about my weekend

This weekend I attended the 3-day teachings planned by Tibet House, featuring HH the Dalai Lama. From Saturday until today I spent all day every day listening, praying, trying to absorb every ounce of wisdom this person has to offer.
I can't really describe what happened, but I can say I have been changed.

More than anything, though, I saw someone whose joyous core was apparent for all to see. His sense of humor is wicked, his humility surpising (despite all we know about him) in it's sincerity, his ability to remain completely current absolutely life-affirming.

I also met 2 people, on my first day there, in the Saturday morning 7am line to get in. One of these people also managed to change me. She read me like a book and was generous to a fault with me, someone she had just met.
The most incredible part was that she was not the only extraordinary person I met this weekend. It was just a coming together of hearts.

I had standing room tickets, which at first seemed like an inconvenience, but ended up being a great blessing. The sense of community that developed between all of us, some who had come from Seattle, and even Europe, I think had more than a little to do with the fact that we often had to take turns shifting so we could see the stage, and let others walk through the aisles to get to their seats (or the bathroom).

I don't really think I've understood everything that's happened yet, but I do know I'll be thinking about it for a very long time.