The First Spiritual United Nations (S.U.N.)

Gathering held in Arvillard, France at the Buddhist Monastary of Karma Ling

In April, 1997, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama held a Spiritual United Nations (S.U.N) gathering & gave a week of teachings on the Four Noble Truths of the Buddha. The gathering took place at the Buddhist Monastary of Karma Ling, high in the French Alps in Arvillard, France. Each morning the Dalai Lama would go into the nearby town & share his sacred teachings with thousands of people from many religions, who assembled under a tent massive enough to have parked several airplanes under. He talked about how one, a fully awakened, omniscient & compassionate human being, someone who has realized the meaning of existence? This was the central question of his Buddhist teachings. The Dalai Lama said that in his first teaching after the Buddha's enlightenment, The Buddha presented the world with this answer.

It consisted of four expositions or Noble Truths:

The truth of suffering

The Truth of the Origin of Suffering

The Truth of the cessation of Suffering &

The Path that leads to the cessation of Suffering

After his teaching the Dalai Lama would return to Karma Ling, one of the oldest monastary's in France. There, representatives of Indigenous ancestral traditions & representatives of all the world's major religions, were gathered in the fulfillment of the Dalai Lama's dream of bringing Spiritual & Religious leaders from around the world to form a United Traditions Circle. If the Spiritual People can come together & be with each other in respect, that is a start!

The S.U.N. Gathering was brought together by Lama Denys, the gracious host & head Lama from Karma Ling, also the Dalai Lama's committee on World Peace, & by UNO, UNESCO & The Decade of Indigenous Peoples.

The spiritual & religious leaders came from around the globe, from the five continents of Asia, North America, South America, Australia & Africa & from many traditions, such as Native American, Siberian Shamans, Nigerian Voodooans, as well as the traditional religions of Buddhism, Hinduism, Muslim, Sufiism, Catholicism, & Protestant. The Delegation from the America's was made up of Grandmother Sarah Smith who represented Canada, Tlakaelel who represented Mexico, Grandmother Anna Haala, Jeffrey Hubbell, Morgan Eagle Bear, Sparky Shooting Star, & Head of the Delegation, was Mary Elizabeth Thunder, who represented the United States & the one who had brought them all together. The invitation from the Dalai Lama & Lama Denys came to Thunder through her friendship with Tsultrim Allione, of Tara Mandala Foundation in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Thunder was then able to bring elders & friends into a delegation, with the help of Jacqueline Gelzer & Marisabel Olivares who helped sponsor several of the Elder's travel to France.

During that week, THE WEEK OF UNITED TRADITIONS, the Indigenous peoples were invited to share words, customs & ceremonies. Much sharing & learning took place between the different cultures & the delegations began to know each other, finding Unity within Diversity. They began to form a solidarity. The sharing of common Visions & Prayers were formed into a declaration that was presented on the last day.

Each day during The Week of United Traditions, one or two of the delegations had a private audience with the Dalai Lama. During the North American delegation's private audience, Thunder presented to the Dalai Lama & Lama Denys, a sacred Chanupa or sacred Pipe that was carved by her son, Richard Grimes, a picture of Miracle, the White Buffalo which had been prepared by the owners Dave & Valarie & included some of Miracles what hair/fur, & a small Crystal Skull that had been with "Max" the crystal skull & a story about Max. Then Grandmother Anna Haala gift to the Dalai Lama, an Eagle Feather that had been sent with her by her elders.

The entire event was topped off on the fourth day with his Holyness being joined on stage, for a day long event, by all of the Delegations; fifteen representatives of world religions lined the stage to one side of him, & fifteen indigenous elders lined the other side. Each of the Elders was invited to present a short ceremony from their culture. Thunder spoke on stage with the Dalai Lama & presented short ceremonies from their traditions which included all of their delegation taking a young girl from the audience of 8,000 having her honored by Morgan Eagle Bear with a blanket then they took her to the Dalai Lama who inturn blessed her...saying she was our future & we honor her for all the children. The day culminated in a beautiful lighting of a circle of candles by every member of newly formed Council of Traditions. As the delegates traveled down the mountain that day to join the Dalai Lama, thousands of people from the villages & towns & from around the world lined the streets & waved, greeting the Elders after their week together. It was a memory never to be forgotten.

As a result of this gathering the establishment of the "United Traditions Circle" took place. For the next three years the circle will meet in different locations, with delegates representing the various concerns & issues on our planet. Thunder was elected head delegate for next year & was also asked to head up a committees of human relations, human rights & women’s concerns. They laughingly called it the Grandmothers Committee, made up of Grandmother Sarah, Grandmother Anna, & Grandmother Thunder. They said, "Grandmother's care about their children & their future!" Thunder has recently begun the formulation of a survey targeted to get response from women on the roles of Women in Spirituality & World Religion.

In remembrance of her trip Mary Thunder says, "The French Alps were beautiful & I was in awe of the Sacredness. To be in France, at the most beautiful Karma Ling, with Lama Denys & the Dalai Lama, it was a dream come true."

Jeffrey "White Horse" Hubble