Last week it was Pope John Paul II meeting with Palestinian Leaders. The Vatican and the Palestinians signed a key accord Tuesday that formalizes the Catholic Church's activities in areas of Palestinian self-rule and condemns any unilateral action in
Israeli-controlled Jerusalem.

This week we have the Dalai Lama appearing with what some may call China's Tibetan leader, Karmapa. The two met for the first time today. I believe we will see the joining of spiritual leaders coming together more than ever before in the weeks and months ahead. Maybe they know something we don't. Hmmmm  It does indeed appear to be a sign of the times.
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Dalai Lama, Karmapa Appear Together For First Time...02/18/00
Nando Media & Associated Press

DHARMSALA, India  - Buddhists danced and drummed Friday at a celebration for the Dalai Lama, where for the first time the spiritual leader appeared with a 14-year-old monk who heads one of the most important sects of Tibetan Buddhism.

There was little interaction at the event between the Dalai Lama and the Karmapa, who fled Tibet last month in order to seek religious instruction denied him by Chinese authorities. He secretly crossed into India Jan. 5.

The Dalai Lama smiled and laughed through much of the four-hour ceremony honoring the 60th anniversary of his enthronement at age 4 as spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists. He briefly tapped the Karmapa's hand as he blessed the monks and lamas, but little other interaction was seen.

But close aides said the two have formed a strong bond in recent weeks.

The Karmapa was among four senior lamas who appeared on the upper pavilion of the Namgyal Monastery to join the celebration Friday in Dharmsala, seat of the Dalai Lama's government in exile.

The crowd could not see the ceremony but listened over loudspeakers to the festivities, which included sharing food, dancing and singing, and the offering of gifts and prayers for the Dalai Lama's long life.

The Dalai Lama delivered a message in Tibetan of peace, nonviolence, and universal brotherhood, the United News of India reported. It said he asked people to develop goodness in their hearts and share it with others.

The Dalai Lama broke his personal retreat to hold five meetings with the Karmapa since his arrival, including a visit Thursday during dress rehearsals for the ceremony, and a special blessing audience on Tibetan New Year's Day.

The Karmapa's flight from his monastery has dealt a setback to the Chinese contention that it respects Tibetan culture and religion. While Chinese authorities approved his selection as the reincarnation of his predecessor and he traveled widely in China, the young monk was not allowed to leave or have his teachers brought to him.

In one of the public audiences he has given since beginning his studies with senior teachers at Gyuto Monastery outside Dharmsala, the Karmapa said it was impossible to practice the basic teaching of Buddhism - compassion - without freedom.

There has been wide speculation about his future role. His Karma Kagyu sect was once the most politically powerful in Tibet, before the Dalai Lama's sect assumed ascendancy.

There have been fears that during the period between the Dalai Lama's death and the discovery and education of what the Tibetan Buddhists see as his reincarnation, a vacuum of political leadership could develop among Tibetan exiles.

Whether or not the Karmapa could fill that role remains to be seen. The Indian government has not yet decided on his status, although the Dalai Lama has requested that he be allowed to remain in India.

Tibetans began to fill up the courtyard between the monastery and the Dalai Lama's residence before dawn, and not a space was left as they even slipped beneath the roof and perched on walls.

"It's great that the Karmapa is here. But above all the Tibetans consider his holiness (the Dalai Lama) the highest. It's great to see everyone together," said Tenzin Tsanchoe, 24, of Dharmsala, adding she had never seen so many BTibetans in one place before.