DALAI LAMA SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM AND ALSO REAL ECONOMY

The Tibetan Spiritual leader Dalai Lama is not just a wealth of knowledge and wisdom, but also a source of  real economy for many, driving them in their pursuit for daily sustenance in the materialistic world.

Apart from the Dalai Lama’s official entourage, which includes his security and other officials, there is an unofficial entourage that follows the Dalai Lama wherever he visits in India and indirectly serves as cultural ambassadors.

These are the large number of vendors that travel from places such as Bhutan, Bihar (Bodh Gaya), Sikkim and other places selling religious artefacts, trinkets and whatnots, in places the Dalai Lama travels.

“I have been travelling all over the country wherever the Dalai Lama visits and sell these items to the people,” said Rigjin Lama of Bhutan, selling posters of the Dalai Lama, Trinkets and other items of religious significance to the people in Meghalaya's State Capital Shillong. The Dalai Lama was in this northeastern part of India from February 3rd to 5th.

 

It is not just the local Buddhist population that these vendors are looking for, but also those who travel from far off places just to get a glimpse and hear the Dalai Lama in person.

People have driven hundreds of kilometres to come to see the Dalai Lama. “This is a lifetime opportunity to see the Dalai Lama and hear him speak about his beliefs and thought process, it has been a wonderful experience,” said Kenchowangdi and Pematashi who came from Bhutan to listen to the Dalai Lama.

In today’s discourse the Dalai Lama spoke about ways to meditate and take control of the mind and soul. The Dalai spoke in one of the Tibetan dialects and there were two interpreters who translated it to Arunachalee and Bhutanese. The whole Polo ground was decked with flags and people with their family and children listened to the 14^th Dalai Lama in an environment of festivity.

In fact, wherever the Dalai Lama   visit that becomes a holy site, a mini-Tibet, a pilgrimage for the faithful showcasing the rich-Tibetan culture, something that China has miserably failed to surpass.