Sunday, December 24, 2017

A Florence 2017 Christmas Card

What is this in the photo below? the gentle reader may ask.  
It is risotto which was made before our eyes -- intern Deanna Carbone and mine -- at the launch of a Florence hotel this past November and served to guests.  As the event was titled
"Gold," (in English, no less), 
the risotto came topped with edible gold leaf, which marked the first time I had heard of such a thing.
Well, in the spirit of the Christmas season, I would like to share what the Dalai Lama said at a meeting of Florence's Festival of Religions at the Mandela Forum earlier this year.

Much to my relief (due to someone I know who constantly parrots the phrase), the Dalai Lama did not say "Tibetan Buddhism," even once.  His Holiness spoke exclusively of
all-inclusive values.

"We must transmit forgiveness and tolerance," he said.
"Although everyone has a right to a happy life and self realization,
I have seen so much suffering and violence.
It would be helpful to remember that we are all human beings in order to maintain peace.
War is only mobilized violence.
There is no freedom without peace."

"God gave us different religions to take into account different types of people.
There are no Muslim terrorists -- there are only terrorists.
Terrorists do no adhere to any religion."

"Can people of all religions live together and happily?
A 1,000 times yes!"

"To stop suffering, we need to go deeper.  We are all the same.
Peace comes from within.
We must work towards universal love."

Now, that's true gold.

                  Buon Natale from
                    Beautiful Florence
                                -- Rosanna