A day of Illumination
Our group meets with the Karmapa!
July 16th was a really great experience. We visited the Norblingka Temple in Dharamsala. It was really decorated from the entry point onto the exit. It was like a paradise there were plants and flowers all over and water falls and Tibetan decorations which are really beautiful. We saw how many things were made. For example we saw how dresses were made and also how well skilled the tonka painters were. It was a day full of culture and illuminous colors. We went to a doll museum where it told stories about ancient times and it was amazing how it was set up.
After the temple we visited the Karmapa, he is like the Dalai Lama but a lower rank. It was incredible the whole group was dressed in chupas and we all looked really nice in them. Monks were coming up to us commenting on our chupas since not alot of men wear them anymore. When we walked in to meet the Karmapa it was beautiful. Inside the temple there were tonkas and bright colors, as well as unique designs all over the walls. It was really holy to me because it was a different experience and we were going to meet someone who was known and someone that was really important and most of the people from Tibet looked up to. When we went up to him he blessed the belongings that we were carrying which I will always carry with me. He blessed my prayer beads and my amala's prayer beads as well.
After that the Karmapa took a picture with our group and he really doesn't do that because then many people will want a picture with him. It was awesome! I stil can't believe it. I'm grateful to be in India an experience worthwhile.
Peter