A Match Made in . . . This World

Pico Iyer's The Open Road: The Global Journeyof the Fourteenth Dalai Lama (2008) (252 p.) proved itself the ideal read following the Jaipur Literature Festival. As readers will know from either this blog or Iowa Guru's, these two individuals were both favorites in our family. The combination of subject and author didn't disappoint. 

Pico Iyer was a teenager when his parents drug him to Dharmasala, India to meet with the Dalai Lama, at that time a young and virtually unknown figure. The Dalai Lama had fled from the Chinese occupiers of Tibet in the late 1950's, and he'd taken with him a remnant of the nation and culture that was Tibet. Iyer's early introduction to this unique personage allowed Iyer access to the Dalai Lama and his community that few in the world can match. The even better news, however, isn't just Iyer's access, but his attitude. This is not an exercise in hagiography; instead, it’s a frank treatment of the many worlds in which this ordinary, extraordinary person lives. The extraordinary aspect of the DL's life arises from the requirement of fate (or karma?) that he must exist in multiple worlds at one time. The DL is political leader of the Tibetan people (although he's attempted—unsuccessfully—to slough off this burden), while at the same time, he serves as a global figure for peace and justice, as recognized by his Nobel Peace Prize. Even as a representative for Buddhism, he must occupy two positions simultaneously. As a representative for the values of Buddhism around the world, he emphasizes our common humanity and the universal concerns that Buddhism addresses to the world at large, including those of different religions or no religion at all. On the other hand, as a leading figure of the unique tradition of Buddhism that came from Tibet, he heads a practice that maintains shamanistic and ritual elements that are truly esoteric to most people, rather bizarre. Indeed, the Tibetan Buddhist tradition splits between the shamanistic rituals that seek to probe the interior world and another aspect of the tradition that emphasizes a highly developed philosophy that thrives on language and argumentation. Imagine the DL sitting pensively (as happens) as a young monk enters into argumentation with him and steps forward in a loud voice clapping his hands in the face of this revered figure to make a point. (Check out this video, which seems tame compared to a demonstration that I saw in Macbride Hall at the UI. Iyer notes that they trash talk playing b-ball, too.)

These and the many other dualities (or multiple realities) mark the DL's existence and create and define him. Arising at 3:30 every morning and meditating for four hours, he then enters into discussions and debates with scientists, religious leaders, and ordinary people (as he did at the Jaipur Literature Festival). When one contemplates this performance, it becomes truly mind-boggling. An ordinary peasant boy becomes a world-historical figure, coming out of one of the most remote and forbidding places in the world, but a country with a culture that is deeply rich in learning and art. 

Given his own multi-polarities, I can't imagine anyone more qualified to write this book than Pico Iyer. As a global wanderer and the product of multiple cultures, Iyer appears to gain some additional insight into this extraordinary man that I wouldn’t expect from others. Iyer understands and appreciates the ordinariness of him that complement his extraordinary performances. Iyer also describes the places, persons, and issues that surround the DL in a way that deepens and situates his observations of the man himself. 

For anyone interested in the Dalai Lama, Buddhism, Tibet, or, more widely, the challenges of how someone with deep moral convictions attempts to navigate this all-too cruel world, I can't recommend this book too highly.  

#JLF: A Group Blog

Good Times #JLF

Abba’s favorite sessions:

1.     The Flight of the Falcon

I picked up Jamil Ahmad’s book, “The Wandering Falcon” when I was in Kerala for the New Year.  I loved the book – it is a compilation of short stories about tribes in Pakistan that are loosely bound together.  Ahmad, who is 80, worked with different tribes when he worked for the government.  He noted at the beginning of speech that he was always interested in tribes, like the Fulani and Hausa, since childhood.  So that helped explain why I liked his book so much!  He was a graceful speaker who appreciated the values of the tribes he worked with, and unflinchingly stood up for them. The other author on the panel, MA Farooqi, was eloquent as well so we bought his most recent book, “Between Clay and Dust”

2.     Laughing, weeping, writing

Connie and I both loved this session.  The author of “Absurdistan”, Gary Shteyngart, the author of “The Best exotic marigold hotel” and an Indian author, Manu Joseph, talked about their writing while simultaneously making us laugh hysterically.  Shteyngart joked that very few people in America (600,000) read because they are consumed by technology.  However, he followed up with a poignant explanation of the joy of reading- being connected to an outside world by going inside someone else’s head and being transported to a different place and time rather than using technology to transport yourself.

Stage at Durbar Hall

3.     Women on the path

This session was about women in Buddhism.  Ani Choying, a Buddhist nun whose very moving autobiography I just finished, spoke about how simply asking the question of why or why not helped her get more rights as a Buddhist nun. Kunzang Choden, Bhutan’s first published female author was also interesting so I bought her novel.  Ani said that women have too much humility and that we need to STEP IT UP.

4.     Falling off the map: the question of failed states

This session had panelists from Somalia, Iran, India and Palestine discuss whether or not the concept of a failed state was useful (they unanimously decided that it was not) and then discussed the ramifications of this phrase.   I enjoyed their discussion of why the term offended them and what the world does about the nations that are not necessarily winning.

5.      Saving Face

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, the documentary filmmaker who is best known for the Emmy she won this year for a documentary about acid victims in Pakistan, was smart, interesting, brave, and had very important topics to discuss.  She discussed all her documentaries including “Children of the Taliban” and “Lifting the Veil”.  The first is about children growing up in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan (she said they’re forever scarred and are either violent or completely passive) and the second is about women in Saudi Arabia.  I can’t wait to watch all the movies.  

Con’s Picks:  The Best of The Best

1.     “Kinships of Faiths: Finding the Middle Way”

The Dalai Lama in conversation with Pico Iyer.  The eternally inspiring and loving Dalai Lama in conversation with Pico Iyer, his friend and biographer.

2.  “Laughing, Weeping, Writing”

Manu Joseph, Gary Shteyngart and Deborah Moggach in conversation with Ashok Ferrey.  So funny, so smart, so ingeniously wicked.  There is so much to laugh about in the world, and they found lots of it.  3 very funny writers from 3 very different cultures.

3.     Most of the Sessions on NATIONAL DAY

I learned a lot about what Indians care about, disagree on, and hold near to their hearts.  A small number, true, but I felt more informed, and it was more engaging than a newspaper.

Favorite People:

1.     HHH Dalai Lama: What a joyful soul.  Something to aspire to, for sure.

2.     The trio of humor writers.  It was like being at a great party.  THANKS for the laughs.

3.     Michael Sandel:  After the first one, I knew I was watching a master teacher, so I attended all his sessions.  He is a virtuoso of the Socratic method, and shows the world how learning, thinking, and teaching should take place.  BRAVO. I’m going to take his free online E course (the first Harvard has offered) called JUSTICE.

4.     Pico Iyer & William Dalyrymple:  The first was so sweet and smart, the second scary smart and loved to giggle.  Gotta love those characteristics in a smartie!

5.     Nadeem Aslam:  His short reading of his book The Bind Man’s Garden clinched the purchase of several of his books.  This man must be haunted by his talent.

6.     The dictator-facilitator in the Google Mughal Tent.  She didn’t allow saved seats, made everyone state their name and speak directly into the mike, and shamed non-question askers.  She could make a great elementary teacher.

Steve:

JLF was like nothing that I’ve ever attended before, an intense five day gathering devoted to art and ideas expressed through writing and speech. In addition to gathering ideas from authors, the audiences participated very actively through questions (and comments). Because of this, I received a much better sense of what educated Indians think and feel. So let me pick some favorites in the spirit of our joint blog:

1.     “The Man Within My Head: Pico Iyer in conversation with Akash Kapur”.

I’d read Iyer’s book before I knew of this (and reviewed it here). It’s not an easy book to classify, and I was relieved when Kapur remarked on this at the beginning, thus reinforcing my perception and alleviating some of my anxiety that I’d gotten it all wrong. Kapur’s conversation brought out not only the subtly of the book, but also revealed the author, who struck me as a very perceptive, thoughtful, and gentle soul. This program displayed the value of a good interviewer working with an author to further reveal the value of a work.

2.     “Inside the Game, Outside the Game: Shashi Tharoor in conversation with Trun Tejpal”.

Shashi Tharoor is the Bill Clinton of India: he can take a topic of public policy (in this case Indian foreign policy) and talk about with authority, clarity, and insight while making it seem effortless. This guy is very sharp and very insightful. He’s currently a government minister, and he was a serious contender for U.N. Secretary General. Given his commanding voice, personal grace, and mastery of issues, I can now understand why he’s held in such high regard.

3.     Republic Day sessions.

Several of these sessions were very enlightening. The 26^th is a national holiday that celebrates the inauguration of the Indian constitution, and as it turned out, the conversations will test some of the articles of this constitution in the days and weeks to come.  Ashis Nandy, Edward Luce, Ruchir Sharma, and Gurcharan Das especially shed light on the Indian political, social, and economic situation. 

Entrance to Diggi Palace

4.     “A Sense of Place: Peter Heessler, Pico Iyer, Akash Kapur and Samanth Subramanian in conversation with William Dalrymple.”

I took two things away from this session: first, travel writers have to maintain a heightened sense of listening and observation that we could all benefit from (and do vicariously through their writing) Second, like Iowa Guru, I got a sense of William Dalrymple (a co-director of the festival) as a lively figure in person as well as a dynamic writer. My admiration for “travel writers” grows.

5.     “Taming the Gods: Religion & Politics with Ian Buruma, Reza Aslan, Ahdaf Soueif and Timonty Garton Ash in conversation with Shoma Chaudhury”.

This is a live issue in India, in Europe, and in the U.S., and this discussion from writers who have knowledge of a variety of religions and polities really offered some interesting insights. Aslan, a University of Iowa Writers Workshop and comparative religion alum, was especially insightful (and blunt) about the contemporary Republican Party.

I’m going to stop with five, quite arbitrarily. Because Iowa Guru gave him a shout-out already, I’ve ignored my Michael Sandel session, and I heartily concur with her take. And the Dalai Lama? He’s in a class by himself. Amazing. I’ll write more later, but, again, this was a real treat.

Things Abba loved abt JLF:

Mini-notebook with lined pages AND a schedule

Great DECORATIONS and a beautiful setting

The enthusiasm of my fellow attendees (connie and steve)

GREAT food options (froYo, pizza, paneer shwarma)

FREE TO THE PUBLIC

Great bookstore to buy the titles of the authors

Stuff Connie loved about the JLF:  I concur with Abba, but have a few extra….
1.  The feeling I had of unearned importance because I was attending an event that I read about the next day in various newspapers. Finger on the pulse, baby.

2.  THEMES for each day:  for their National Day, they talked about the state of politics in India, another was a day focused on Buddhism.  Well done, JLF!

3. Young Writer’s Workshops each day:  Didn’t attend, but a great idea.

4.  For the final debate they had a drummer start playing when the speaker’s time was out.  They need to adopt that for ALL their sessions, particularly for long-winded facilitators and people who have a comment when it’s supposed to be a question.  We learn about that in Kindergarten, folks, it’s just not that hard.

Char Bagh Tent: One of Five Venues

SINGLE REGRET:  JLF also sponsored a musical performance each night from 7:30-10:00 but I didn’t attend a single one.  Too pooped.  Next time I will condition better.

#JLF: The Jaipur Literature Festival

Imagine a buffet. You are served a choice of five courses every hour. Each hour you can find some serving that looks very promising. You do this for seven courses over the course of the day. And then, you do it again the next day. By the end of the next day you're feeling full, but then you look at the menu for the next day. This is a menu that seems to have endless, delicious looking courses. Of course, not all of them prove delicious, but enough of them do to make-up for any disappointments. By the end of the fifth day, you fear that you're like the Terry Jones character in the "Monty Python's The Meaning of Life" who's gorged himself but who can't resist the one last mint.

Fortunately, filling your head with interesting insights and engaging in thought-provoking discussions don't leave you looking like the disgusting glutton above, and--best of all--you don't blow up. But you are tired. You look like this: 

 
The above photos and paragraph suggest something of what is what like to attend five days of the Jaipur Literature Festival. We (Iowa Guru, Abba, and I) will be blogging in greater detail soon, but it was fabulous. If you can attend this level of event, I highly recommend it. More to come! 

See Iowa Guru's account as well: http://iowaguruinthepinkcity.blogspot.in/2013/01/the-jaipur-literature-festival.html
 

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