Compassion corner

In 2004 I got to spend 10 days with the Dalai Lama in Toronto for Kalachakra. I was out of work and the Tibetan community needed volunteers to help out - especially non-Buddhists because Tibetan Buddhists would be too busy taking part in the teachings and ceremonies. I thought this would be interesting. Being a tall, intimidating white guy and one of the few men of any size there, I was put in to "guard" the VIP section right in front of the stage. Essentially, a front row kind of placement. My job was to let the VIPs in and keep the overly-enthusiastic at a distance. If people got past me there were the RCMP and the Tibetan guards. There was no trouble and it was a learning experience. Got to meet Richard Gere (my wife is SO jealous) and other folk, had a private group audience with His Holiness at the end, and as he left the Dalai Lama looked at me, smiled, and waved. There was nobody else around at the time in my direction so it had to be me. That was pretty cool. I've collected a book or trinket here and there along the way. Since His Holiness is in Toronto tomorrow, I shot this blip in his honour.

Yesterday's blip: Five sisters