I had wanted to meet the Dalai Lama for a while and had then though that the best way would be to head where the Dalai Lama resides and I knew he’w be in residence now. A lucky call from my dear relatives the Shivpuri’s made me head out for the cool breeze of Dharamshala and for the sermon of The Dalai Lama.

In the midst of all this i found the warm oasis of the Shiv Puri Family , who have been my host in discovering this mountain area. I had at my disposal their car their driver and their dog’s and off course their son Sunny who was like a nephew to me and who took me for a tour around the hill’s. Khushboo his bubbly little sister had been jumping around seeing my acting video’s and I felt like I have a home here. I forgot my nomadic life for a while and am enjoying the comfort of home made food and cheerful banter.

https://www.facebook.com/anujtikku1974/posts/780238572102726

After settling into the routine I was up early at seven and went to listen to the Lama’s sermon on my second day there. My first glimpse of his holiness was in his Tibetan attire. We were not allowed to take our camera’s into the sermon and I could not take a photo. Their was a large gathering of more then 500 people all listening to the sermon. A young Tibetan man had been murdered by local people and tensions were high and the lama was asking his flock not to retaliate and be patient. Prasadam of rice and milk was being distributed to everybody and Buddhist prayer ceremonies were being performed . A line of high priests carried bronze statue of the Buddha to the lama, who in turn blessed them and performed prayer on them. The sermon continued for three hours. I meandered through the crowd into the office are and where I had given a written application to meet the Dalai Lama. I was assured by the secretary that I would be given the opportunity to meet with his holiness the next day in the morning and would also get an opportunity to get my photo taken with him.

I drove back to the comfort of the Shivpuri home in the afternoon for lunch and a snooze. Evening was a discussion with my aunt on our family and how one by one everybody has gotten old or passed on I remarked “you know chachi i think even if one has had a hard life , it will be great if one has  a peaceful death , most of our relatives including my parent’s died in a lot of pain . I just hope and pray that when death comes it takes me away with out pain and suffering. A peaceful death is such a boon .”

Lake View At the Dal Nadi Lake ?!!

Lake

Just as busy and urban as elsewhere & then the monastery of Namgyal where I made my application to meet the Dalai Lama!!

https://www.facebook.com/anujtikku1974/posts/778385308954719

https://www.facebook.com/anujtikku1974/posts/778333625626554

The name translates into the “Jewelled Garden” from Tibetan and is a palace and park in Lhasa, Tibet and served as the traditional summer palace of the Dalai Lama till 1959 when the 14th Dalai Lama was exiled. When China annexed Tibet it made sure that the remnants and the knowledge of the ancient culture was decimated. There was a concerted attempt to destroy all evidence of Tibetan culture. Books were burnt and precious statues melted down for their copper. Centuries of accumulated knowledge was not spared. Scholars were branded reactionaries and imprisoned and killed. Craftsmen’s guilds were disbanded and artists were forced to abandon their trade.

It was at that exile at India then that the Norbulingka Institute was founded and today comprises a Centre for Arts, an Academy of Tibetan Culture and a Literary and Cultural Research Centre and the Library and Publications. The Norbulingka Institute a registered trust under the Chairmanship of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was founded in 1988 by the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in an effort to promote and preserve Tibetan culture in exile. Today it stands as an unique testimony to the perseverance of people who stood up to be counted.

It might be unexpected to find an English Church among the Tibetan Buddhist Glory of Dharmashala but there is an old church here built during the time of when Lord (James Bruce, the 8th Earl of) Elgin ruled India. The place was built in the mid 1800s and is at a height of 5742 feet above mean sea level. This church is at McLeod Ganj, a 20 minute walk downhill from the bus station there. It is best to walk there than attempt motorised transport.

It is an Anglican Church to St. John the Baptist; a religious figure in several Abrahamic faiths for his “baptism” and a precursor to Jesus.  It also houses a cemetery and houses the remains of Lord Elgin who died there. I felt definitely an element of haunting spiritual melancholy here with the graveyard so close by. The church is made out of stone and has stained glasses that were apparently gifted here by Lady Elgin. They are uniquely beautiful in their glass tapestry!! Somehow I knew I had to offer a prayer and did so.

Everyone and more had stated that this is a must visit and I am here and a journey on spiritual grounds deserves a temple visit or two and here are some driving instructions if you’d want to follow! I found this link rather informative but am not sure it is still being updated. This temple is said to be at the site where Lord Shiva blessed the Pandava – Arjun that he’d have victory over the Kauravas in the great battle of the Mahabharata.

The place meanwhile is at Khaniyara (which by the way means slate mines); a village about 9 kms from Dharamshala town, situated in the foothills of Dhauladhar mountains, in the Kangra district of the state of Himachal Pradesh at India. There is an obvious spirituality about the place given the several multi cultural places of worship here. This specific temple is built atop a gushing stream that seemed to be a source of never ending energy!

Have been off travelling for a while and building out the home base at Delhi. Couldn’t take it anymore needed a break and hit the road. Thought I’d head to Tibet and meet the Dalai Lama – but hey visa and then I realised his holiness the Dalai Lama resides here at India – fairly close to where I live and no visa needed. Packed up and headed to Dharmashala and here I am waiting to meet his holiness.

It was then that a chance call from a relative living in Macleod Ganj to spice up thing’s for me. They asked me to come over to see the paragliding championship’s taking place in their city. I flew in on the morning Spice Jet Flight from Delhi into the beautiful Valley. I was welcomed by the Shivpuri Family who had a beautifulhouse at the hillock far away on the mountain’s. A family of four with two dog’s , tortoise , parakeet’s and a rock garden to boast . I felt at home immediately and had a hearty Kashmiri Lunch . 

The next day Sunny (Chandan) the elder son of the family took me for a tour and the guy was quite a hipster! MacleodGanj is where all the Tibetan Monasteries .I visited the Namgyal Monastery where i learnt how to do a special prayer by prostrating to the buddha .It was like doing push up’s ,  a prayer and an exercise all in one. Then a quick de tour of the Dal Lake at Naddi and a dip in the holy pool of the Bhagsu Nag temple. Here i jumped into the icy water of the pool after performing my prayers. (At the temple pool) All the activity had gotten me hungry so I asked Sunny to take me to the German Bakery near the MacleodGanj town centre .We ate a chicken biriyani and had fresh lime soda. 

I strolled into the by lanes near the Dalia Lama Temple taking pictures and chatting with the local’s . The buddhist temples are very bright in colour and they prefer red and gold as their primary colours . I made a wish after spinning the wheel in the temple and then did some shopping for Khushboo (daughter of Mrs Shivpuri) , bought her a little purse made out of a yak . At the Namgyal Monastery , I submitted a request letter asking to meet with the Dalai Lama and handed it to his secretary who assured me that they will get back to me in a few days . His holiness is in Macleod Ganj for a few weeks and i have a good chance to get an audience with him.

Next day me , sunny and Khushboo went to explore the Norbulingka Monastery which is the summer palace of the Dalai Lama .It was like heaven lot’s of flowers , walk way’s , garden’s and a water fall in the middle . At the centre was the prayer room with a huge statue of the buddha , with circular roof’s , which reminded me of the architecture of the Buddha Temple’s in Korea. Then their was a doll’s museum , a workshop where tibetian artist created sculptures from bronze  . A near by museum talked about the struggle of the Tibetian people from Chinese operation . How many had self immolated themselves to bring the world’s attention to their plight and how ruthlessly the Chinese were trying to finish them off and erase their culture and heritage .

Next was a stroll to the Aghanjar Mahadev Temple in Khaniara Dharamshala. I chatted to the local priest their and told him that i was a Bollywood actor and i had acted in my film’s like Rab ne Bana di Jodi with Shah Rukh Khan , he nodded “ Sorry sir i am south indian , we only know Rajni Kanth .” that was the end of our conversation i guess . Now of to have dinner with this great Kashmiri family , who are making me feel really at home.The Namgyal Monastery

Next day me , sunny and Khushboo went to explore the Norbulingka Monastery which is the summer palace of the Dalai Lama .It was like heaven lot’s of flowers , walk way’s , garden’s and a water fall in the middle . At the centre was the prayer room with a huge statue of the buddha , with circular roof’s , which reminded me of the architecture of the Buddha Temple’s in Korea. Then their was a doll’s museum , a workshop where Tibetan artist created sculptures from bronze  . A near by museum talked about the struggle of the Tibetan people from Chinese operation . How many had self immolated themselves to bring the world’s attention to their plight and how ruthlessly the Chinese were trying to finish them off and erase their culture and heritage

A view of the monastery !!