Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India, 2 January 2014 - In addition to his public activities, such as the Lam Rim teachings he has been giving, His Holiness the Dalai Lama also meets with people before, in between and sometimes even after the teaching sessions. These may be groups from different places or individual monks and Lamas. Today, for example, before coming to the teaching ground, he met a group of more than a hundred Indian neo-Buddhists and a group of Bhutanese. In both cases he stressed what he often says elsewhere that one of the principal aims of Buddhism is the transformation of our disturbing emotions. To achieve this simple faith is not enough. What 21st century Buddhists need to do is study, which means reading or listening to teachings and thinking about them until you understand them. Both groups took avid interest in his advice.

Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India, 31 December 2013 - For the past week His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been staying at Sera Mey, but teaching every day at Sera Jey. Every day he’s made a short drive between the two colleges. This morning he drove out of Sera Mey in the opposite direction and out onto a plain earth track that brought him to the new Sera Mey Retreat Centre. He had been invited to inaugurate the facility, which consists of a small, simple temple and a collection of retreat houses. He cut the ribbon on the temple door, opened it, entered and paid his respects before taking his seat.

Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India, 30 December 2013 - This morning, the granting of certificates to newly qualified Geshes was completed and the final candidates paid their respects, many of them touching their heads to His Holiness’s throne, and posed in groups for photographs with him. 

Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India, 29 December 2013 - The morning sky over Bylakuppe was mistier as His Holiness the Dalai Lama left Sera Mey Monastery this morning. On arrival at Sera Jey he was greeted by the sight of a kyigu, a huge appliqué thangka of Guru Padmasambhava hanging down the front of a building. Asked to perform a brief consecration, he recited the necessary verses and cast handfuls of rice and flower petals over the lower part of the thangka.

December 27 - An alms giving for 500 Buddhist monks was held at Tangalle yesterday to bestow merit on those who died in the 2004 tsunami, with the participation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Picture shows the President offering Ata Pirikara to the Maha Nayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter Most Ven. Udugama Sri Budharakkitha Thera. Anunayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter Ven. Niyangoda Vijithasiri Thera was also present. 

Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India, 25 December 2013 - Although the entire teaching is taking place in the covered courtyard of Sera Jey Monastery, His Holiness is staying for the first week at Sera Mey. It’s a short drive through narrow lanes from one monastery to the other, but because of the size of the crowd, it’s a relatively long walk from the car to the throne. However, today His Holiness enjoyed interacting with people on the way, catching the eye of an old friend here, waving to another there, and shaking many outstretched hands.

Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India, 24 December 2013 - His Holiness the Dalai Lama set off from Bengaluru for Bylakuppe early this morning. Making good time, his party stopped for a break on the way at Mandya and before setting out again spoke to members of the press. He told them he was going to the Tibetan settlement at Bylakuppe to continue a set of Buddhist teachings he began last year. These teachings, the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment derive from instructions given in Tibet by the Indian master Dipankara Atisha. He expects upwards of 10,000 monastics to attend, as well as Tibetan and foreign lay people. He told the journalists that Tibetans remain hugely grateful to former Chief Minister of Mysore state, as it then was, Siddavanahalli Nijalingappa, who was instrumental in Tibetans being offered land on which they re-established themselves in agricultural communities. In addition to that, Tibetans have been able to re-establish several of the great monastic universities that are currently international centres of learning, attracting students from the Himalayan region, Mongolia, the Russian Mongolian Republics and other parts of Asia in addition to Tibetans.

New Delhi, India, 23 December 2013 - When His Holiness the Dalai Lama entered the hall to undertake the preparatory rituals for the Akshobhya empowerment he was going to give this morning, several hundred Russian students were waiting for him. Sitting before the mandala enclosure and an array of offerings he spent about an hour fulfilling the necessary preparatory rituals. By the time he finished, the hall was nearly full. He told his audience that he would like to continue reading Chapter 6 of the ‘Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life’ until the end of the current section, which meant verse 10, which he often cites for the realistic and practical advice it provides.

New Delhi, India 21, December 2013 - The skies over Delhi were misty and grey as His Holiness the Dalai Lama set out this morning, the Winter Solstice, to drive to the Kempinski Hotel where he was to resume teaching a group of Russian he had begun to teach last year. He was received at the door by Yelo Rinpoche and Telo Rinpoche, his Russian hosts and the hotel managers who escorted him to the ballroom. There 1300 Russians, 20 Chinese and about 120 Tibetans and other foreigners awaited him quietly, their faces smiling in rapt anticipation. Having greeted the audience and the Lamas sitting around the throne, His Holiness took his seat. 

New Delhi, India, 20 December 2013 - For the second day today, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with a Chilean delegation led by 85 year old biologist and philosopher Humberto Maturana, who was teacher and collaborator with His Holiness’s good friend Francisco Varela. He is also the scientist who His Holiness often quotes as having advised him that he tries not to get attached to his field of research because to do so spoils your objectivity.