This time next week I’ll be in Hobart to see the Dalai Lama. Very excited about this.
The Dalai Lama's monks performing in Australia
Why Hobart? Four years ago I went on an exchange program through the University of Tasmania to Sarnath in India to study at the Tibetan Institute of Higher Studies. The program was set up at the DLs request to facilitate cultural exchange between Tibetan and Western students. This was an amazing experience and something I will never forget. The kindness and beauty of the Tibetans that I met was just inspiring.
To coincide with the DLs visit to Australia there’s going to be an event to celebrate ten years of the program, which I’ll be attending. No idea what this will be like but I’ll be catching up with friends from my time in India and also attending the DLs public talk.
The DL is 74 now and the pace that he sets is amazing but he can’t keep travelling indefinitely. The opportunity to be around him is something not to be missed if you get the chance.
the blue painted houses of the Greek isles, the blue doors and window trims of adobe houses in Taos, New Mexico, the palest birds egg blue of a porcelain cup, the blue of travel. Blue is everywhere; royal blue, duck egg blue, sky blue, marine blue, airforce blue, sea blue, midnight blue, cerulean blue.
Had trouble sleeping last night probably due to the unfamiliar surroundings and excitement. I was the first one in the meditation hall this morning and tried to do a few stretches before we began. The meditations all went well and so far so good with the silence. A third of the attendees are friends and I thought that would make it very weird but apart from a few awkward moments at breakfast we all ignore each other beautifully. Avoiding eye contact definitely makes it easier. What I am finding difficult however, is not sharing observations.