In the first chapter of "Ethics For The New Millennium," when discussing the many visitors who travel from afar to meet him, the Dalai Lama shares, "Unfortunately, many have unrealistic expectations, supposing that I have healing powers or that I can give some sort of blessing.
But I am only a human being. The best I can do is try to help them by sharing in their suffering. — Dalai Lama
Perhaps the message here is not that the Dalai Lama lacks healing powers, but rather that his power to serve isn't extraordinary. In fact, as "an ordinary person," what he offers is something that we all have the potential to provide: the power of listening and the ability to sit with others in their suffering. the ability to sit with others in their suffering.
Perhaps disconnection lies at the heart of our most intense suffering. By simply sitting with another person, compassionately acknowledging and accepting their pain without trying to change it, we can alleviate their greatest heartache: the feeling of being alone and unknown.