We’re off to see where the Dalai Lama lives. I’m traveling with Raj and his wife, Anju.
Traveling up the Himalayan Mountains is an adventure in its self, our taxi driver is a nice young Indian man, about twenty years old. He’s very respectful and for some odd reason, despite his age, I trust his driving. He seems to know exactly what he’s doing.
Driving up the mountains is very scary. You feel like you’re on an old-fashioned wooden roller coaster. The constant twisting and turning kept making me nauseous. Some of turns are sharp and narrow with cars coming straight at you with great speed.
After six hours or nonstop driving, we finally arrive at our destination.
The home of the Dalai Lama is quaint and peaceful. You can feel the highest Godly vibrations in everything that surrounds you.
There’s a handful of monks roaming around the temple patio grounds. They all have shaved heads and are wearing a rich colored burgundy and gold robes. The purpose for the dress is to have less worldly distractions to be able to concentrate on what is most important; reaching higher states of consciousness.
There’s huge beautiful statues of the Buddha everywhere you turn. Long rows of golden prayer wheels that contain hundreds of mantas in each wheel. You begin by turning one wheel and continue walking, turning one, then two, until you complete approximately forty. There is a heavy scent of incense in the temple area yet not enough to overwhelm you. And large oriental cabinets that contain hundreds of brightly burning candles.
The view from his home is breath taking. You feel like your standing on a mountain top; If you should raise up your hand up in the air, God will touch it.
In this moment I feel blessed and have a tremendous amount of gratitude. The driver takes us back to the hotel so we can check in. It’s a gorgeous hotel, couldn’t be more luxurious and the polar opposite from the Ashram which is primitive in many areas.
I’m completely exhausted. Having a little piece of America at this moment; a shower, toilet, and a soft warm bed is heaven sent!
