It was my long cherished dream to meet HH Dalai Lama in person and i had even e-mailed a request to his office in Dharamsala few months back but could get no reply.I was even anxious before my journey began wheather His Holiness was in Mcleodganj as his travel plans for the month of March were not mentioned in his website as most of the time,he is travelling abroad for meetings and seminars.Fortunately for me,the good news was confirmed in Dharamsala itself that he was in Mcleodganj in connection with celebrations of marking 50 years of resistance to Chinese invasion of Tibet.

As soon as we parked our car in the parking facing the building housing his temple and residence,we saw posters depicting Chinese atrocities on native Tibetans to continue their illegal occupation.There were also hate posters ridiculing the four chinese premiers in last 50 years who had ordered genocide of innocent Tibetans.The pictures were both moving and horrifying.We moved inside the gate of premises and walked towards his temple.We were subjected to a thorough security check before being allowed entry inside.Soon,we were in an open space with sacred wind blowing all across.On one side in front was the beautiful Dalai Lama temple while on back side was his simple but holy residence with its gates closed.In between was this huge open space where i believe all his teaching classes would take place.

The entry to the temple was temporarily closed as i was told that a meeting with 300 monks and representatives from Tibet was taking place.I asked the guards if a meeting with Dalai Lama was possible.They told me to wait in that open space as Dalai Lama was sure to come out as and when the meeting with monks ended.I waited with my whole family for over an hour when silence was converted into slight hush as the monks slowly began to descend from staircase on one side.All the visitors were asked to step aside behind the barricades while the monks continued to emerge and strangely,they too started joining us behind the barricades.

I quietly watched the exit on other side where a Grand Vitara was being parked while all the visitors were crowding the other side.I could imagine that His Holiness would come from this side only and i quietly stationed myself at that very place.My instincts were right and soon the Dalai Lama emerged.He was guided by security staff to sit in the Vitara to cover this journey of about 75 metres towards his residence but the thorough gentleman that His Holiness is,he had decided to walk till his residence seeing that a huge crowd had built-up in anticipation of hisdarshan.He had his effervescent smile on his face with a divine radiance being emitted.The security told all to sit down while the monks and other Tibetans were already kneeling on their knees in front of their holy guru.I shamelessly kept standing but just bowed a little doingnamaskaras is the norm of greeting for us north Indians,trying to attract attention of his holiness who just stood in front of me.He smilingly blessed me with the wave of his hands.I quickly brought around my son,wife and daughters too who were again quick recepients of his blessings.Then he moved away blessing all who were bowing in front of him,slowly moving towards his residence.As i hurriedly walked along with him,i could hear and see many Tibetans first sobbing and then crying loudly as they seemed to long for their motherland.I could feel their pain while smile never left the face of Dalai Lama who soon disappeared into the gates of his residence.

The loud sob was still continuing while i thanked my good fortune of seeing His Holiness in flesh.I was told by any that i was very lucky as nobody in our club had been lucky enough to see him due to security and busy schedule of His Holiness.I thrice went again in the week of my stay to his abode but could not see him again as he was busy in various Tibetan cremonies-religious as well as political.His office told me that his schedule for private audience was full for next one year and i could apply for a later date.I told them i cannot plan for so far ahead as being a child of destiny,if i am destined to see him again,i will meet him unplanned as i did few days before.Thanks Heavens.