100 Questions for the Dalai Lama

We watch the Dalai Lama Renaissance at the Roxie Theater in the Mission. It's well-made and Khashyar Darvich the director does a Q & A for the audience post-show. I run into him while waiting my turn at the small concession stand - he thanks me for coming. I blurt out that my wife is Tibetan Buddhist and wish him the very best before ducking back into the theater. I'm your garden variety agnostic but find myself moved when the Dalai Lama speaks. He claims that he is a simple Buddhist monk, but there's no doubt that this is a great man. Some jewels: There is a moment when he is asked to bless a global boycott of Chinese goods to impose pressure on the Chinese government. He responds that he cannot abide something that will cause hardship to the Chinese people who are only now climbing out of poverty - regardless of the actions of their political leadership.