In the Presence of Presence

Monks from Gongkar Chödey Monastery perform a ritual Cham dance welcoming His Holiness the Dalai Lama to an elaborate Long Life Prayer at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamsala, HP, India on March 4, 2015. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL

Social media has provided me with a moving account from my son and daughter as they encountered His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Dharmasala, India during the Long Life Offering Ceremony in his honor on March 4, 2015. I have chills as I sit in my living room in Souhern Oregon and live it in my mind’s eye.

The most striking thing about being in India for this ceremony was not the rich color and panoply of Tibetan costumes. It wasn’t the devotion of the monks or of his followers. It was his presence.

My son and daughter had the privilege to be in the presence of true presence. They described his prayerful demeanor as he truly looked into the eyes of those within is vision. Tears filled the eyes of my children and of others who were affected by the absolute soul attention of a man whose message is that one shoo be with each moment in life.

When I heard their account and shivered with the impact I wondered at the impact that each of us can have if we practice being present in a profound way. What change could we facilitate if we met even five people each day in this way – if we could hold to this path for a fraction of our time.

This reminds me that my presence in my meditation is not all that is required.

The Student