Seeing The Dalai Lama

OH. MY. GOD. I can barely contain my excitement. Today I saw the His Holiness The Dalai Lama. It was completely unexpected (like most things wonderful) and I was totally elated afterwards.

Someone who shall remain nameless had suggested to me that I wouldn't get to see him as was busy drinking cocktails with Richard Gere in America. Outrageous I know! However despite the cynicism of some friends I had actually already heard on the grapevine that HH (His Holiness) the Dalai Lama was returning from American. Word was that he would drive through McLeod on the way to his residence in the village.

I didn't really think that much of it. The thought on standing around at the side of the street waiting all day for a glimpse of him didn't really appeal to me. Besides I assumed the streets would be packed. So I went to yoga instead. Obviously two hours of Hatha Yoga one of the best instructors in the world, Vijay (FYI!!), gave me more karma points than I'd anticipated. I strolled out afterwards, noticed the streets were deserted and asked one of the shop owners, who I'm now friendly with, what was going on. He stared at me like I was mad (a look I've come to know and love!) and told me HH was driving through and were I should stand so I can get a good look at him. I nearly screamed. And then sprinted up a steep hill to secure a place.

Fortunately for me my new friend and Tibetan Buddhist Monk, Tezin, was waiting in the crowd. Next think I know I'm standing with a couple of Monks with burning incense in my hand waiting for the Dalai Lama to drive past. How surreal and frankly how brilliant. If someone had told me this time last year - while I was slaving away in PR, loathing every single minute of it then drinking myself into oblivion each Friday to try and forget about my week - that I'd be chatting with monks while waiting to see the Dalai Lama I would've roared with laughter as a mask to hide the fact I secretly hoped they were right!!

The build up to the drive thru was pretty impressive. Days before the Tibetan prayer flags (five colourful flags: red, yellow, green, white and blue which represent the five elements: earth, water, fire, cloud, sky) had been positioned all the road to the Temple where the DL lives. Images of the Buddhist/Tibetan endless knot (based on cause and effect ie karma as it all links up) had been painted all away along the road leading to the temple. It wasn't overly busy. Maybe a few hundred people (mostly Tibetans) lined the streets holding burning incense and praying. The atmosphere was very peaceful.

We knew his was coming when the security guards started to walk down the street asking people to move back. As soon as he car approached the monks I was with and many of the people around me started to bend down, lower their heads and pray. It was an amazing sight. And then there he was. I got a clear view of His Holiness, all smiley and cute bowing his head with his hands in pray position. I swear he gave me a knowing look and a nod!!!