Dharmshala

Dharmshala Sept 7 - Yesterday I met 27 year old Tibetan refugee, Kelsang, who showed me the proper way to circumambulate within the temple of the Dalai Lama. he taught me the mantra - Om Mani Padma Hum - explaining the karmic power of this most important mantra that is to be repeated continuously while walking and counting the beads of the mala. You can buy a mala anywhere, but it must be blessed by a monk or preferably by the Dalai Lama himself. The mala is made up of prayer beads, usually rosewood, and when blessed it holds the power to release those prayers for others and for the world. It also protects you- this is why Buddhist wear the malas either around the neck or on the wrist.
Kelsang wants to teach me more about Buddhism and his culture. He misses Tibet. It is very beautiful here but it is not his home. When he was a child his parents paid much money to have someone take him here. he crossed the Himalayan mountains to Nepal and then to on to Dharmshala where he and the other refugees were brought to the Dalai Lama who asked him if he would like to become a monk or if he would like to go to school and have an education. Kelsang chose an education. He is now on summer holiday and will return to Delhi next month to finish his final testing for his college degree. Then he plans to find work for the government of India. He would like to visit his homeland in Tibet but it is very difficult, may times dangerous and almost impossible. He says that you must apply for a visa, pay a lot of money and wait for a long time, many times never to receive the permission. Many Tibetans try to return because they miss their families and want to help them. If caught, they are often arrested, beaten, and imprisoned by the Chinese police.