Yesterday (march 10th) was arguably one of the BEST DAYS EVER on this trip. 

We started the morning off with our family eating fried chapati and soft boiled eggs. 

Then, Grace and I headed down to the temple and did a Kora by ourselves. It was beautiful! March 10th is Tibetan Uprising Day, the day commemorating the first day that China occupied Tibet back in 1959, so there was a huge event at the temple that the whole Tibetan government attended AND the Dalai Lama AND some Italian government people. Grace and I finagled our way in (stashing our bags in a nearby hotel— good one Grace) and sat right in the midst of the huge crowd literally METERS away from His Holiness. We listened to some speeches and it was so cool. The Tibetan government is handling their situation with such honesty, fairness and democracy; after yesterday, I strongly believe that, like Mr Weasley says in Harry Potter: “Truth will out”. It really rejuvenated my hope for their country! 

The day before, Lisa had told our group we MUST meet at the hotel at 11:00 on the 10th because there was a SLIGHT chance we could meet the Dalai Lama that day. I didn’t know for sure if it would happen, but Grace and I bought some little strings of beads to have blessed if we did! We arrived at the hotel early and our people were all rushing around putting on their nicest clothes and saying “IT’S HAPPENING!!!” WE WERE GOING TO MEET THE DALAI LAMA!!!!!!! We all rushed down to the temple, Nima leading the way through the PACKED crowd. we had to wait in the reception office and the attendent collected our beads and jewelry to be blessed. then after waiting in another room, and waiting on a hill, we all got out our katas and stood in line outside of the DL’s house. when he came out, i started beaming immediately. we all got to shake his hand, pose for a picture, and then were quickly ushered out. even though all i got to do was shake his hand and hear him say “hello” to me, His Holiness exuded an incredible amount of peace, warmth, and love. i felt injected with a total happiness— it was instant. it was just insane that i was MEETING the incarnation of Avalokiteswara! the bodhisattva of compassion was standing there, shaking my hand and BEAMING AT ME. I felt, and still feel, unbelievably, incredibly blessed to have met such a holy man. his heart is open and able to extend love to, literally, every sentient being in the world. it was incredibly inspiring to feel that love focused on me for even just one second. veronica cried.

ANYWAY, then veronica, grace, connie and i had HUMMUS which was the best ever (until grace got food poisoning…..)

and, our Pala took us for a walk up into the forested hills and showed us the most beautiful views. 

BEST DAY EVER.