kundun

On Friday I woke up to an interesting encounter with one of my Yidams, and in a moment of peaceful clarity I decided to skip my courses that day and instead go see the Dalai Lama. When I went to buy my ticket I got one of the last five available, so my Yidam woke me up just in time it seems.
Originally I had decided not to see the Dalai Lama. I was unable (unwilling) to afford tickets to his Dharma teaching, where as the event I ended up going to was His Holiness as a public speaker on world peace and human rights. While he is in good health for the most part, he is still 75 so I realized I should see him now, as I may not have the chance later. Especially as he is still unsure if there will be a 15th Dalai Lama, or what the role may look like for the next incarnation.
I understand now why he is called Kundun, Presence. Even in a crowd of 15,000 people, you couldn’t help but notice him. Such a huge little man, a figure just radiating compassion, joy, and attention. He spoke on World Peace and Human Rights, and while nothing new regarding that came up for me, it really was a pleasure to hear him speak.
I’m not here to wax adoringly about Kundun. While his peace talk wasn’t my ideal circumstance to encounter him, I went for it, and enjoyed it greatly. I passed up studying Old English poetry, to hear this great man speak. It just reminded me that sometimes the best experiences are when you step out of your routine. As a person and as a magickian I have to remember to do the unexpected. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t, the only way to know is to experiment and try –and that is the path of the magickian.
Also, if you ever have the chance, go see this man speak. He is worth it.