by David Michie
The natural elements had conspired to stage an especially transcendent sunset that evening. The deep lapis sky created a dramatic backdrop for glistening peaks that were painted with liquid gold. Immense and immutable as the Himalayas usually seemed, on this occasion they shimmered like an ethereal vision that might dissolve into emptiness at any moment.
As His Holiness stood taking in this vista, his wonderment was communicated to everyone in the studio. For a few timeless moments, we were held together, spellbound. Then he turned to Ludo with a smile.
Ludo bowed formally, offering the Dalai Lama a white scarf in the traditional way. When His Holiness returned the scarf, placing it around Ludo’s shoulders, he reached down and took Ludo’s hand in his. “My good friend,” he began, patting their joined hands. Then, looking out at us, he said, “Many years ago, when I first came to Dharamsala, I heard about this German man who wanted to teach yoga. This is good, I thought. The Germans are very persistent!”
There was much laughter.
“Mindfulness of the body is a foundation practice. It is most useful. If we want to cultivate mindfulness, yoga can be very helpful. This is why I always say to Ludo, ‘Teach more yoga. It will benefit all who come.’”
The Dalai Lama’s eyes twinkled behind his glasses as he surveyed the group. “The body is like a treasure chest. The treasure it houses is the mind. The opportunity we have to develop our mind is very, very precious. Most beings have no such opportunity. This is why we should take good care of our bodies and look after our health. Make the most of this lifetime to benefit the self and benefit others.”
His Holiness gestured to Ludo to speak. After welcoming the Dalai Lama to the Downward Dog School of Yoga, he explained that the studio was named not only for the yoga pose that was now known around the world but also for a dog he had looked after in his earliest days in McLeod Ganj. His Holiness wore a contemplative expression as he gazed at the picture of the Lhasa Apso hanging on the studio wall.
Ludo spoke of being encouraged by the Dalai Lama’s support from the start. Now, several decades later, he couldn’t imagine life without this special purpose, teaching yoga. The recent fire and the restoration of the balcony had presented an opportunity to begin a new chapter for the studio, he said.
Chanting a prayer in Tibetan, the Dalai Lama blessed the studio and every being in it. In that brief moment, the atmosphere in the room seemed to change. As the consciousness of His Holiness touched our own, each of us felt something sacred and profound.
Ludo handed His Holiness a pair of scissors and invited him to cut the ribbon to the new balcony. This he did, to much amusement and applause. Then Ludo said, “I have told His Holiness the story of the fire and how things could have been much worse if it hadn’t been for little Swami.”
Sitting in front of me, Sid called out, “She’s here tonight.”
“Is she?”
As Sid and Serena moved aside, all eyes were suddenly upon me. The Dalai Lama looked directly at me with heartfelt love. Then glancing again at the framed photograph of the Lhasa Apso, hanging on the wall he turned to Ludo and said, “I am so pleased she has found her way back to you.”
Later that night I lay resting on the yak blanket at the foot of His Holiness’s bed while he sat up reading. As I stared up at him, I thought about his comment to Ludo, the photograph on the wall of the yoga studio, and my dream. I also remembered Yogi Tarchin calling me Little Sister as soon as he’d seen me with Serena. And I thought about how comfortable and at home I felt with both Serena and Sid.
During these past seven weeks I had come to some life-changing realizations about happiness, but I had also uncovered something else—something as profound and heart-warming as it was completely unexpected. I had discovered the depth of my connection to the people I was closest to, a bond that went far beyond my imagining. I had shared whole lifetimes with them, even though the memory of this wasn’t always accessible to me.
The Dalai Lama looked down at me with a smile. Closing his book, he removed his glasses and placed them carefully on the bedside table, then leaned down to stroke my face.
“Yes, little Snow Lion, it is no coincidence that you and I are here. We have created the causes to be together. For my part, I am very, very happy that is so.”
For my part, too, I thought, purring appreciatively.
His Holiness turned off the light.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Michie is the best-selling author of The Dalai Lama’s Cat, Buddhism for Busy People, and Hurry Up and Meditate. All have been published internationally in many different languages. David was born in Zimbabwe and educated at Rhodes University, South Africa. He lived in London for ten years and is now married and based in Perth, Australia.
Website: www.davidmichie.com
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