Tashi Delek

Tashi delek is a Tibetan greeting which means "blessings and good luck." Another translation is "May all auspicious signs come to this environment." Thus far on this journey we've had many auspicious signs.

After arriving at McLeod Gang in Upper Dharamsala, greeted by colleagues and friends at Pema Thang Guest House, the weary travelers had a good nights sleep. On Thursday we spent most of the afternoon and evening at the Sara campus where two Emory programs are in session: the Emory Tibet Science Initiative with Emory science faculty, at the invitation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (HHDL), teaching modern neuroscience and physics to the Buddhist monks; and the Emory Summer Study Abroad Program in Tibetan Culture for undergraduates. Both programs are extremely engaging, and we were quite pleased to join the proceedings.

All of us (students, faculty, staff, and monks) came together the following day for a special audience with His Holiness, who spent an unprecedented 90 minutes with us. I was privileged to bring special greetings on behalf of Emory. Luckily the proceedings were filmed, which I hope to be able to post at some point. In the presence of HHDL, we signed a joint agreement between Emory and the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, further establishing important partnerships.

Following these meaningful moments, we enjoyed a lunch kindly hosted by the Institute for Buddhist Dialectics. Our magnificent day was made even more complete by a special dance performance at TIPA, the Tibetan Institute for Performing Arts, then a delicious dinner.

Our friends, colleagues and hosts have been extremely gracious to us. And the weather has been most accommodating. We are looking forward to returning such auspicious hospitality when His Holiness and his entourage return to Emory next fall.