Meeting His Holiness The Dalai Lama

 

                With H.H. The Dalai Lama, Dharamshala

Note: Post contributed by Akila Janardhanan   

When your intentions are pure and strong, dreams come true.

One of the most important places to see in McLeod Ganj is the Buddhist temple and residence of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. I knew on the first day that I must and will try with all heart to get an audience with him.

A happy blessed crowd of people walked out on Wednesday morning after the darshan, while I was requesting the person at the reception. That’s when a middle aged lady walked by, held my shoulders and said "Beta darshan milega" which means you will get it. There was something very profound in that moment.

Thursday went by with no reply to our mail requesting audience. Yet we decided that we shall try one last time on Friday morning.

I woke up with a dream, a dream so real. I dreamt of sitting outside the temple premises, of being called in, of being in the presence of his holiness.
I woke up my husband and said "I dreamt we are meeting him today, let’s go."

As I saw large groups of people getting in, my hopes rose but another ‘No’ awaited us. That’s when the tears started flowing. I can’t explain why. Those weren’t tears of disappointment or for loss of hope. The power of intentions is very strong and I could see what I saw in my dream turn into reality. We sat on a bench eyes closed, all I kept asking was "please call us in."

The receptionist came over with holy threads, a couple of books and prasad. He asked us to take it and said sorry he can’t do anything else.

We thanked him and sat back and continued our prayers with closed eyes. A moment later he came back "Wait for a minute, let me try again"  he said .

2 minutes later the secretary to His Holiness The Dalai Lama walked up to us and said "come".

People from everywhere were queued in a line awaiting the moment. Each one with a offering . That’s when I looked at my empty hands and wished for at least a white silk scarf everyone had.

A lovely man came to us and handed both of us a white silk scarf each and said "Here you can offer this."

When you know how every thought, every prayer, every dream is being answered the feeling you are left with is truly overwhelming.

Holding his hands, looking into those loving kind eyes, all I could say was "Thank you!"
So blessed to have been in the presence of His Holiness The Dalai Lama.

The love and compassion he exudes can be felt in the very air of the surroundings.

I couldn’t have asked for anything better to make my holiday complete.