The Soul Of A Butterfly (17 page)

the

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

I HAVE BEEN
a longtime supporter of the Special Olympics. In 1979 I helped open the Special Olympics International Games by lighting the “Flame of Hope” in Brockport, New York. And in 1998, I was happy to announce the Sargent Shriver Global Messengers, who are the worldwide spokespeople for the Special Olympics movement, in Chicago. So it was a great honor to have a recent opportunity to celebrate again the spirit and accomplishments of the Special Olympics at their thirty-fifth anniversary. The Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Dublin, Ireland, in June 2003, was a spectacular gathering of 7,000 competitors from more than 150 countries.

Special Olympians are
true
Olympians—they have overcome not only the odds against their becoming great athletes, but they have overcome obstacles that most of us have not had to face. Their first opponents—their own personal limitations, the routines of everyday life—were harder to face down than any opponent I ever faced. Once they overcome these challenges, they can do amazing things.

Nelson Mandela, the great humanitarian and former president of South Africa, was also in Dublin to honor the Special Olympians. I was so pleased to be reunited with this great man. He knows adversity firsthand, as he struggled against the apartheid machine in South Africa. Apartheid, the terrible, and often violent, institutionalized racism that for many years held South African society in its grip, was not an easy policy to fight against. Mandela understands what it means to fight against enormous odds: he went to prison for nearly three decades for his work, but he knew there was no alternative. He believes that every human being is of equal value. Nelson Mandela is a man of great personal honor, strength, and integrity, but he was always fighting for something greater than himself, and that was the freedom of an entire nation.

Like Mandela, the young people participating in the Special Olympics are inspirational, and can be role models for the rest of us. They show us that nothing is impossible. But I know that these Olympians use all their talents to the best of their ability and trust that God has a plan for them. That should be a challenge and an inspiration to us all.

meeting the

DALAI LAMA

A PRAYER FOR PEACE

I HAD WANTED
to meet the Dalai Lama for a long time. He is a sweet and humble man who works tirelessly for peace. As an exiled spiritual leader and outspoken advocate for the Tibetan people, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. He has made a tremendous difference in the way the world understands peaceful movements for self-determination.

We finally met in 2003 at an interfaith temple just outside of Bloomington, Indiana. The Dalai Lama had named the temple, which is on the grounds of the Tibetan Cultural Center, Chamtse Ling or “Field of Love and Compassion.” His older brother, Thubten J. Norbu, had spent decades working on the temple in fulfillment of a long-cherished dream.

Leaders from sixteen religions and denominations were there to speak. The Dalai Lama wanted to impress upon everyone that “all religions have the same potential and capacity to serve humanity.” He stressed that religious teachings should be a part of all of our lives. I understand that there are many paths to God, and I believe Islam is the correct path for me. Like the Dalai Lama, I respect people of different religious beliefs and agree that spirituality should be a central focus of our daily lives. Spirituality helps us achieve self-discipline, forgiveness, and love, which are so essential to a peaceful existence in living among others.

The Dalai Lama liked the gift of Howard Bingham’s book of photographs of my career.

That afternoon, after the dedication ceremony, my daughter Hana and I attended a program for young people who had gathered for the event. Hana read a speech for me that we wrote together. It said in part:

We live in a world intoxicated by power and wealth. We have countries struggling against each other, nations taking advantage of weaker nations, men and women being killed, wounded, and uprooted by war.

With all that we’ve accomplished through history, we have yet to master peace. It is easier for most people to fight fire with fire, hatred with hatred, and injustice with vengeance.

There comes a time in everyone’s life when he has to take a good look at himself and stop pointing the finger. We have to make an effort to be kind to others, even toward those we don’t know. It is through selfless acts that we inspire change.

When a man is down, help him up.

When you pass a stranger in the street, share a smile.

When a person is in need, lend a helping hand.

Build your foundation upon faith. In life, there will be setbacks. There will be challenges, there will be obstacles. Sometimes you may feel as if your obstacles are insurmountable. These are the times you must be strong.

If you experience prejudice or injustice, keep your head up and your heart open. Bitterness will only weaken you. Don’t let anger consume you. Never let resentment into your heart—it will only weigh you down.

I was grateful for the time I had with the Dalai Lama. I have come to understand that there are those who believe in God and those who make God a reality. The Dalai Lama is among those who manifest God in the journey of their everyday lives. Before leaving, I thought about how I would say goodbye, but then I realized that there are no right words. So I parted from him the only way I knew how—with a hug and a smile. It felt just right.

THE DALAI LAMA

and

MUHAMMAD ALI

Beside the great man there stands another

Whose heart prevailed against cruel winds,

Whose patience lasted without end,

Whose faith has refused to bend.

Beside the great man there stands another

Whose goal of peace for all mankind

He’s pursued with body, heart, and mind.

Along the path of grace and thunder

Beside the great man there stands another.

For His Holiness the Dalai Lama

May you journey well
.

HANA YASMEEN ALI

the secret of

MY SUCCESS

All of my life, if I wanted to do something
,

I studied those who were good at it;

then I memorized what I learned
,

and believed that I could do it, too
.

Then I went out and did it
.

HOW I WOULD

like to be

REMEMBERED

I WOULD LIKE
to be remembered as a man who won the heavyweight title three times, who was humorous, and who treated everyone right. As a man who never looked down on those who looked up to him, and who helped as many people as he could. As a man who stood up for his beliefs no matter what. As a man who tried to unite all humankind through faith and love. And if all that’s too much, then I guess I’d settle for being remembered only as a great boxer who became a leader and a champion of his people. And I wouldn’t even mind if folks forgot how pretty I was.

true

HAPPINESS

THERE WAS A
time when I felt the need to show the world how great I was, but I don’t have to prove myself anymore. My life’s purpose has changed with time and my spirituality has evolved over the years. Everything that I do now, I ask myself, will God be pleased with this? We may think that we have moments alone, but God is there, and always watching.

I conquered the world and it didn’t bring me true happiness. The only true happiness comes from honoring God and treating people right.

A SPIRITUAL GOAL

WE CAN NEVER
pray enough, or give enough, or share enough, or care about the world enough, and we could never love enough to repay God for his gifts to us.

Being kind to all of his creatures, showing respect for ourselves and others, treating all people with kindness and showing compassion for the less fortunate, ill, and deprived, is what we should do. Knowing this strengthens my faith and turns my faith into spiritual awareness. When we devote all of our actions to a spiritual goal, everything that we do becomes a prayer.

Gratefulness in the character

Is like fragrance in the flower
.

Sufi Wisdom