November 15

Through My Eyes

Saturday November 15

(We continue to listen to Dalai Lama as he describes life at the Potala! )

" Also, at around this time, I received from the Tathag Rinpoche the special teaching of the Fifth Dalai Lama, which is considered particular to the Dalai Lama himself. It was received by the Great Fifth ( as he is still known to all Tibetans) in a vision. In the following weeks, I had a number of unusual experiences, particularly in the form of dreams which, although they did not seem significant then, I now see as being very important. One of the compensations of living in the Potala was that it contained numerous storerooms. These were far more interesting to a small boy than those rooms which contained silver or gold or priceless religious artifacts; more interesting even than the vast, jewel-encrusted tombs of each of my predecessors down in the vaults. I much preferred the armoury with its collection of old swords, flintlock guns and suits of armour. But even this was as nothing compared with the unimaginable treasures in the rooms containing some of my predecessors belongings. Amongst these I found an old air rifle, complete with targets and ammunition, and the telescope, to which I have already referred, not to mention piles of illustrated books in English about the First World War. These fascinated me and provided the blueprints for the model ships,tanks and aeroplanes that I made. When I was older, I had parts of them translated into Tibetan.

I also found tow pairs of European shoes. Even though my feet were far too small, I took them to wear, stuffing bits of cloth into the toes so that they fitted more or less. I was thrilled at the sound they made with their heavy, steel-capped heels.

One of the things I most enjoyed as a child was to take objects apart and then try to reassemble them. I became quite good at it. However, in the beginning, I was not always successful in my efforts. One of the items that I came across amongst my predecessor's belongings was an old musical box that had been given to him by the Tsar of Russia, with whom he had been on friendly terms. It was not working, so I decided to try to mend it. I found that the mainspring was overwound and jammed. As I poked at it with my screwdriver, the mechanism suddenly freed itself and unwound uncontrollably,flinging out all of the thin shards of metal that made the music. I shall never forget the demonic symphony of noise a the bits went flying round the room. As I think back on this incident, I realise that I was lucky not to lose an eye. My face was right up close as I fiddled with the mechanism. I might have been mistaken in later life for Moshe Dayan!

I was very grateful to Thupten Gyatso, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, for having been given so many wonderful gifts. Many of the sweepers at the Potala had served him during his lifetime, and from them I came to know something about his life. I learned that not only was he a highly accomplished spiritual master, but also a very able and far-sighted secular leader. I also came to know that he had twice been forced into exile by foreign invaders-first by the British, who sent in an army under the command of Colonel Younghusband in 1903, and second by the Manchus in 1910. In the first case, the British withdrew of their own accord, but in the second, the Manchu army was forcibly ejected during the winter of 1911-12.

My predecessor also took a great interest in modern technology. Amongst the things he imported to Tibet were an electrical generating plant, a mint for producing both coins and Tibet's first paper currency, and three cars. These were the sensation of Tibet. At the time, there was almost no wheeled transport in the country. Even horse drawn wagons were virtually unknown. Of course they were known about, but the unyielding nature of the Tibetan land mass meant that pack animals were the only practical form of conveyance."

( The land is very rugged to be sure! 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 set out to lime in the Grove this morning but it was too windy! The lime was just blowing away so I put on the remainder of the tree collars and picked up in the Grove a bit. I was able to put out a few hundred pounds later in the day though. There are only a few more rows to go! I'm going to work a bit on our a land of Tibet; 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 November 15 (We continue to listen to Dalai Lama as he describes life at the Potala! ) " Also, at around this time, I received from the Tathag Rinpoche the special teaching of the Fifth Dalai Lama, which is considered particular to the Dalai Lama himself. It was received by the Great Fifth ( as he is still known to all Tibetans) in a vision. In the following weeks, I had a number of unusual experiences, particularly in the form of dreams which, although they did not seem significant then, I now see as being very important. One of the compensations of living in the Potala was that it contained numerous storerooms. These were far more interesting to a small boy than those rooms which contained silver or gold or priceless religious artifacts; more interesting even than the vast, jewel-encrusted tombs of each of my predecessors down in the vaults. I much preferred the armoury with its collection of old swords, flintlock guns and suits of armour. But even this was as nothing compared with the unimaginable treasures in the rooms containing some of my predecessors belongings. Amongst these I found an old air rifle, complete with targets and ammunition, and the telescope, to which I have already referred, not to mention piles of illustrated books in English about the First World War. These fascinated me and provided the blueprints for the model ships,tanks and aeroplanes that I made. When I was older, I had parts of them translated into Tibetan. I also found tow pairs of European shoes. Even though my feet were far too small, I took them to wear, stuffing bits of cloth into the toes so that they fitted more or less. I was thrilled at the sound they made with their heavy, steel-capped heels. One of the things I most enjoyed as a child was to take objects apart and then try to reassemble them. I became quite good at it. However, in the beginning, I was not always successful in my efforts. One of the items that I came across amongst my predecessor's belongings was an old musical box that had been given to him by the Tsar of Russia, with whom he had been on friendly terms. It was not working, so I decided to try to mend it. I found that the mainspring was overwound and jammed. As I poked at it with my screwdriver, the mechanism suddenly freed itself and unwound uncontrollably,flinging out all of the thin shards of metal that made the music. I shall never forget the demonic symphony of noise a the bits went flying round the room. As I think back on this incident, I realise that I was lucky not to lose an eye. My face was right up close as I fiddled with the mechanism. I might have been mistaken in later life for Moshe Dayan! I was very grateful to Thupten Gyatso, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, for having been given so many wonderful gifts. Many of the sweepers at the Potala had served him during his lifetime, and from them I came to know something about his life. I learned that not only was he a highly accomplished spiritual master, but also a very able and far-sighted secular leader. I also came to know that he had twice been forced into exile by foreign invaders-first by the British, who sent in an army under the command of Colonel Younghusband in 1903, and second by the Manchus in 1910. In the first case, the British withdrew of their own accord, but in the second, the Manchu army was forcibly ejected during the winter of 1911-12. My predecessor also took a great interest in modern technology. Amongst the things he imported to Tibet were an electrical generating plant, a mint for producing both coins and Tibet's first paper currency, and three cars. These were the sensation of Tibet. At the time, there was almost no wheeled transport in the country. Even horse drawn wagons were virtually unknown. Of course they were known about, but the unyielding nature of the Tibetan land mass meant that pack animals were the only practical form of conveyance." ( The land is very rugged to be sure! 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 set out to lime in the Grove this morning but it was too windy! The lime was just blowing away so I put on the remainder of the tree collars and picked up in the Grove a bit. I was able to put out a few hundred pounds later in the day though. There are only a few more rows to go! I'm going to work a bit on our a land of Tibet; 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!)