Dalai Lama Through The Eyes Of A US Visitor

Dalai Lama Through The Eyes Of A US Visitor

It is not very often that a person has the chance to see a world leader. Tuesday, June 19 I had that chance. At the Green Party caucus I watched and listened as His Holiness, the Dalai Lama stressed the need for an antonymous Tibet and increased ecological efforts.

Amidst the commotion of reporters, photographers, and video crews, I tried to squeeze myself in to get a good shot with my camera. I think I got about one good one out of the bunch before a microphone was thrust into my line of sight. I stepped back and realized that here I was, a lowly intern, only a few feet away from the Dalai Lama.

Sure I’ve seen these short clips of meetings similar to this one on television. But, it is impossible to experience the same feeling of the importance vicariously through the TV set.

One of the more important words that I’ve heard during my stay is “ecology” which was also mentioned by the Dalai Lama. The awareness that New Zealanders have about the condition of the earth is astounding.

Perhaps if more people in the world realised there are other places in the world to protect besides our own homelands we wouldn’t be in our present situation. Places that aren’t paved over with parking lots and concrete. Places like the tree covered hillsides and expansive forests of New Zealand. Imagine the effects that would take place if more people cared for their environment like New Zealanders do. A fact that the Dalai Lama did not let go unnoticed.

This is only my second week here and already my world view has changed. I’ve seen Parliament in action, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, and the Dalai Lama. I can’t imagine what I’ll experience in the six weeks I have left as the first two have exceeded all expectations.

ENDS

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