I was photographing everyday during the Kalachakra Teaching
at Saranath, India in December 1990 - January 1991. Here is a
photograph of His Holiness the Dalai Lama entering, near the
stairs of the temple, on the morning in which a “long life
ceremony” was to be given. I believe that after most big
teachings or events, this ceremony is performed at the
conclusion. During these days of photographing I was
dedicated to doing the photography, mainly for the
communications office that I worked under, and only had a little
time to listen to the translations of the teachings. At a different
Kalachakra Teaching several years later, I was able to simply
sit and listen. I remember something that the Dalai Lama said
during the later “Long-Life Ceremony” that I won’t forget. He
said that having a long life is not always a good thing,
especially if it’s a long life constantly engaged in negative or
harmful activities. In that case, His Holiness said that a shorter
life for such a person would be better! He suggested instead
that it makes more sense to concentrate on a meaningful life,
which involves a life of compassionate activity. –So it isn’t the
length, it’s about how you live it.
CYBEReTOWER™ LLC. All text and photographs above are copyrighted by the artist, David F
Shever, all rights reserved.
