best person in the world
We were so fortunate to be able to attend the three day teachings given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Radio City Music Hall. It was such a wonderful experience. I will write a post giving you some of what he said but for now, I am still so blissed out and profoundly inspired to even be in the presence of such a great person. He is a true world leader. He doesn’t just want goodness for “his people” but for all people. He works hard on that project every day.
The teachings began at 9:30 am but we had to get there much earlier due to heavy security. This is not the security, this is just a picture showing how cool Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall look. There were long lines and you had to open your purse and all your belongings and be frisked with a magic wand. Every time anyone went to the bathroom you were escorted up and down the aisle by an usher and a state department guy. Those guys are HUGE! They do a good job taking care of HH.
Many Tibetans were in attendance, of course, very happy to be with the leader of their country.
And then we were in. I like to get there early because one of the best parts is seeing HH come into the room. You get to bow to him and he bows to everyone. He touches his head to certain people and monks and he waves to us. Then he does three full prostrations to the Buddha. Pretty good for a 75 year old guy. He wears flip flops and wears a baseball hat rim thing when he teaches so the light doesn't bother his eyes. You see, someone else might ask for the lights to be different but he works with situations as they are. A teaching right there.
A little more close-up photo from the video screen.
Sitting on the teaching throne.
On Saturday we had the opportunity to attend a private luncheon with HH. It was to benefit the NY and NJ Tibetan Association. HH really wants the Tibetans here to have their own building so they can have their own school. It looks like it will happen now.
Here he is coming into the restaurant. Thank you to Eric Ripert and Le Bernardin for providing this beautiful lunch.
He is eating lunch and everyone is taking his picture. Can you imagine what it would be like to live in a fishbowl like that? He is quite cheerful and focussed.
HH gave a short talk and took questions. I nudged my way up close to the stage. I ended up next to a state dept. guy who was whispering into his hand, "He's getting ready to come down. He's coming down now!"
And then he was. He stepped off the stage and people rushed all around him. There were magically about 5 or 6 state department guys holding us in line. They were not aggressive or rude but very firm and huge. They create a wall. But yet, I was in the front, bowing with my hands together. HH was coming along toward me. He knew some people and touched their hands or their cheeks. He looked at every single person, not a zombie glance but really seeing everyone in the line. He looked at me and held my hand. I feel like crying just thinking about that. What a blessing for all of us to have this man as our Dalai Lama. Not all the Dalai Lamas have been so great. Or we could have had one who was only a child. To have this one is a very major blessing and great, good fortune for the entire planet.
