While in McLeod Ganj, we heard the news of the visit of the Dalai Lama coming back to his “new” home. Knowing this would be one of the coolest experiences of my life, Chloe and I took a break from continuing our trip as planned and we stayed in town to learn from His Holiness.

We spend 10 days in McLeod Ganj touring the Tibetan Children’s Village, learning about the atrocities on Tibet during the Chinese occupation, checking out the important temples of McLeod Ganj, stuffing ourselves on Tibetan food, watching the marching and nighttime vigils for those lost due to self-immolation, we learned Thai Yoga Massage, and FINALLY learned life lessons from the 14^th Dalai Lama himself.

While we were in McLeod Ganj, the self-immolation count was raised to 72. People in Tibet set themselves on fire yelling, “long live the Dalai Lama” and lose their lives in the most horrible way as a protest. This isn’t condoned by the Tibetan leaders, and they hope that people will stop- although on the streets of McLeod Ganj, it seemed the monks were celebrating at the same time they mourned the young man’s life. I could have misunderstood, as it’s hard as an outsider to know what’s going on under the surface.

When a Dalai Lama dies he is obviously reincarnated as the Buddhist faith implies, so it’s the Panchem Lama’s job to find the child who is the Dalai Lama.

So How did Lhamo Döndrub, born to a farming family in a small town, become the next Dalai Lama?

First off, the next Dalai Lama would be born around the same time the previous one dies.

The head of the deceased embalmed body of the 13^th Dalai Lama turned NE which helped decide where the child was, then a vision from the Regent helped locate the lake the boy lived near. They showed the little boy many toys, some of which belonged to the 13^th Dalai Lama, and the child grabbed them all saying “they are mine!” It was concluded he was the next Dalai Lama and political as well as spiritual leader of the country.

He then became Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith, and Ocean of Wisdom.

photo credit: flickr

The exiled Holiness now runs his government with the newly appointed Prime Minister in 2011, from McLeod Ganj, the tiny mountain town I fell in love with.

While he travels extensively around the world, he often comes “home” to teach his own people at the Kalachakra temple as well as some tourists like me! One day we were asked, along with all tourists, not to come as it was “advanced” and he needed to focus on Tibetan people. I thought that was really cool.

He’s a complicated dude. Some famous (and to some, controversial) views from the Dalai Lama include his idea that shooting in self defense is okay as long as it isn’t fatal, abortion is okay if the child would have a serious birth defect, vegetarian is the way to go as killing animals for food is wrong, and he considers himself a communist.

He claimed consensual sex is okay no matter is it’s heterosexual or homosexual, then contradicted that saying same-sex sex is immoral. He condemned the monks killing Muslims in Burma and he also calls himself a feminist.

His Holiness has said multiple times it’s up to him what his next life will be, and he may not want to be the Dalai Lama. As his role as 14^th, it may be the last Dalai Lama ever.

Are you getting curious yet wondering, “so, what does the Dalai Lama teach people who visit?” Here you go!

 What the Dalai Lama Taught Me

• First of all, to SMILE. He never stopped. You just see him and think, “wow, I want to learn everything from him- he’s so happy!”
• He told us the importance of training our minds with Dhamma and becoming acquainted with our past (which uses Vipassana Meditation, the type I spent weeks researching).
•  ALWAYS use reason and logic but always study and meditate with enthusiasm.
•  Mediation is important to Buddhism; you cannot practice the religion without becoming familiar with meditation. This is what separates it from any other religion.
•  You have 10 points to morality, similar to the 10 commandments. You can be Christian or Muslim and use Dhamma to meditate, but Buddhism NEEDS Dhamma.
• While there is is “focusing” meditation, the “analytical” type will keep your mind sharper. Do not let meditation make you numb, therefore making your brain go dull. You must stay sharp.

•  Do not give the poor gold, give them warmth, food, and love.
•  Learn not to let other’s negative thoughts crush your mind.

•  We are BLESSED to be born as humans and have these lives of leisure.

•  The only way to liberate your mind is buy learning.
• The mind is intrinsically pure. We are born pure. Meditation is what will bring you back to that.
•  Don’t focus on this life. You must examine past life to be liberated to a higher being.

•  Recognize life is impermeable. You can die at any time. Be ready for that.

•  When you die you will be alone. You won’t have your loved ones. You need to make sure your life is without ego and attachments.  Dhamma is all that will help you at the time of your death.
•  Karma is real and simple. Cause and Effect is real. Even a moment of anger is wrong.
•  Why reject the option of rebirth? Non-believers reject because it can’t be proven, but why not stay open minded?

•  There are only 4 sufferings in life. Heat and Cold. Hunger and Thirst. If fear of these is overwhelming, work harder with Dhamma.

•  The only thing in life unbiased is a mother’s love. We are lucky to have a mother’s love.

 7 Tips for The Dalai Lama’s Teachings

1. He does not speak English; you must buy a radio and listen to the interpreter. Go early because it’s hard to get the station in at first.

2. Take some meditation classes prior and read up on Buddhism and meditation or this will be a waste of your time and go over your head. Luckily, I had read a very important Vipassana book and practiced meditation for over a month before his teachings. My yoga teaching class helped as the teacher was Buddhist and taught us quite a lot that the Dalai Lama touched on.

3. Take a seat pillow! The teachings are long and the floor is cold cement.

4. Go early as the line is quite long and you’ll want to sit near the front.

5. You need a 2×2 photograph and your passport for security purposes. Do not forget these! I always keep one in my purse with other important travel documents.

6. Take a journal to keep notes. You won’t regret writing down his important words. I often go back and read what he told us.

7 .Look on the official website to see when he will be in town.

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