Seeds of Compassion

April 12, 2008

*As Written*

Good Afternoon.

Welcome, everyone, and thank you Dan, (Kranzler) for the introduction. And many thanks to Seeds of Compassion, and the co-founders, Lama Tenzin (Dhonden (TEN-Zin DON-Den) and Dan Kranzler for the vision in bringing us all together today.

A most special welcome to our honored guest, Your Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Thank you for gracing our State with your presence.

It is a great privilege to be the Governor of Washington State.

For this small town kid from Auburn, it�s a special honor to be together with you today to learn how we can turn compassion into action for all of us, especially for our children.

Scientists from all across the globe are working every day to better understand the most remarkable gift we have -- the human mind. From our first moments after birth through adulthood, our minds are continually growing and changing.

From yesterday�s deep dialogue -- Exploring the Seeds of Compassion -- we learned that �Love Grows Brains.�

And Pat Kuhl and Andy Meltzoff right here at the University of Washington are showing us just how true that is. Through their research, we can see how the brain develops when we are shown love, attention and, yes -- compassion.

I had the honor of chairing a group who produced a report on the state of our education here in Washington State.

I�m proud to tell you that we identified that �the-parent-as-first-teacher� was the most important step to begin a lifetime of learning the social and emotional skills that enable a good mind to live inside a good citizen who is a loving and happy person.

From that effort came our recent substantial investments in early-learning and the Thrive by Five public-private partnership -- which will help Washington families and others allow our children to reach their full potential -- socially, intellectually and emotionally.

On this day we are doing some of that work. We ask ourselves to find ways to also be engaged. Compassion is for us all! And it begins, as His Holiness the Dalai Lama has pointed out so beautifully, inside each and every one of us, waiting to be discovered.

As Governor, I want our government to be compassionate.

But it is the thousands of daily actions by millions of people in this state and across this world that will help ensure that every child leads a happier, richer life. These actions give children the tools to respect and care about others, themselves, their families and our world.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been talking, listening to the world about compassion for a very long time. He also lives his beliefs by working courageously on behalf of peace everywhere on this planet.

Born in 1935 in a small Tibetan Village to farmers, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama was recognized at two years of age as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama.

At six, he began his studies of Buddhism and at 23 he graduated with the equivalent of a doctorate of Buddhist philosophy.

In 1950 His Holiness was called upon to assume leadership of the Tibetan people. In 1954, he went to Beijing for peace talks with Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders.

But finally, in 1959, His Holiness was forced into exile. Since then he has been living in Dharamsala (Dar-RAM-ah-SAL-ah), northern India, the seat of the Tibetan political administration in exile.

From there, His Holiness has spent his time working for the Tibetan people, global peace, and compassion for all people.

His Holiness never seeks recognition for his work. Yet, in 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for always advocating non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggression. His teaching, which he practices, is �violence begets violence.�

He also became the first Nobel Laureate to be recognized for his concern for global environmental problems. He has received numerous other awards, most recently receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award given by the US.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been talking, listening and writing to the world about compassion for a very long time. He finds his name as Author on more than 72 books and is one of the most sought-after speakers in the world.

On behalf of the people of the great State of Washington, I am deeply honored to be here with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a deeply humble man of peace, author, activist, humorist, monk, and a man who inspires us all to seek our own path to a more compassionate future.

Your Holiness. . . .