From Ayodhya to the Dalai Lama Since Thursday I'm back on the road: again northwest of Varanasi, as on 23 December come to my parents in India to meet with me to spend Christmas and New Year. With my mother, I will for nearly a week by the famous desert state of Rajasthan with its Camels, palaces, and colors of travel. New Year's Day are three of us at the Taj Mahal and then it goes again to Varanasi and Sarnath.
Yesterday morning I was in Ayodhya, one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites, he is the birthplace of the god Rama. But at the same time is a sad synonym for the Ayodhya Hindu-Muslim tensions that have in the past two decades have continually come to the surface.
Ayodhya in 1992, gained international notoriety when storming a mass of Hindus originally from the Mughal period Babri Mosque and full of determination to crack down until they collapsed to rubble and ashes. The Mosque, the radical Hindus have alleged is, on the birth Rama once stood. In the place they built a small temple.
Ayodhya these days is a dusty, chaotic town with a collection of temples. I do not know if currently playing time was hard, but the masses is the only way to move from temple temple. In some of them it is tough and chaotic, while in others there is a pleasant, quiet and reverent mood.
the controversial birth of Rama, however, resembles a high security prison. At the entrance to the complex, I have all my belongings to leave for money and passport in a wardrobe. First, write down all my details including visa and passport number. Then I passed a police officer on the snakes over and through large metal tunnel, surrounded by barbed wire and flanked by soldiers. All three times I have to pass through security gates and I scanned the whole body. Then, almost imperceptibly, I'll run past a small tent and have a quick look at the rather nondescript sanctuary throw that has such a violent history. A firm of Rama's birth temple was built yet, although it plans for the part of the Hindus are.
It will be pushed back by a long tunnel transitions back and land on a souvenir street, where Rama memorabilia will be offered. These include DVDs with footage of the fateful day in 1992, based on small televisions for showing be played. A bitter taste comes from this scene, as here, one of the darkest chapter of recent Indian history is treated. On 30
September, the Allahabad High Court has announced a crucial sentence, after which the piece of land between two groups of Hindu and Muslims should be split. This decision has caused big headlines in India and discussions, but feared the unrest of the Contractor. Perhaps the country has learned from the events of 1992 - one can hope it at least.
However India has a broad religious tolerance, which is deeply rooted in the majority population. India is the birthplace of several world religions and the country with the second highest Muslim population in the world. The former President of India was a Muslim, the current prime minister is a Sikh. Discrimination against religious minorities has no place here. In many cities there is a mosaic of different faiths coexist peacefully.
I've now heard from the mouth by no less than the Dalai Lama, for India and its ancient culture of violence (long before Mahatma Gandhi urinary disches thought) always been a source of inspiration. He has now called in his speech as a "messenger of the ancient Indian thought" (Ambassador of the ancient Indian thought). India is the land that he and the Tibetan government in exile for many decades offers.
Well, as things develop sometimes ... I am since yesterday evening in Lucknow, the capital of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. On the way from the station to my couch surfer I've already seen big posters announcing the Dalai Lama and his two day stay in the city. The timing could have been better for me. My host
Dhruv asked me last night simply: "Do you want to meet the Dalai Lama?". So we drove today for a conference on international jurisdiction and the future of the world, was guest of honor at the Dalai Lama. Just among the people including mix and is the motto. Many foreign peace activists in the audience and I fall at all on a white foreigner. I mix it with my camera under the Horde knips finished journalists and to approach the Dalai Lama. From a meter away (I am overwhelmed by this sudden close to this figure) are formed following photos:
Rarely have I seen a man with such charisma. You know the Dalai Lama so many pictures and videos and he is just as you have him in mind. Very simply and modestly dressed in the monk's robe and with a out of himself speaking charisma. It is only his charisma, the aura that moves and attracts all the people around him in the spell.
In his speech, he speaks of the things that everybody knows, which is each of his teachings and ideas have: to let the importance of compassion and religious harmony, non-violence and the need to follow every word and action. His words are equally important and memorable. But it is above all the manner with which he speaks, which impressed me. Simple sentences, very naturally, not with the usual phrases and expressions of most of the speeches. Next to him is another monk, the Dalai Lama proclaims at one point an English vocabulary - the translator for emergencies. In between jokes
spontant the Dalai Lama, and indisposed. Earlier in his speech, he says quite succinctly that he is hungry and why not say so long is. At the end he is grateful for the invitation and wished the conference every success, "But one thing I will criticize. There were too many ceremonies (formalities). I do not like. "
After his speech, I join a gathering of people who want to say a few words to the Dalai Lama. I push myself forward, a woman speaks to him briefly and then I see my chance. I give him the hand and thank you simply for his inspiring speech. Then I put aside two organizers.
It was a special moment that has come totally unexpected for me ... I am very grateful for this unexpected encounter.
