Day 4 — February 12 and February 13 — Arrival in Dharmasala and a blessing from His Holiness Dalai Lama

2/13/2024

Arriving in Dharamsala was literally a breath of fresh air. We anticipated our audience with His Holiness Dalai Lama the next day. From our hotel we could see his residence and employees of the hotel said that they could sometimes see him walking outside from the back of the hotel. Just looking out over the foothills thinking HH Dalai Lama was so nearby was awe inspiring. We couldn't imagine what the next day would bring.

Our first glimpse of His Holiness Dalai Lama's residence

His Holiness residence at night

The next morning we dressed in our best and walked to the complex where His Holiness greets visitors. We passed through security and surrendered out phones and cameras so the impressions had to be in our hearts rather than in our files. Because we were with Jigme Rinpoche we were brought close to the front of the line. This was the 10 year anniversary of His Holiness Dalai Lama's visit to Eugene so it was particularly special that we were now able to come to visit him in Dharmasala.
After waiting, we saw His Holiness enter. At first it seemed surreal that this was really the incarnation of the Boddhisattva of compassion. One by one we were led in front of His Holiness to pay our respect and to receive his blessing. His Holiness sat on a throne in the Tibetan style. We were told by attendants how to place our hands and even if we were bowing, we were told to look up. In front of His Holiness some asked a question, others a blessing. For that brief moment we were each transported into his presence. It was like an eternity and a nano second all at once. Perhaps we had a brief moment of feeling what emptiness truly feels like. We were back in our reality in no time but something was different. Something had changed, even if we didn't feel it or know it.

Some of the pilgrims and Jigme Rinpoche meeting His Holiness

The pilgrims after meeting His Holiness

The Swiss Pilgrims with Jigme Thrinley Rinpoche

Buddha in one of the shrine rooms at His Holiness" complex

The throne of His Holiness

In one of His Holiness's shrine rooms, adjacent to his throne, Rinpoche gave an impromptu teaching, reminding us of His Holiness' main commitments: Promotion of human values. Preservation of endangered Tibetan culture. Promotion of inter-religious harmony. Revival of the ancient Buddhist culture and wisdom in India. Rinpoche also referred to His Holiness' resonance of innocence—we need to nurture that innocence. "We have to share that with others. This is our responsibility, to share this message of non-violence, goodness, kindness, joy. Prayer alone is not enough to affect change. We have to act.” Rinpoche reaffirmed his aspiration to fulfill His Holiness’s vision, in gratitude to what His Holiness has given the world.