I was hoping to keep WTN informed on a daily basis during HH's visit to South Africa. I had heard about the pressure in being involved with a tour such as this, but only began to understand what that meant after His arrival.
So far, it seems all have been well informed about the major events that took place during the visit; He meeting Mandela, FW de Klerk, Walter Sisulu, Bishop Tutu and the public lectures. There were some events, however, that took place behind the scenes, that not even the media caught. It is one of these in particular that I wish to share with you.
On Sunday the 25th of August, HH's last day in Jo'burg, we visited the home of Walter Sisulu, a mentor of Mandela's since his youth and a powerful freedom fighter. He still lives in his simple home in Soweto. After taking leave of him the entourage headed back to Jo'burg city centre, as we had another meeting lined up. But instead of finding the highway, the lead car took us down a side street into the midst of a Soweto suburb, as HH wihed to see the ordinary people of South Africa. Maquawe, the Foreign Affairs Representative had offered to show HH Mandela's old house.
The cavalcade came to a halt and all began walking slowly down the street, following His Holiness. He would stop and speak to the children playing in the street, who responded warmly to His smiles. It was clear that no-one really knew who He was. Maquawe found a house in which the occupants had heard of the Dalai Lama and they invited Him inside.
What ensued was about forty five minutes of intense conversation, the topic's being the true equality of the human potential, the essential self-confidence needed to help a society succeed in a wholesome manner, and the qualities of a new term HH had found on His visit;
"Ubuntu", meaning 'humanness' in Xhosa. He had previously been described by Maquawe as an obvious exponent of "Ubuntu". They discussed that in it's essence, "Ubuntu" held certain qualities that members of society needed to cultivate, these being a giving nature, sharing what one has with others in the community without question, basically looking after the good of the whole.
One of the members of the household told HH that they as Africans did not believe they had the same abilities as White people to succeed in South Africa. HH asked if this young man believed that inherently there was a fundamental difference between his mind and the mind of an average White person. His response was to say they did not have the self-confidence for that type of strength. HH spoke about the equal potential all humans have and about true self-confidence. Toward the end of the exchange, after listening intently to what HH had to say, the young man said "Now I have changed my mind." HH pointed out later that when he said that he had had tears in his eyes, which He felt held sincerity in this new found conviction.
During the later part of the day I heard HH reflect back on that spontaneous event several times. He felt extremely pleased that He had had the opportunity to meet with a normal group of young South Africans and to get 'straight forward answers'. He commented on the final response of that young man, saying that an effect had taken place in which He saw promise.
For spontaneity such as this, for the sincere compassion HH had for our people, on behalf of all South Africans I thank Him.
We have been fortunate.
Guy Lieberman
