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Listen to His Holiness'
address to the Kurukulla community in the gompa, Director
Wendy's Cook's thank you to His Holiness, and His Holiness'
address to the crowd in the back garden:
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Read an edited transcript
of each address.
Wendy Cook, the Director if Kurukulla Center, writes
an account of the visit:
Last
Friday, September 12, on a perfect late summer's day,
His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Kurukulla Center.
Everybody who was there, whether inside the gompa, in
the flower garden or out on the street, had a wonderful
and blissful experience. This includes not only Kurukulla
Center members and friends but also neighbors, invited
guests from the community, the police and, perhaps most
especially, the Mayor of Medford.
We had a carefully planned program based on instructions
given by His Holiness's office and what Geshe Tsulga
wanted us to do. However, from the outset His Holiness
took charge, threw the program out and something more
amazing happened.
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| Photo by Jim Bourg |
It
started with His Holiness deciding to stop 400 yards
from the front door and walk along rows of people standing
behind police barricades, greeting Tibetans, neighbors
and friends, giving blessings, shaking hands and smiling.
His Holiness walked underneath a traditional Tibetan
gate (like an arch) covered in brocade to the sound
of Tibetan singing. Once inside, His Holiness was introduced
to the distinguished guests, the first being the Mayor.
His Holiness immediately asked for a khata from a member
of his entourage and presented it to him. After being
introduced to several others and a group photo, His
Holiness was asked to bless an architectural model which
had been donated, showing a future vision. His Holiness
glanced at it and in the next instance turned around,
beckoned for the Mayor, grabbed his hand and led him
into the gompa, which I believe really was blessing
our vision of growth. (Of course, the plan had been
to escort the Mayor and other distinguished guests to
the garden as we had limited space in the gompa.)
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| Photo by Kris Snibbe |
As
soon as His Holiness walked into the gompa he went straight
out onto the back porch, still holding the Mayor's hand,
to greet the 150 people in the flower garden (according
to the plan, this was supposed to happen after the consecration).
He then set the Mayor up in a chair at the front of
the gompa, sat down on the throne and Geshela offered
a body, speech & mind mandala. Our plan was to
offer the usual
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| Photo by Kris Snibbe |
chanting and prayers that we do before
teachings
but His Holiness wasn't very interested in that.
He cut us short and instead gave us a 20 minute teaching.
Actually,
I have no idea how long the teaching was -- it felt
like an eternity. It was more than we'd dare hope
for.
It was a wonderful, secular teaching and we plan
to
have it on our website, along with photos, as soon
as we can.
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| Photo by Jim Bourg |
After
the advice and a quick consecration, I manage to slip
in a part of the fast-disappearing plan and delivered
a few words expressing our deep gratitude. Then His
Holiness went again out onto the porch and began addressing
the back garden people for another 10 minutes, which
was unplanned. (Actually, the people at the front and
back of the house heard everything over a crystal clear
PA system.) At just about this time the US Congressman,
who'd been unable to make it for the start of the event,
arrived and His Holiness then had not only the Mayor
in tow but now a Congressman. The next part of the "plan"
was to have been a few quiet minutes with Geshela up
in his private quarters, but instead about 25 people
followed His Holiness upstairs (yes, the Mayor and the
Congressman, too) and Geshela's room was blessed. Then
after having graced us with His presence for about one
hour, it was time to say goodbye His Holiness.
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| Photo by Kris Snibbe |
For
the next 2 or 3 hours everyone stayed to enjoy refreshments
and to dwell in the joy and radiance we felt from having
been in His Holiness's presence. We are all so grateful
to Geshe Tsulga, for without him, the visit would have
never happened. And without Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Lama
Yeshe, Geshela would not be in Boston, nor would there
be a Kurukulla Center, so we remember Rinpoche and Lama's
kindness, too.
Even two days later everyone I see from the Center
is still blown away from our experience. May it be the
cause of our only pleasing our holy Gurus, never be
separated from them and may we all quickly become enlightened
for the benefit of all.
Much love,
Wendy
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