His Holiness Arrives

The work kept continuing and the level of activity seemed to keep increasing. Unfortunately, it was hard for everyone to not stress over the amount of work that needed to be done and concern that things might not get finished or might fall short of our goals. Nevertheless, positive energy that I must attribute to His Holiness' giving us his help in our tasks clearly made things happen which might not otherwise come about.

Repairs were happening with amazing ease that I had anticipated to be much more complicated. Volunteers showed up to do tasks that could not otherwise get done. Meals were prepared almost spontaneously even amazing the cooks who prepared them as far as matching the number of diners and suiting their tastes so well.

Nevertheless, it seemed that so much remained to be done that we could not possibly finish it. On the day His Holiness was to arrive rooms still needed to be prepared and matched to the occupants since there are two tulkus and so many khenpos and lamas. We did not have a confirmation from either the Tibetan or the Chinese dancers that they would in fact be here. Hardly any of us knew what our specific role would be in the formal welcoming ceremony.

However, when we had the warning that they were about 30 minutes away, tasks were assigned by Khenpo Choepel. He made the statement that the yellow parasol should be carried by a monk. At that particular moment he and I were the only monastics here, resulting in my being chosen for this role. Unfortunately, the time estimate was a little off. After we had stood waiting for a long time, His Holiness and his attendants and one tulku finally arrived. Since I am shorter than His Holiness and the attendant who walked beside him, this did turn out to be a great exercise in mindfulness and concentration. Nevertheless, I performed my duties without error and felt the great honor that it was to have this role in the welcoming ceremony.

I had planned to be taking lots of photographs of His Holiness' arrival and to give him a small bunch of carnations. I was able to do neither of those two things, but instead did something much more wonderful. It is so hard to express how I felt or even how I now feel. I have been in the presence of a great being and was blessed to be able to serve him.

We are all quite tired, having been moving steadily since we awoke this morning, but we all seem to have a glow about us that comes from having served a mahasiddha. We have received his blessing which is a powerful thing. His great love and compassion for all sentient beings is both obvious and clearly felt. With that our tiredness has a very satisfying, contented feeling to it.

As the last and the least of the Drikung Kagyu monks, especially in the company of such outstanding monastics, I am finding myself more comfortable with the honor shown to me as a monk. For me the key is that I remember that it is not for me personally but rather for all Tibetan Buddhist monastics together. Furthermore, I also remember the eighth precept which prohibits “sitting on a high or expensive bed or throne” which, in part has to do with taking a more honored place. Whether is is a matter of my place in the shrine or temple or my place at the dining table, I wait to be told where to sit unless the place is totally obvious as in the case of being the newest monk, meaning that my place would be the very last.

I am most blessed to be under the same roof with a mahasiddha. I look forward to the time that I will be able to be in his presence and to work for him. Moreover I am most anxious to be able to receive teachings and empowerments. It is as though I were to be taught by Shakyamuni Buddha himself.