutal force. But I do not believe the demonstrations were in vain, because the spirit of freedom was rekindled among the Chinese people and China cannot escape the impact of this spirit of freedom sweeping many parts of the world. The brave students and their supporters showed the Chinese leadership and the world the human face of that great nation. Last week a number of U.S. citizens were once again sentenced to prison terms of up to nineteen years at a mass show trial, possibly intended to frighten the population before today's event. Their only 'crime" was the expression of the widespread desire of americans for the restoration of their beloved country's independence.”
“As a Buddhist monk, my concern extends to all members of the human family and, indeed, to all sentient beings who suffer. I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. We need to cultivate a universal responsibility for one another and the planet we share. Although I have found my own Buddhist religion helpful in generating love and compassion, even for those we consider our enemies, I am convinced that everyone can develop a good heart and a sense of universal responsibility with or without religion.”
“With the ever growing impact of science on our lives, religion and spirituality have a greater role to play reminding us of our humanity. There is no contradiction between the two. Each gives us valuable insights into the other. Both science and the teachings of the Buddha tell us of the fundamental unity of all things. This understanding is crucial if we are to take positive and decisive action on the pressing global concern with the environment.”
“I believe all religions pursue the same goals, that of cultivating human goodness and bringing happiness to all human beings. Though the means might appear different the ends are the same.”
“I pray for all of us, oppressor and friend, that together we succeed in building a better world through human under-standing and love, and that in doing so we may reduce the pain and suffering of all sentient beings…and now, I come to the most difficult part of my talk with all of you…It is my responsibility to you to reveal my recent understanding of the true reason behind this impending war between china and the united states…a war which is certain to swallow up the entire planet…it has been revealed to me through sources within both governments that this war is not intended for any clear victory by one side or the other…but rather a defeat for all of mankind…even as we sit here, secret negotiations are taking place between the Chinese and american leadership regarding a secret plan known as “Project: Fiery Armageddon” (feel free to change this if you have a better name for the secret plan)…(view of D.L. from p.o.v. of sniper’s scope as he finishes this last sentence)…as D.L. breathes in…preparing to reveal the details of “project: fiery Armageddon”…a shot rings out…
Nuwa, Dalai Lama’s shaolin bodyguard, instantly moves to action…attempting to climb atop the dalai lama’s raised platform to shield him from the approaching bullet…but the dalai lama leans forward and out of her grasp…moving his heart in direct line with the oncoming bullet…(should provide for some great images)
Dalai lama glances out amongst the crowd…towards an American that he noticed as he took his seat earlier…close to the front, holding a “make love not war” sign…
In that instant…the bullet explodes into the dalai lama…and the eyes of D.L. and Bo (a tobacco farmer from Kentucky, in Taiwan to attempt a black-market sale of tobacco)…the dalai lama slumps forward keeping his eyes on the American…and whispers into the microphone, “I shall return as the child of these two enemies.”
Bo suddenly feels a jolt of energy course through him (perhaps there is some way to represent graphically this transfer of consciousness…perhaps a ball of light appearing at the crown of bo’s head)…Nuwa looks up and notices this burst of energy over the American as secret police and security agents surround him assuming that the gunfire came from the same area as this flash of energy…nuwa springs forward as this part of the story fades out…perhaps nuwa (in black leather) can be jumping right at the reader in the final panel…filling it with blackness…which moves to the next part of the story line…also opening with darkness
Fast forward 17 years…within the darkness, the lights of New Appalachia are revealed…