I am honored and humbled to join so many others in wishing my dear friend, the Dalai Lama, a joyful 85th birthday. Like millions around the world, my life has been both deepened and elevated through my association with this extraordinary individual. I will always consider it to be a blessed day when I first met His Holiness. I’d like to share with you my recollection of our very first encounter.
My husband Congressman Tom Lantos was the Founder and co-chair of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. It was the Caucus that, in the early 1980’s, issued the first formal Congressional invitation to His Holiness to come to address the US Congress. At the time, there was considerable push back from the State Department and others, but we were determined to give the Dalai Lama a Congressional platform to educate the American people about the plight of Tibet.
On the appointed day, I was given the assignment to meet His Holiness in front of the Longworth Office Building and escort him to the Hearing Room. I was both excited and a little nervous to meet him and wasn’t quite sure who I was looking for. I recall however that I was expecting a sizeable entourage to be accompanying such a distinguished and famous guest. After a few anxious moments I saw a handsome young man in scarlet robes walking across the street towards the building. He was all alone. Somewhat hesitantly I approached him and asked, “Excuse me sir, do you happen to be the Dalai Lama?” With a warm and amused smile, he responded, “Yes, I happen to be the Dalai Lama!”
I can’t help but chuckle every time I remember this meeting. So many things about it embody the qualities that make His Holiness so beloved and revered. His simple humility, his charming wit and humor, his spirit of forgiveness (in this case, forgiving my somewhat silly question) and of course, the way he made me instantly feel loved and at ease.
I know my life has been immeasurably enriched by the friendship I have shared with this great spiritual leader. On this special day, I send him my love and best wishes and I want him to know how blessed we all are that he, of all people, “happened to be the Dalai Lama”.