This isn't about woodblock, but my little city of Northampton, Massachusetts, is all abuzz awaiting the arrival of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. My dog Ty and I just walked the grounds at the Smith College campus where he will speak tomorrow. It looks beautiful with prayer flags everywhere and there was a joyful expectant feeling as many townsfolk milled around looking at all the decorations. I think we all feel very honored to have him here; I know that I do.
This part of Massachusetts, called the Connecticut River Valley, is home to over 100 Tibetan refugees as well as a unique Tibetan Studies in India program for scholarly study of Buddhism by students of our 5 area colleges. Tomorrow morning the Dalai Lama will address an audience of 5,000 Smith and Hampshire college students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the Tibetan association at Smith College. Tickets have long been sold out, but his address will be televised locally. He will also be having a private gathering with over 1,000 members of the Tibetan community on Thursday.
ADDENDUM 22 May 07: Click here for a podcast of the Dalai Lama's address at Smith College
9 comments:
What a fantastic opportunity to hear a great man speak! I would love to be there.
My brother is a Tibetan Buddhist monk, he lives in a cave near a monastery in China and not long ago stayed for a while in the cave that Milarepa lived in.
We saw him here in Chicago on Friday. It was a wonderful reaffirmation of simple truths we know but need to hear more often. What was truly powerful was the feeling of peaceful mass conciousness from a throng of like minded people
I know what you mean. The Dalai Lama is coming to my town (Melbourne) next month and I was so excited until I realised the exact same 3 days he will be here I will be in another city (Brisbane) visiting family.
I have heard him speak;even better is to hear him laugh.He has the most glorious, bubbling chuckle.
Good karma for your town.
What an amazing man! My daughter will be seeing him when he makes a trip to Australia later in the year. She's thrilled.
Northhampton sounds like a cool little town. Are there a lot of leafy trees there that turn yellow-orange-red in autumn?
Hi Annie,
Thanks for adding the link to H.H.'s address. Seeing H.H. laughing is always such a treat for me. I also enjoyed seeing H.H. wearing his honorary doctoral gown! He is such a good sport.
Thanks everyone for sharing your Dalai Lama experiences. Nicole, glad you enjoyed the link. I loved how his scholar garb kept falling off his shoulders. And Sue, wow to your brother staying in the cave of Milarepa!
Hello All, For a long time now have had the thought of simply wanting to shake his holiness hand and fortunately at the Brisbane free talk this Wednesday will have the opportunity to do just that, am I excited ... yes ... will keep you posted if you like on the events of the day!
In Kindness
Angela
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