September 20

Through My Eyes

Saturday September 20

(We continue listening to the Dalai Lama as he describes his life at the Norbulinka.)

"I remember very little of that first winter. But one thing has stuck firmly in my mind. At the end of the last month of the year, it was traditional for the monks of Namgyal monastery to perform cham, a ritual dance which symbolised driving out the negative forces of the past year. However, because I had not yet been formally enthroned, the Government felt it would be inappropriate for me to go to the Potala to see it. Lobsang Samten, on the other hand, was taken by my mother. I was exceedingly envious of him. When he came back late that evening, he teased me with very full descriptions of the leapings and swoopings of extravagantly costumed dancers.

Throughout the following year, that is 1940, I remained at the Norbulinka. I saw a good deal of my parents during the spring and summer months. When I was proclaimed Dalai Lama, they automatically acquired the status of the highest nobility and with it considerable property. They also had the use of a house in the palace grounds during that period each year. Almost every day, I used to steal over, with an attendant, to spend time with them. This was not really allowed, but the Regent, who was responsible for me, chose to ignore these excursions. I particularly enjoyed going over at mealtimes. This was because, as a young boy destined to be a monk, certain foods such as eggs and pork were forbidden to me, so it was only at my parents' house that I ever had the chance to taste them. Once, I remember being caught in the act of eating eggs by the Gyop Kenpo, one of my senior officials. He was very shocked, and so was I. 'Go away,' I shouted at the top of my voice!

On another occasion, I remember sitting next to my father and watching him like a little dog as he ate some pork crackling, hoping that he would give me some-which he did. It was delicious. So, altogether, my first year at Lhasa was a very happy time. I was still not yet a monk and my education lay before me. Lobsang Samten, for his part, enjoyed a year off from the schooling he had begun at Kumbum.

During the winter of 1940, I was taken to the Potala, where I was officially installed as spiritual leader of Tibet. I do not recall anything particular about the ceremony this entailed, save that it was the first time I sat on the Lion Throne, a vast, jewel-encrusted and beautifully carved wooden structure that stood in the Si shi phuntsog ( Hall of All Good Deeds of the Spiritual and Temporal World) , the principal stateroom in the east wing of the Potala.

Soon after, I was taken to the Johkang temple, in the middle of the city,where I was inducted as a novice monk. This involved a ceremony known as taphue, meaning 'cutting of the hair' . From now on, I was to be shaven-headed and attired in a maroon monks robe. Again, I do not remember much about the ceremony itself except that at one point, on seeing the flamboyant costumes of some ritual dancers, I completely forgot myself and blurted out excitedly to Lobsang Samten, 'Look over there!'

My locks were symbolically shorn by the Reting Rinpoche, the Regent, who in addition to his position as head of state until I reached my majority, was also appointed as my Senior Tutor. At first I was cautious in my attitude to him, but I came to like him very much. His most striking feature, I remember was a continually blocked nose. As a person he was quite imaginative, with a very relaxed mental disposition, a man who took things easily. He loved picnics and horses, as a result of which he became good friends with my father. Sadly though, during his years as Regent, he had become something of a controversial figure and the Government itself was now quite corrupt. For example, the buying and selling of high positions was commonplace. "

(An remarkable childhood! I promise to add more tomorrow...)

*( please click here to read of the day with me )

* This is from the book Freedom in Exile The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth

Dalai Lama of Tibet.

Through my eyes

( Please see my spinning for you!)

( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! Kehrahng kusu debo yinpeh? I got the stair stringers up today. That is what the boards that hold the stairs up are called. Mom and Kathy both helped me to position them while I fit them into place. I did quite a bit of cussing as it was a difficult business ( even with you and I working as one!) because the original concrete base had sunken into the ground and wasn't a level surface. Each time the boards had to be taken down, cut a bit, and put back up and even when cut are still heavy! Then Mom worked on the base putting in concrete to level it and patched around the foundation. I'll show you a picture of the progress on the spinning page. It's all set now though and things went well! The hardest part is over and the outside of our studio should be done within a week or so! There's always a bit more that can be done as Kathy was pointing out. We four can all work on it later! I hope you liked the picture of me I brought us yesterday. I was wearing the braided bracelet of course even though it isn't visible in the picture. It was kind of tough to come up with a picture as I had arrived home late from the garage so I did the best I could. I would have liked a picture of me painting the outside of our studio! The auto business was discouraging in that I will have to get another to get me through for awhile. I'll probably get one from some of the old used cars my brother has. I'll show you pictures of the possible ones so that we can both look them over! It will be a fun thing we can do while we wait through the quiet patient time. A Luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show gets a utility vehicle! I'll put this up for now so we can rest.

And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow

my one gentle beautiful patient swift dream bright

long dark mane in sunlight

so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo!)


	Through My Eyes Saturday September 20 (We continue listening to the Dalai Lama as he describes his life at the Norbulinka.) "I remember very little of that first winter. But one thing has stuck firmly in my mind. At the end of the last month of the year, it was traditional for the monks of Namgyal monastery to perform cham, a ritual dance which symbolised driving out the negative forces of the past year. However, because I had not yet been formally enthroned, the Government felt it would be inappropriate for me to go to the Potala to see it. Lobsang Samten, on the other hand, was taken by my mother. I was exceedingly envious of him. When he came back late that evening, he teased me with very full descriptions of the leapings and swoopings of extravagantly costumed dancers. Throughout the following year, that is 1940, I remained at the Norbulinka. I saw a good deal of my parents during the spring and summer months. When I was proclaimed Dalai Lama, they automatically acquired the status of the highest nobility and with it considerable property. They also had the use of a house in the palace grounds during that period each year. Almost every day, I used to steal over, with an attendant, to spend time with them. This was not really allowed, but the Regent, who was responsible for me, chose to ignore these excursions. I particularly enjoyed going over at mealtimes. This was because, as a young boy destined to be a monk, certain foods such as eggs and pork were forbidden to me, so it was only at my parents' house that I ever had the chance to taste them. Once, I remember being caught in the act of eating eggs by the Gyop Kenpo, one of my senior officials. He was very shocked, and so was I. 'Go away,' I shouted at the top of my voice! On another occasion, I remember sitting next to my father and watching him like a little dog as he ate some pork crackling, hoping that he would give me some-which he did. It was delicious. So, altogether, my first year at Lhasa was a very happy time. I was still not yet a monk and my education lay before me. Lobsang Samten, for his part, enjoyed a year off from the schooling he had begun at Kumbum. During the winter of 1940, I was taken to the Potala, where I was officially installed as spiritual leader of Tibet. I do not recall anything particular about the ceremony this entailed, save that it was the first time I sat on the Lion Throne, a vast, jewel-encrusted and beautifully carved wooden structure that stood in the Si shi phuntsog ( Hall of All Good Deeds of the Spiritual and Temporal World) , the principal stateroom in the east wing of the Potala. Soon after, I was taken to the Johkang temple, in the middle of the city,where I was inducted as a novice monk. This involved a ceremony known as taphue, meaning 'cutting of the hair' . From now on, I was to be shaven-headed and attired in a maroon monks robe. Again, I do not remember much about the ceremony itself except that at one point, on seeing the flamboyant costumes of some ritual dancers, I completely forgot myself and blurted out excitedly to Lobsang Samten, 'Look over there!' My locks were symbolically shorn by the Reting Rinpoche, the Regent, who in addition to his position as head of state until I reached my majority, was also appointed as my Senior Tutor. At first I was cautious in my attitude to him, but I came to like him very much. His most striking feature, I remember was a continually blocked nose. As a person he was quite imaginative, with a very relaxed mental disposition, a man who took things easily. He loved picnics and horses, as a result of which he became good friends with my father. Sadly though, during his years as Regent, he had become something of a controversial figure and the Government itself was now quite corrupt. For example, the buying and selling of high positions was commonplace. " (An remarkable childhood! I promise to add more tomorrow...) ( please click here to read of the day with me ) This is from the book Freedom in Exile The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet. Through my eyes ( Please see my spinning for you!) ( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! Kehrahng kusu debo yinpeh? I got the stair stringers up today. That is what the boards that hold the stairs up are called. Mom and Kathy both helped me to position them while I fit them into place. I did quite a bit of cussing as it was a difficult business ( even with you and I working as one!) because the original concrete base had sunken into the ground and wasn't a level surface. Each time the boards had to be taken down, cut a bit, and put back up and even when cut are still heavy! Then Mom worked on the base putting in concrete to level it and patched around the foundation. I'll show you a picture of the progress on the spinning page. It's all set now though and things went well! The hardest part is over and the outside of our studio should be done within a week or so! There's always a bit more that can be done as Kathy was pointing out. We four can all work on it later! I hope you liked the picture of me I brought us yesterday. I was wearing the braided bracelet of course even though it isn't visible in the picture. It was kind of tough to come up with a picture as I had arrived home late from the garage so I did the best I could. I would have liked a picture of me painting the outside of our studio! The auto business was discouraging in that I will have to get another to get me through for awhile. I'll probably get one from some of the old used cars my brother has. I'll show you pictures of the possible ones so that we can both look them over! It will be a fun thing we can do while we wait through the quiet patient time. A Luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show gets a utility vehicle! I'll put this up for now so we can rest. And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow my one gentle beautiful patient swift dream bright long dark mane in sunlight so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo!)