Change your mindset, change your life

Today I felt privileged to witness a blessing given by the Dalai Lama. He is currently visiting the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in the western world, which happens to be in the town I live in for part of the year.

Yesterday, a friend mentioned the town were offering a live feed into the town sports hall of his visit. Off I went this morning expecting a few people to be standing in the sports hall, so when I walked around the corner I was surprised to see a few hundred! Apparently he came a few years ago to see this amazing temple in progress. He promised to return to bless it the moment it was finished. It was very recently completed.

I watched, wishing the English speaking presenters and spokesperson’s hadn’t been quietened out and replaced with French. In my currently very limited French listening ear, I listened intently, and waited like everybody else, in anticipation.

Out of the rain stepped what can only be described as a ‘beautiful’ man. A brilliant, smiling face, genuinely excited to see the people there. A shoeless very glamorous Carla Bruni (French president’s wife) accompanied the Dalai Lama into the splendid temple.

For the following two and a half hours I sat spell-bound by this fascinating man. He didn’t do much, he never has to. He sat grinning from ear to ear occasionally chuckling to himself. His chuckle contagious, he had the people in the temple and the sports hall all laughing. His relaxed manner throughout the ‘service’ brought about a deeply relaxed and calm feel to hundreds of people present. Not one person was bored, not one person walked out, yet at no time was it evident he wanted to hold anyone to ransom. Everyone stayed because they wanted to. His happy, contented energy kept all present.

His words of wisdom this year referred to several subjects close to any spiritual person’s heart:-

- That no religion is better than another, it is all simply a different way of looking at the same thing.

- That all should unite to save this beautiful planet, we are harming ourselves by hurting the earth.

- That material goods provide physical comfort not inner happiness; that has to come from within.

All very simple, but profound words. He then announced it was enough of his talking and time for lunch. Then off he went…

If you would like to receive information on trips to Southern France to see the Lerab Ling Temple, experience the amazing Larzac Plateau and accompanying spiritual weekend please contact us