Lotus in Dharamsala
Lotus presents Lama Tenzin with a kata
It was a long night's journey into day with a broken bus and no sleep to get from Delhi to Dharamsala at 4PM the following day. We definitely bonded through the purification of facing the hardship with jokes, games, and songs. It feels like heaven, though, here in Dharamsala. And Namgyal Monastery (where the Dalai Lama resides) was everything I expected and so much more! We are high in the Himalayan clouds and it's been a lively celebration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 71st birthday. I met many people including a Hermit monk who came out for the birthday celebration! I've taken 218 pictures today! I think the children pictures will be the most telling. They posed for me and enjoyed seeing the resulting photos in the camera playback. This evening Lama Tenzin Yignyen, an artist monk and scholar who studied with the Dalai Lama for 35 years, gave us his time by offering our group a beautiful teaching on the Four Noble truths and Buddhist teaching. It was under a colorful tent in the stone patio with stone tables. His words resounded through the raindrops and it was a very beautiful teaching. Our group asked many thought provoking questions.We shared a great Tibetan meal tonight with the Lama. It's delightful having so many teaching colleagues as traveling companions.
Lotus