The visit of the Dalai Lama to Maui

It was a very exciting time here in Paia last Tuesday (April 24).
The Dalai Lama came to Paia to dedicate and consecrate the stupa that the folks at the Maui Dharma Center have been working on for so long. It is finished and it is beautiful. The US Government provided security for His Holiness comparable to that afforded a visiting head of state, which I think he is,anyway, no? Anyhow Baldwin Avenue, which is the street that the stupa is located on, was closed to traffic from 8am till noon. There were a lot of men in suits and sunglasses who were scanning the crowd with steely eyes. I thought, who would want to harm such a saintly individual? Of course there are always crazies who would like to get their names in the paper. But I found out that it's more than that: it seems the powers-that-be in the country that has overrun Tibet do not like the Dalai Lama, and possibly wish him harm, a lot of harm. Hence, the security. However, all went well. There were crowds of folks on the street, but only 500 invited guests wre inside the Dharma compound: it couldn't hold anymore. A funny moment came just before His Holiness arrived. A red carpet had been laid out for the Dalai Lama, and everyone was stretching his or her neck to get the first glimpse of the holy man, when what should come strutting down the red carpet but a majestic feral rooster! Had the Dalai Lama already been there, how he would have laughed. He truly always enjoys the moment.