I first encountered the Dalai Lama in New York’s Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum among some cool cats of the past such as frizzy haired Einstein and the fatherly FDR. Drawn-at-first-sight, I was gravitationally pulled to the man dressed in deep amber robes. Despite his likeness being made of cold fleshy wax, I sensed an aura of warmth within a very real presence. Never before could I have apprehended an object wafting off such powerful vibes of compassion and serenity. It seemed as if this figure standing before me had a sense of knowing I could only fathom by thinking of him as a gentler Yoda. Although I had heard little of the Dalai Lama, he made me reminisce of a moment in my life that had been stowed away in the basement of my memory.
I realized this man resembled the exotic Buddhist Monks I had seen exiting the Smithhaven Mall over a year ago. They were rooted in mysterious contentment among the frantic holiday shoppers immersed in their own minds and obligations. They were clad in long orange garb as they briskly, yet eloquently, departed Macy’s through leathery smells of Fendi, Coach, and Gucci. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever witnessed and watched them leave the dim artificial light to continue on a path unknown to me. Tempted to chase after them in my skater kicks, I held back knowing that circumstances wouldn’t serve me well if I ran off and hoped I would get another chance to be among spirits such as this.
Seeing again, the essence of the spiritual, the mystical presence in the Dalai Lama, I didn’t want my chance to slip by as I had let the two men walk by me in the mall. I wanted connection to this sense of knowing. I jotted down his name on a napkin, determined to figure him out.

At this point my research through googled quotes, youtube videos and novels of this the Dalai Lama has lead me to concluded the following; his Holiness is majorly awesome. He is both the spiritual and political leader of Tibet while never appearing bombarded with his responsibility. He sets a good example for his people in following the Buddhist way by being himself incredibly compassionate and happy as a Buddhist should strive and eventually be. While the Dalai Lama has significant messages to convey he does this in a joyful child-like manner. This is what I admire most about him. He is constantly making jokes as well as doing things to make others and me laugh. Whether going against the serious mentality of a conference with a comedic gesture, spotting a bald man in the crowd and proceeding to dub him brother, or asking Bobby Brown for a pen without recognizing the R