Street roots
May 24 2013
P H O T O BY LEA H N A S H
H is Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, gives one o f several lectures in the Portland area earlier this month as part o f the Environmental Su m m it sponsored by M aitripa Collage
Dalai Lama’s teachings resonate with Street Roots vendor
BY HOBO JOHN
decent reporter and was able to stop a
crooked sewer deal between a local
was a little manic several springs back
politician and some bigwig lobbyists, but it
on the streets of a small Texas town
caused me a lot of anxiety. I was also a
called Mansfield. The police and I had
complete ass to work with, and simply did
been through several run-ins, which resulted not feel safe being in one spot where my
in me landing in a Fort Worth mental
attacker might find me again and eventually
hospital. Being a ward of the state scared
lost my job and found myself homeless,
me a bit, because they were in charge of
which allowed me to drift.
when I got out. Also, at the point in my life I
The Dalai Lama speaks, as I imagine
didn’t trust much of anything or anybody.
Christ spoke, with authority. It was an
Shortly after my arrival they took me to a
environmental conference, and if you are
wing that seemed to take forever to get to.
alive you know that we have been poor
My imagination was running pretty good;
stewards of the earth. I attended several
straight jackets, electric shock that type of
events over two days at the University of
thing. When we arrived someone in the
Portland and Memorial Coliseum. Typical of
lobby was reading a copy of a book written
His Holiness, he said little about the
by the Dalai Lama. I consider myself a
environment and focused on trying to get us
spiritual person and at that point I had read
to be better people. I like his approach, how
a couple of books by the Tibetan holy man.
can we expect to take care of nature when
Seeing his picture calmed me and reminded
we don’t take care of each other? However
me that God’s love is everywhere and I
what he did say really struck me, “ God
would get through this.
created the earth, it too is one of his
Back in January, when I saw a billboard
creations, if you respect and love God, you
saying that the Dalai Lama would be in
must respect the earth and take care of
Portland, it created some anxiety. First of
her.”
all, how would I afford a ticket, and then
Christ tells us to love our enemies and I
let’s say I did get to see him, and God’s
take that seriously. However, I developed an
ambassador of compassion didn’t care much
aggressive sarcastic tongue over the first 40
for my hobo ass. Eventually I checked the
years of my life and dismantling it hasn’t
website for the event and saw that I could
been easy. Not that I have a lot of enemies,
apply for press pass online, which I went
but on the streets you tend to get your fair
ahead and did using Street Roots as the
share of scorn, and worse for me, people
organization. Thing is, I didn’t asked Streets
completely ignoring you when you are trying
Roots, kind of manipulative, I know, and one
to talk to them. I even had my Street Roots
of the list of about a thousand things I am
badge yanked a couple of times, for giving
working on improving. Well they scolded me
people lip. So when the Dalai Lama said,
a little bit but said I could go.
“Do no harm,” which is a beginning tenant
My homeless adventure started about 10
in both Buddhism and Hinduism, I made a
years ago in the Florida Keys, I was working vow to double my effort in reining in my
as a newspaper reporter for a small weekly
tongue. When you make an oath like that,
called the Islamorada Free Press when a
God will sometimes ask, “really?”
memory surfaced of being molested as a kid
The next day I was talking to a buddy
by my judo instructor. I had always
standing next to my shopping cart. Every
remembered part of that night, but this
once in a while my shopping cart will set
repressed part was violent and in my mind
someone off, they may be have been on the
disgusting. It created some posttraumatic
streets themselves or are getting close to
stress disorder and severe panic attacks. In
landing there. This guy I had never seen
my mind at times, I was a 9-year-old kid
before starts yelling, “fuck you,” at me from
again and this guy was after me. I was a
halfway down the street. He keeps yelling it
S TR EET R O O T S V E N D O R
I
John M ichael Christian, or
“Hobo John, ” is a regular
Street Roots vendor.
over and over until he is right in front of me
with his middle finger right in my face. I just
stood there smiling, this seemed to irritate
him a little, and so he proceeded to stick
that finger straight up my nose.
Unfortunately I did not turn the other
nostril. I spun him around; bear hugged him
a little, told him to never touch me again
and shoved him on his way. I am not proud
of that, but that is what forgiveness is for,
that is also life, we live and learn.
I got another chance later that night. I
was laying on my bag in a door way when
this group of kids in a car sees me and start
yelling, “You’re a lazy bum, what a fucking
bum,” etc. Well I just laid there feeling
peaceful and smiling at them. Turn the
other cheek works, seeing no resistance, by
the time the light turned green the wind
had gone out of there and they sped off.
Tibetan Buddhism teaches that
compassion is the desire to relieve the
suffering of another. What does compassion
look like? Well according to the Dalai Lama
compassion looks like affection. He used
that word repeatedly throughout the
conference and displayed it endlessly.
At the end, the key organizer of the
event, Yangsi Rinpoche, president of
Maitripa College here in Portland, was
bowing at the Dalai Lama’s feet, His
Holiness was rubbing his head and telling
the audience what a good boy he was and
how much he loved him. Yangsi sat there
soaking up the love, just like the rest of us.
After that, the Red Hot Chili Peppers played
for about an hour. I have always respected
the Peppers while not being a huge fan;
some of their music is too discordant for
me, but I do love several songs, and they
played like beasts. There third number was
Scar Tissue, after the opening chords I was
crying like a baby, grateful for the healing of
my scars I guess, the shadowy figure from
my past has been forgiven and is loved - by
me, at least. I am at peace and happy on the
streets. I am also incredibly grateful to
encounter His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, a
living embodiment of Christ’s teachings
here on earth.