This was another turning point in my life. As they say, one door closes and another opens. It was a period of  time that i had decided to go to Motherland, India again where i always feel rejuvenated. Also, I wanted to be in silence and go within myself. Essentially I wanted to be a student of life and find answer from within. I always feel like india is my second home where i have plenty of friends and easily find students and centers to teach. So it always makes sense for me to go there. Then, thoughts go and questions come.. ` Why did it happen like this?` it is not meant to be how i plan sometimes. Then this comes; ` Man plans, God laughs…`

it was month of October, the weather was nice and sweet.My dear yogi friend Mey Elbi mentioned that she would go to the boarder of Tibet where Dalai Lama`s main Temple is located. I immediately booked my airplane ticket to Dharamshala, couldn`t even imagine to miss this opportunity as he comes to his main Temple once or twice in a year. It was lovely to see Mey Elbi and her friends there. We had nice dinner all together in the hills at McLeod Ganj where the temple was.

McLeod Ganj is a suburb of Dharamsala in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is known as “Little Lhasa” or “Dhasa” because of its large population of Tibetans. The Tibetan government-in-exile is headquartered in McLeod Ganj. It has an average elevation of 2,082 metres. It is situated on the Dhauladhar Range, whose highest peak, “Hanuman Ka Tibba”, at about 5,639 metres lies just behind it.One could see the Himalayas from the village and smiley Tibetan Monks everywhere walking in maroon ropes with shaved heads. `Om Mani Padme Hum` ..  I could hear this mantra everywhere in the village.  The first word Om is a sacred syllable found in Indian religions. The word Mani means “jewel” or “bead”, Padme meaning the “lotus flower”, the Buddhist sacred flower, while Hum represents the spirit of enlightenment.

Next morning, We went to the Temple to listen Dalai Lama`s teaching. His Holiness gives public talks which was free and open to the public. Several thousand people, both Tibetan and non-Tibetan, attended its teaching. it was a magical atmosphere ! Everyone was very excited and ready to learn. However, His Holiness has always stressed the importance of practitioners attending the teachings rather than the initiations or empowerments in order to allow you to better understand the philosophy of Buddhism.

I could hardly find a place to sit in-between some Monks and Nuns. They turned their heads towards me and called me to sit with them. They gave me a cup of tea and piece of bread. In that instance i had a connection with them. Pure souls.. The question was that human beings can be without sin in this life? Is there actually someone without sin? Then, i kept my gaze on these beautiful souls..

Monks and nuns are expected to fulfill a variety of roles in the Buddhist community. First and foremost, they are expected to preserve the doctrine and discipline now known as Buddhism. They are also expected to provide a living example for the laity, and to serve as a “field of merit” for lay followers, providing laymen and women with the opportunity to earn merit by giving gifts and support to the monks. In return for the support of the laity, monks and nuns are expected to live an austere life focused on the study of Buddhist doctrine, the practice of meditation, and the observance of good moral character. The relative degree of emphasis on meditation or study has often been debated in the Buddhist community.

Buddhism is a religion of Peace and non-violence. In general, Buddhism is a way of finding peace within oneself. It is a religion that helps us to find the happiness and contentment we seek. Buddhists develop inner peace, kindness and wisdom through their daily practice; and then share their experience with others bringing real benefit to this world. They try not to harm others and to live peacefully and gently, working towards the ultimate goal of pure and lasting happiness for all living beings.

My favourite part of Buddhism is which often translates as ‘non-greed’, ‘non-possessiveness’, and ‘non-attachment’. Basically, it means ‘non’. This important part teaches us to take only what we need, keep only what serves us in the moment, and to let go when the time is right.

Exactly in that moment, i was dealing with some money issues and i was desiring more and more.. Very interesting but i was meant to be there at that period in my life. Because i remembered what valuable  things were in life one more time. Many hours passed, i was sitting with them, listening Dalai Lama who was sitting in front of us. In the moments of transition between a normal state of consciousness and full trance – felt like i was in deep meditation.

What was the point?  we don`t need anything which is material. What we need is Love, Peace, Practice. No one wants pain, everyone wants to achieve happiness. The only way to achieve that is non-attachment and be able to free of all these desires. `People were created to be loved. Things were created to be used. The reason why the world is in chaos is because things are being loved and people are being used. `

I would like to share some of my favourite Dalai Lama`s quotes…

The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered ` Man. Because he scarifies his health in order to make money. Then he scarifies money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.`

`I think that true religion is the kind heart `

`Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck`