His Holiness the Dalai Lama serves hope to SF homelessby EVELYN NIEVES – Associated Press WriterMonday, 27 April 2009, 10:54 a.m.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama passes a plate of food while eating lunch at a San Francisco soup kitchen on Sunday, 26 April 2009. Addressing visitors at the Martin de Porres House of Hospitality, His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke of his position as Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader saying ‘Me too, homeless person.’ (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

San Francisco: His Holiness the Dalai Lama was trying very hard on Sunday to make the homeless guests at Martin’s soup kitchen relax.His
Holiness put on a red and yellow tie-dyed apron to serve up the first
plates of pesto pasta. He cracked jokes about what a relief it was to
be among rich people who hang on his every word. He broke bread with
seven down-and-out men, telling stories and making fun of his English –
or lack thereof.Finally, the head of Tibet’s government in
exile and one of the most significant spiritual leaders in the world
tried this: “You know,” he said, “I’m homeless too.”His
Holiness the Dalai Lama was on his second day of a weekend swing
through the San Francisco Bay area to talk peace and call attention to
the plight of the nation’s poor. His visit, arranged by The Forgotten
International, a nonprofit that promotes helping the world’s poorest
people, was two years in the making.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama helps serve lunch at a San Francisco soup kitchen on Sunday, April 26, 2009. Addressing visitors at the Martin de Porres House of Hospitality, His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke of his position as Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader saying “Me too, homeless person.” (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Tom
Nazario, the founder of Forgotten International, blamed bureaucratic
red tape. “He has wanted to do this for some time,” said Nazario, a
professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law.His
Holiness the Dalai Lama beamed and grinned impishly throughout his
hour-long visit to Martin’s – formally, Martin de Porres House of
Hospitality – rooted in the Catholic Worker movement.”I’m
really happy for the opportunity to visit,” His Holiness said, offering
words of encouragement to the approximately 100 guests and volunteers
at the Sunday lunch.”Our lives depend on others,” said His
Holiness the Dalai Lama. “Me too. My life depends on others. You are
still in human society, human community. Please feel happy and feel
dignity.”The guests included some of San Francisco’s most
desperate, reviled citizens, men and women who carry their life’s
possessions in shopping carts and sleep under bridges.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama addresses visitors at a San Francisco soup kitchen on Sunday, 26 April 2009, after serving food and eating lunch. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

“I
told him that everything I’m wearing – from the suit to the earrings –
I found in the trash,” said Armando Martinez, 44, who wore a
three-piece suit and beads.Ambbeei Hall, a 59-year-old Vietnam veteran and practicing Buddhist, said the Dalai Lama tried hard to make everyone laugh.”When he brought up George Bush,” Hall said, “I couldn’t hold it.”As
it happened, someone at His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s lunch table asked
whether he had met President Barack Obama. His Holiness said he would
meet with him in October, then recalled President George W. Bush.”I love him,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama said of the ex-president. “But some of his policies….”–Courtesy: The Associated Press