What You Believe In... Manifests Itself...

Posted on May 20, 2023 by Nidhi Agrawal (Co-founder, Director & Trainer)

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Since my early childhood, I used to read about Tibet, its mysteries and their beloved religious head, His holiness Dalai Lama. I always nursed an ambition to meet him but never really knew how to. My dream to see him went into dormant mode but my enamourment of him never went away. When I started the SOUL - School Of UnLearning, I once even commented, "I have two ambitions after starting SOUL. One is to interview Dalai Lama and the second is ...” (never mind. I will tell you when it will be fulfilled).

What is it in His Holiness that makes him such an inspiration? Dalai Lama means Ocean of Wisdom. He is the spiritual and sequential leader of the Tibetan people. After Chinese oppression and the takeover of his beloved homeland Tibet he is now living in exile in India along with his people. What is most impressive is that in spite of all the pain and bitterness he made a call to his people to live with compassion, nonviolence, peace and above all forgiveness.

I always wondered, "What would it be like to meet His Holiness? What would I say to him if I had the chance?” I had no idea how it would be possible. I just sent this wish into the universe. Recently, I was on a ten day seclusion period in Dharmashala, I had not even taken any appointment from his office. I learnt from locals that one may get an appointment after 2 or 3 months, if he wishes to. I was worried, owing to his advancing age, if I would ever be able to meet him.

During my recent visit to McLeodganj, it just stuck me, "Why not try meeting him? Now that I am here". It was a shot in the dark and luckily the arrow hit

the bulls eye. I found a phone number to call to someone who could help me connect with him. Lo, there I was!! They asked me to come early in the morning the next day. He had consented to give us a private audience. A gamut of emotions engulfed my heart....stunned disbelief was replaced by the thought that if you believe in something strongly, it manifests itself.

It strengthened my belief that if you sincerely and strongly put out a thought into the universe, it does manifest. So having an aspiration with a lot of belief and sincerity combined with sincere efforts, compels the reality to be manifested. When you trust with your heart it will happen, just as it happened in my meeting with His Holiness. Everyone said that chances were zero, it was extremely unlikely that he would give the nod, the chances were one in a million, yet my heart refused to take no for an answer.

Dalai Lama has won numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize for peace, yet he describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. He says, “Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace. The way to change other's minds is with affection and not anger". He also says, “Be kind whenever possible, it is always possible”.

His Holiness is a living embodiment of peace, love, compassion and generosity. He speaks simply, happy in his mannerism with a child’s glint in his eyes. His face glowing with equanimity, composure, and self-control. He has always advocated peace and nonviolence and his attitude towards the Chinese who are guilty of the most heinous crimes against him and his people, has been one of forgiveness, pardon and conciliation. It’s easy to swim with the tide...the challenge is to swim against it and the Dalai Lama inspires us to do just that.

In conclusion, let me describe the momentous meeting with him. We donned our ‘Khadas’, a traditional Tibetan ceremonial scarf, he received us one by one by clasping our hands, giving his blessing and simply connecting one to one. He put the Khada around my neck and placed his hands on my head. He held my hand and recited holy mantras and I could feel the warmth of his words and thoughts. His mystic voice carries a deep healing vibration.

I presented SOUL’S new spiritual logo to him and sought his blessings and he put his hand on it and blessed it along with special blessings of love and success. Tears started rolling down my cheeks, when I realized the immensity of the whole situation.

He held our hands like it were the most natural thing and the atmosphere was so electric. His aura seemed to pervade the entire space. It all seemed surreal, and as my eyes filled with tears I felt a surge of happiness and peace within me. For me this has been one of the most important and blessed moment in my life.

What did I carry back with me? I have this overpowering sense of being in the presence of the divine. It has been an overwhelming and humbling experience for me. The fact that he actually blessed the SOUL spiritual logo has filled me with renewed hope and I look forward to bigger and greater things for myself and the SOUL- School of Unlearning!