For our 12th workshop in India, we traveled north to the mountainous city of Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama to work with students at his school for young monks. Working with the students was emotionally challenging, educational and a powerful experience because they expressed and talked about issues that are often suppressed and locked away. 

These young monks were, on the surface, not unlike most other kids, whispering, laughing and joking around. It was shocking to hear some of their stories and to learn of the deep fears and sadness they harbored from the loss of their homeland. One boy was smuggled into Nepal in a suitcase, another risked everything to cross the Himalayas. He left Tibet with other kids, sleeping each day and traveling for fifteen nights, fighting frostbite, starvation, and avoiding the armed Chinese soldiers as they went. It is unimaginable what many of these monks and their families have gone through.

  “I am just a child, I am here to learn how to read books and speak English so that one day I can stand up and protest against China and say, you are wrong. Tibetans are good people, before China came, we had flowers in Tibet, now there are no flowers, there are no trees. The Chinese cut them down, before the air was very clean, now it is full of carbon dioxide and smoke. India is full of good people. I learn Hindi and am making friends here. They are very kind to us. Thank you India." 

In all of them it seemed that from this experience of great loss, flourished a powerful commitment to their cultural heritage and to justice for all life. A great many monks expressed sincerest thanks to India for giving them land in which to seek refuge in their country. Thank you India from all of us.