(Leah and I recently returned from a three week trip to India and Nepal. This is the eighth of about 10 daily posts I will do, sharing photos and journal notes I made as we traveled.)
Leh, Ladakh
July 5, 2014
An estimated 150,000 human beings are making the trek each day on dusty and bumpy dirt roads out to the grounds where the Dalai Lama's "Kalachakra" teaching is being held, and most of the pilgrims, I would say, are Tibetans and Ladakhis.
To say that the Dalai Lama is revered by Tibetans would be an understatement -- he is MUCH loved. Everywhere one goes in Ladakh, there are pictures of the Dalai Lama...which is kind of interesting because, not far from here, in China, pictures of this man of peace have been outlawed.
It happened that today was the 79th birthday of the man Tibetans refer to as His Holiness. Thus, for an hour at least, the teaching was put on hold. It was time for a birthday party.
Actor Richard Gere made the trip here to this relatively remote Himalayan high desert plateau and told the crowd that he has been a student of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism for over 30 years. A number of other dignitaries made speeches praising the Dalai Lama for his lifelong advocacy of human kindness and compassion. And a troupe of Tibetan dancers performed.
It was without a doubt the biggest birthday party Leah and I have ever attended.
