December 13

Through My Eyes

Saturday December 13

(We continue to listen to Dalai Lama as he continues to describe life at the Norbulingka! )

"Amongst those settled in the capital when I was growing up were Sir Basil Gould, head of the British Trade Mission, and his successor, Hugh Richardson, who has since written some books about Tibet and with whom I have had several useful discussions since coming into exile. And in addition to Reginald Fox, there was also a British medical officer, whose name I cannot recall. However, I shall never forget one occasion when this man was summoned to the Norbulingka to treat one of the peacocks which had a cyst under its eye. I watched him very carefully and listened with amazement as he spoke to it using both Lhasa dialect and honorific Tibetan ( which are virtually two distinct languages). It struck me as something very extraordinary when this strange man addressed the bird as 'Honorable peacock'!

Heinrich Harrer turned out to be a delightful person with blond hair such as I had never seen before. I nicknamed him Gopse, meaning 'yellow head." As an Austrian, he had been interned during the Second World War, a prisoner of the British in India. But somehow he had managed to escape with a fellow prisoner named Peter Aufschaiter. Together they made their way to Lhasa. This was a great achievement, as Tibet was officially out of bounds to all foreigners, except the few who had special dispensation. It took them about five years living as nomads before they finally reached the capital. When they arrived, people were so impressed by their bravery and persistence that the Government permitted them to stay. Naturally, I was one of the first to hear of their arrival and I became quite curious to see what they were like, especially Harrer, as he quickly developed a reputation as an interesting and sociable person.

He spoke excellent colloquial Tibetan and had a wonderful sense of humour, although he was also full of respect and courtesy. As I began to get to know him better, he dropped the formality and became very forthright, except when my officials were present. I greatly valued this quality. We first met in 1948, I think, and for the next year and a half before he left Tibet I saw him regularly, usually once a week. From him I was able to learn something about the outside world and especially about Europe and the recent war. He also helped me with my English, which I had recently begun to study with one of my officials. I already knew the alphabet, which I had had translated into Tibetan phonetics, and was eager to learn more. Harrer assisted me in a number of practical ways as well.

For example, he helped me with the generator that was presented to me along with the electrical projector. It had turned out to be very old and sick. I have often wondered whether the British officials did not keep the generator intended for my use and pass on their own old one to me!

Another great enthusiasm of mine at this time was for the three cars that the Thirteenth Dalai Lama had imported into Tibet. Although there were no proper roads, he had used them occasionally for transport in and around Lhasa up until the time of his death. Thereafter they were not used and fell into disrepair. They now stood in a building at the Norbulingka. One of them was an American Dodge; the two others were both Baby Austins. All were of late 1920's vintage. There were also a Willys jeep, which was acquired by the Tibetan Trade Mission that travelled to America in 1948, but which was rarely used.

As with movie projectors, it took some time before I could trace anyone who knew anything about cars. But I was determined that they should be put back into service. Eventually a driver, Tashi Tsering, was found, another man with a very short temper, who came from Kalimpong, just south of the border with India.Between us we worked on the cars and finally, by plundering one of the Austins for parts, we got the other one going. Both the Dodge and the jeep were in better condition and they ran after only minor tinkering.

Of course, once we had the cars working, I was not allowed to go anywhere near them. But this became too much for me and one day, when I knew that my driver was away, I decided to take one of them out for a drive. Both the Dodge and the jeep required keys to start and these were in the possession of my driver. However, the Baby Austin had magneto ignition and could be started by turning a crank handle.

Very gingerly, I reversed it out of its shed and proceeded to take a turn around the garden. Unfortunately, the Norbulingka park is full of trees and it was not long before I collided with one of them. To my horror I saw that the glass of one of the headlamps was smashed. Unless I could repair it before the following day, my joyride would be discovered by my driver and I would be in trouble.

I managed to get the car back without further damage and at once began trying to repair the broken glass. To my further dismay I found that it was not ordinary glass, but tinted. So although I managed to find a piece that I was able to fashion well enough to fit, I was then faced with the problem of getting it to fit the original. This I eventually succeeded in doing by smearing it with sugar syrup. In the end I was well pleased with my handiwork. But even so, I felt extremely guilty when I next saw my driver. I felt sure that he must know, or at least that he would never find out, what had happened. But he never said a word. I shall never forget Tahsi Tsering. He is still alive and now living in India, and although I rarely see him, I continue to regard him as a good friend."

( 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 hope you liked the picture of me in your mirror. I would have liked to show our Lotus blossoms and my spinning for you in the picture but it was hard to set up. You know they are there slight gentle beautiful determined bright one. I was pretty tired in that picture! I spent time more struggling in our studio with the computer this morning. There's more to work on with this but two as one as usual we'll fix it. Then there's the monthly pages to be worked on, we still have October and November to put up! Then I went up to the Grove, picked up a bit and checked our trees and native plants and rambled about taking pictures. I found a few more interesting patterns for your loom! Then I returned to our studio and worked a bit on our a land of Tibet. The stream is quite high now. I went the long way around this time but decided to wade barefoot straight through on the way back. My feet still tingle! I'll put this up 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 December 13 (We continue to listen to Dalai Lama as he continues to describe life at the Norbulingka! ) "Amongst those settled in the capital when I was growing up were Sir Basil Gould, head of the British Trade Mission, and his successor, Hugh Richardson, who has since written some books about Tibet and with whom I have had several useful discussions since coming into exile. And in addition to Reginald Fox, there was also a British medical officer, whose name I cannot recall. However, I shall never forget one occasion when this man was summoned to the Norbulingka to treat one of the peacocks which had a cyst under its eye. I watched him very carefully and listened with amazement as he spoke to it using both Lhasa dialect and honorific Tibetan ( which are virtually two distinct languages). It struck me as something very extraordinary when this strange man addressed the bird as 'Honorable peacock'! Heinrich Harrer turned out to be a delightful person with blond hair such as I had never seen before. I nicknamed him Gopse, meaning 'yellow head." As an Austrian, he had been interned during the Second World War, a prisoner of the British in India. But somehow he had managed to escape with a fellow prisoner named Peter Aufschaiter. Together they made their way to Lhasa. This was a great achievement, as Tibet was officially out of bounds to all foreigners, except the few who had special dispensation. It took them about five years living as nomads before they finally reached the capital. When they arrived, people were so impressed by their bravery and persistence that the Government permitted them to stay. Naturally, I was one of the first to hear of their arrival and I became quite curious to see what they were like, especially Harrer, as he quickly developed a reputation as an interesting and sociable person. He spoke excellent colloquial Tibetan and had a wonderful sense of humour, although he was also full of respect and courtesy. As I began to get to know him better, he dropped the formality and became very forthright, except when my officials were present. I greatly valued this quality. We first met in 1948, I think, and for the next year and a half before he left Tibet I saw him regularly, usually once a week. From him I was able to learn something about the outside world and especially about Europe and the recent war. He also helped me with my English, which I had recently begun to study with one of my officials. I already knew the alphabet, which I had had translated into Tibetan phonetics, and was eager to learn more. Harrer assisted me in a number of practical ways as well. For example, he helped me with the generator that was presented to me along with the electrical projector. It had turned out to be very old and sick. I have often wondered whether the British officials did not keep the generator intended for my use and pass on their own old one to me! Another great enthusiasm of mine at this time was for the three cars that the Thirteenth Dalai Lama had imported into Tibet. Although there were no proper roads, he had used them occasionally for transport in and around Lhasa up until the time of his death. Thereafter they were not used and fell into disrepair. They now stood in a building at the Norbulingka. One of them was an American Dodge; the two others were both Baby Austins. All were of late 1920's vintage. There were also a Willys jeep, which was acquired by the Tibetan Trade Mission that travelled to America in 1948, but which was rarely used. As with movie projectors, it took some time before I could trace anyone who knew anything about cars. But I was determined that they should be put back into service. Eventually a driver, Tashi Tsering, was found, another man with a very short temper, who came from Kalimpong, just south of the border with India.Between us we worked on the cars and finally, by plundering one of the Austins for parts, we got the other one going. Both the Dodge and the jeep were in better condition and they ran after only minor tinkering. Of course, once we had the cars working, I was not allowed to go anywhere near them. But this became too much for me and one day, when I knew that my driver was away, I decided to take one of them out for a drive. Both the Dodge and the jeep required keys to start and these were in the possession of my driver. However, the Baby Austin had magneto ignition and could be started by turning a crank handle. Very gingerly, I reversed it out of its shed and proceeded to take a turn around the garden. Unfortunately, the Norbulingka park is full of trees and it was not long before I collided with one of them. To my horror I saw that the glass of one of the headlamps was smashed. Unless I could repair it before the following day, my joyride would be discovered by my driver and I would be in trouble. I managed to get the car back without further damage and at once began trying to repair the broken glass. To my further dismay I found that it was not ordinary glass, but tinted. So although I managed to find a piece that I was able to fashion well enough to fit, I was then faced with the problem of getting it to fit the original. This I eventually succeeded in doing by smearing it with sugar syrup. In the end I was well pleased with my handiwork. But even so, I felt extremely guilty when I next saw my driver. I felt sure that he must know, or at least that he would never find out, what had happened. But he never said a word. I shall never forget Tahsi Tsering. He is still alive and now living in India, and although I rarely see him, I continue to regard him as a good friend." ( 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 hope you liked the picture of me in your mirror. I would have liked to show our Lotus blossoms and my spinning for you in the picture but it was hard to set up. You know they are there slight gentle beautiful determined bright one. I was pretty tired in that picture! I spent time more struggling in our studio with the computer this morning. There's more to work on with this but two as one as usual we'll fix it. Then there's the monthly pages to be worked on, we still have October and November to put up! Then I went up to the Grove, picked up a bit and checked our trees and native plants and rambled about taking pictures. I found a few more interesting patterns for your loom! Then I returned to our studio and worked a bit on our a land of Tibet. The stream is quite high now. I went the long way around this time but decided to wade barefoot straight through on the way back. My feet still tingle! I'll put this up 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!)