From California to Tawang for the Dalai Lama

By Syed Zarir Hussain, Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh), Nov 9 : Belize Lane, a 20-year-old student from San Francisco, California, is overwhelmed after attending a religious discourse by the Dalai Lama Monday.

"I don't have words to express and am simply overwhelmed after listening to sermons by His Holiness the Dalai Lama," Belize told IANS in a voice choked with emotion.

She had come all the way to Tawang, a revered Buddhist seat perched at an altitude of about 11,000 feet in India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, to attend the three-day religious discourse by the Dalai Lama that began Monday.

Like Belize, Marta from Spain, a young college student, is equally excited and happy.

"I am blessed to be part of this wonderful religious congregation," Marta said.

There were more than 100 pilgrims from across the world, including some from adjoining Nepal and Bhutan.

"I am taking a sacred memento back home in the form of a sapling handed over by the Dalai Lama," a German couple who took part in the prayer session said.

Sherba Lama may be from Arunachal Pradesh, but then he undertook a gruelling daylong trek to reach Tawang from a distant border village to attend the Dalai Lama's religious discourse.

"He is our God, he is the living Buddha. A glimpse of the Dalai Lama is like getting some spiritual power inside you," Lama said sitting cross legged on a dusty playground with folded hands under an open clear sky listening to the sermons.

It was a sea of humanity - thousands of people, both old and young donning traditional costumes and monks in their red and maroon robes presenting a sight best seen than described.

"All of you are responsible to carry forward the message of universal brotherhood and compassion, besides spreading and promoting Tibetan Buddhism for future generations to come," the Dalai Lama said.