With His Holiness The Dalai Lama

It was a shivering cold of 8 am of that day and already I was standing in the queue in front of a photo shop in Dharamshala. No wonder, I got the clue why all that rush glued to the little photo shoppe and it was for the photos which were needed to attach with the form to attain the permission letter to attend the teaching session by His Holiness The Dalai Lama. His Holiness The Dalai Lama...I was just enthralled when the branch security office confirmed my entry and handed over me permission letter to attend the lecture by the great spiritual guru H.H. The Dalai Lama. I don’t bother about the issues exist about Dalai Lama’s greatness, but I am sure he has some impressing intellect and word power with the charismatic personality, that is why he has been ruling over Tibetan minds and followers all over the world. I don’t care about the politics he is involved in but I salute to his struggle and courage and that’s the reason I was standing in the queue to have the entry I-card which was required for the lecture organised for Russian Buddhists.

Next day, I was really eager to go outside though it was pretty cold (but pleasant too as it is always pleasant in Dharamshala) morning with little sunshine around giving us enough warmth. My guide Manu Kapoor drove me toward the Namgyal monastery and promised me that he will wait around the market till the lecture gets over. I lined up for the entry. There was very strict security inside the monastery; I had to leave all my electronic gadgets before I entered the lecture hall. Volunteers gave me a white jute bag which had some literature, a Khata (white offering scarf), notepad and meditation mala for chanting.

I was amazed by the number of followers gathered there for the lecture, including the foreign followers, Russian Buddhists, locals and monks. I cornered one place under the roof which was very near to the entrance route of H.H and started reading the given material. I tried to ask one old lady sitting near me that why she was there. I wanted to know that magic woven by H.H. Dalai Lama, but I couldn’t understand her language. There were many lines of followers sitting on the floor and they came with their own sitting mat and a mug for tea. Though I was handed over the list of necessary things to carry to the lecture hall, I missed my sitting mat so I sat on my shawl. It was a nice feeling although; waiting for someone you have been thrived to see.

Suddenly all people started looking at the gate and H.H. The Dalai Lama came in with his close followers around. I wondered because no one made a screaming noise or undisciplined behaviour something which I am very much used to see in the city like Mumbai, as what we always see when other celebrities come to the public. All followers just bowed down with hands upwards to him and I did imitate them. I am really surprised by the management over there. Soon H.H started his lecture in Tibetan language and I found that there was a facility available of headphones to listen to the translation, but I preferred listening original speech by H.H. The Dalai Lama. I was already impressed by his voice, the dominant voice which has a unique quality to soothe the people. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to have a photograph with Dalai Lama but I was lucky enough to have his blessings on my head. This was ultimate and the unforgettable experience of my life which made my Dharamshala stay completely wonderful.

when I met an archaeologist in the sky…

                                                      

It was the year of 2009 when I decided to visit Dharamshala as I was much impressed by the words of His Holiness Dalai Lama ( fortunately there I got an opportunity to attend his lecture & to see him from close ). I landed at Delhi airport from Mumbai to catch the flight to Dharamshala. I was not actually worried for how to spend whole two good hours at Delhi airport so started enjoying a good time at the bookshop and was just observing the people around while waiting for that dearest sugary boarding announcement for the flight to Dharamshala.
When I entered in the plane I was really amused by it's short and sweet structure as it was my first time to board on this kind of plane. I liked it at the very first sight. It was a flight for around 50-60 people and then soon I found myself adjusting to the last seat next to the door. While I was searching a good wide place to move my feet’s and a headrest, I heard someone speaking in ‘Shudhha Hindi Bhasha’ surprisingly ( as that flight had more foreign travelers than Indian ) I turned my head toward the scene and found one huge well heightened American ( he was dressed typically like a tourist with a felt hat ) was politely requesting to the flight attendant to place his big geographical map in the safe place. An American speaking the language of masses on a flight is not so regular scene, so I looked back because this gentleman conversing deliberately in Hindi was certainly an attraction for me. For a while, I forgot my seating penalty and enjoyed his conversation.

I was planning to request a shift of seat and I eyed upon empty seat near this American stranger. For a moment my journalistic curiosity aroused & I asked him if I can sit on that empty seat nearby his. He obliged me and then very soon we exchanged our visiting cards. I found him very friendly.  He informed me about the Dhauladhar range of mountains which we were watching through our plane windows and even helped me shooting them too.

After one & half hour our flight landed and I was smitten by the beauty around Kangra airport in Gaggal… It was strikingly awesome and then I heard the invitation sort of words from Mr. John Vincent Bellezza, my new & the first friend in Dharamsala.

We had a good simple Pahari style lunch at his home on my another day in Dharamshala and had very interesting time talking with him. John told me that he is living in India for 25 years and that’s the reason he can speak good Hindi (besides Hindi John can speak & understand 5-6 languages like Punjabi, Urdu, Western Pahari, Tibetan, Nepali, Spanish etc ) Still after 25 years in India a strong dedication exists in John which made him to took the decision to devote his life to the study of Tibetan civilization & now he is loving his life here in India so away from his home, from his people all the way. Salute to his adventurous life! Once again I met him when I was leaving Dharamshala ( again for a lunch  ) and promised John that I would not come back to him only for an official interview but would like to meet him again as a friend.

To know more about John Vincent Bellezza’s amazing genius personality please visit-  http://www.tibetarchaeology.com/