“India is my Guru and I am its chela. The ancient teachings of Buddhism are so profound and even practical in today’s world. But only if we pursue it with purity and fullness,” says His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. He escaped the onslaught on the Tibetan people and religion by the Chinese army in 1959.
The Dalai Lama has brought Buddhism back to its most vibrant and pure living form. When he meditates, his aura and spiritual power resonate across and beyond the space he is in.
I first met His Holiness in 1975. It was a very brief interaction because His Holiness was teaching at the moment. The next time I met him was almost 10 years later in Bodhgaya when he was preparing the Mandala for the Kalchakra initiation. I was told that it was a very private ritual and he shouldn’t be disturbed, but when I insisted, they allowed me to peep through a space between two curtains. The moment I did that, His Holiness looked up, gave me a warm loving smile and extended his hands. Naturally I had to walk in, kiss his hands and take his blessing. That was the beginning of my long relationship with this divine soul.
His compassion and healing powers have enriched the lives of millions like us. Though he is 84 years old, he promised us that he would survive the Communist Party of China. I hope that this mortal man who is so divine and powerful, yet so fragile, is able to keep his promise.
Images and text from 'A God in Exile: Fourteenth Dalai Lama'
Raghu Rai is a photographer and a Padma Shri awardee. His book ‘A God In Exile: The Fourteenth Dalai Lama’ was published by Roli Books in Aug 2018