My journey to Dharamsala began when a good Buddhist friend of mine informed me that he would be giving a lecture in early Decemeber and that monks from all over the world would be attending. Being that I was in Delhi at the time, I knew I had a long trek to make it into the Himalayn lands of Dharamsala.
When I lived in Vancouver attending university, I had the rare privilege of meeting him while he gave a blessing at a local temple. Standing for a photo op with local monks after giving his blessing of their Buddhist temple, through the crowds of people outside, he noticed me by the gates standing with my hands pointed in prayer towards him, and my eyes fixated on him with a smile. Immediately after the photo shoot, he look straight at me and walked with his humble abode towards me. Before I knew it, he was holding my hands within his and asking my name. "Your name?" he asked jovially. "Rahul" I replied stunned with joy. "Ahah Rahul, you are Indian?" "Yes!"..."haha Rahul!" he repeated and stared at me for 3 seconds but what felt like an eternity, and walked away. Buddha's only son's name was "Rahula"so I imagine, the name carries significance to the Buddhist faith as well.
With this memory strong in mind, I knew I was 'supposed' to see him this trip. I took the 10hr bus ride and listened to the final day of his 3-day lecture on the teachings of a Russian Buddhist monk, especially on the topic of chakras and meditation. The experience was divine and the setting for the Tibetan refuges in the mountain of India, couldn't be more ideal for introspection....
Where the Dalai Lama gives his talks and Dharshan in Dharamsala. No photos of his Holiness are permitted in Dharamsala due to safety.
Monks eating food after hearing their master speak. What a blessing it was to eat with these pilgrims from all over the world, after hearing the Dalai Lama give a lecture on chakras.
