I lost count after a while, but I figured he must have done about three dozen full prostrations. He placed his palmed hands on the crown of his head, lowered them smoothly to his chest, and went down full-length on the floor again. Then, with a practiced motion he slid his hands backward toward his thighs for support, folded his body into a kneeling position, and stood up straight again. His arms were fully extended beyond his head his palms, each resting on a square piece of fabric, were cocked at an acute angle with fingers pointing to the ceiling. From a standing position he knelt, then stretched his body full-length down on the floor, only a thin cushion insulating his torso from the parquet. Heavy drapes were drawn back to expose a floor-to-ceiling window, and in the predawn light I could just make out the silhouette of the Himalayas.Īt a time when only the street dogs were up, the Dalai Lama began his prostrations. Display cases made of precious wood held bronzes of different sizes, ritual implements, and stacks of ancient loose-leaf Tibetan scriptures. There was room for a desk, a meditation alcove, and a small sitting and dining area. The space was serene and gorgeous, its elegance understated. I was sitting on a small piece of carpet on the floor of the Dalai Lama’s meditation room. ![]() For once, I didn’t mind getting up in what was, for me, the middle of the night.Īt 3:45 a.m. I had traveled with him to four continents and interviewed him many times, but I had never been in the inner sanctum of his residence. I was working on the manuscript for The Wisdom of Forgiveness, which I coauthored with His Holiness, when he invited me to spend a morning with him at his home in Dharamsala, India. But what he did that morning spoke volumes and has relevance for all of us. Those few hours I was with him gave me a clear snapshot of how he spends his time in private, away from the limelight. It was a deeply meaningful experience for me. One story I wish I had told you was about the morning I spent with the Dalai Lama. I miss hanging out with you on the beach and going for long trips in our Westfalia camper when you were dutifully receptive to what I had to say. Gone are the days when we had seemingly endless time to just sit and talk. You are now sixteen and nineteen years old and starting to chart a course for your own lives. ![]() Here’s what he learned that special morning. ![]() Victor Chan had a unique opportunity to spend some private time with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |