Who is the Dalai Lama's Hero? (The answer may surprise you.)

On October 8, 2013, the Dalai Lama arrived on stage to his awaited audience at the Gwinnett Arena, in a suburb about 30 minutes north of Atlanta. Right off the bat upon arriving on stage, the Dalai Lama saw a man in the front row and he  -- the Dalai Lama, being the informal person that he is – stopped what he was doing and suspended his talk in front of the arena full of people to suddenly walk off stage in order to greet the gentleman on the floor. At this point, we were all wondering, “who is this man who His Holiness is so excited about?”

Richard Moore

The two men exchanged embraces and expressed genuine excitement to be in the presence of one another. The man touched the Dalai Lama’s face and he remarked, “the same nose!”  The Dalai Lama laughed. We did not know that the man was visually impaired at that time.

Turns out that the man who was personally greeted by the Dalai Lama is Mr. Richard Moore, who is indeed an inspiration. In 1972, at the age of 10, Mr. Moore was shot in the forehead by a British soldier in Ireland, which in turn caused him to lose his eyesight. On his way home from school, within a quick moment, his life was changed forever as he was literally “caught in the crossfire.”

What makes Mr. Moore so inspiring is that he CHOOSES to live a life of gratitude and service. He could have chosen different routes, such as wallowing as a victim or living an existence filled with bitterness.

The Dalai Lama shared that this man is his hero because he in fact does not show signs of anger or resentment.

As an adult, Mr. Moore even tracked down and met the man who shot him with the rubber bullet and has forgiven him. From what I understand, he is actually friends with the man now!

Forgiveness truly does set you free.

Mr. Moore has turned his experience into a way to help others. He created a foundation called, “Children in Crossfire” and has earned prestigious awards for his work on an international level. His foundation helps children in need (particularly in developing countries) by creating programs and initiatives surrounding children’s’ rights, healthcare, education and advocacy. He truly makes a difference in the lives of others.

We all have a story. What have you (or perhaps family members) overcome that you can help others with? Are there feelings of resentment that you could let go of?  If so, what are they? Awareness is the first step.

What are your next steps? Be sure to share your insights below as your input can help others as well!