Pope Francis: The New World Pontiff

"The Pope has a great responsibility towards his followers, and I hope he can finish what he started until the last breath of his reign. We need a leader who will resolve the issues that created trouble and confusion among his people. May His Holiness remain to be strong at all levels so he will be able to act on duties vested in him."

A few days ago, the conclave started electing a new pontiff to lead the Catholic Church. 115 Cardinals from around the world gathered in the Sistine Chapel to vote for whom they think can guide and lead a billion followers. After several voting attempts, a new Pope was finally declared. 

A humble man from Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was chosen by his fellow Cardinals to be the successor of Pope Benedict XVI, who declared his resignation last month. At the age of 76, he will be the guiding light of the faithful toward their spiritual path. 

His Holiness will be officially addressed as Pope Francis after he has chosen the papal name as his title. He was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi and decided to adopt it as his designation. I hope His Holiness will uphold the reputation of St. Francis as an icon of humility and peace. 

As a Christian, I adore St. Francis for his life stories and holiness, and I love to sing the prayer made in his name; The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis could be like him and radically transform the Catholic church. 

It would take willpower and great love for the Pope to reform the church against controversies that are left unresolved. However, like the late Pope John Paul II, Pope Francis has the charisma and heart for improving Christian values and will be able to influence people regardless of faith and religious beliefs. 

The Pope has a great responsibility towards his followers, and I hope he can finish what he started until the last breath of his reign. We need a leader who will resolve the issues that created trouble and confusion among his people. May His Holiness remain to be strong at all levels so He will be able to act on duties vested in Him. 

'The Pope' not only shows greatness as a title, but it is a great responsibility and accountability to uphold. I highly admire and respect 'The Pope' as my source of inspiration and religious wisdom and 'The Pope' who believes and teaches people that 'There is A Certain Holiness in You.'. 

The world is becoming more materialistic as we reach the modern age, but we must strengthen our spirituality and faith in our Divine as the ultimate source of life. We have a lot to improve, and there are 'Nature and Sources of Power' in the fulfillment of our Divine self-ministry.

I am grateful that now we have a new Pope that will lead us to Christ. He is our spiritual Father living on earth, chosen by his people. He will guide us and needs our support and prayers for spiritual devotion and evangelization.  


© 2013 Del Cusay

Meeting The Dalai Lama in New Delhi

"Meeting, The Dalai Lama is a rare opportunity and truly a blessing. His spirituality and compassionate nature give hope and faith to the people to appreciate life and realize that there is certain holiness in you.  It is for us to discover our 'Dharma' or life purpose and live in the holiness of our being."


Today was another great opportunity. I have met and attended His Holiness The Dalai Lama's teaching in Buddha Jayanti Park, New Delhi. Just a few days ago, I was blessed to travel -- 'Meeting The Dalai Lama in Dharamsala and attending'Meeting The Dalai Lama in Dharamsala and attending his lecture about 'Jataka Tales' which is about the story of Buddha's birth and rebirth. Today, he addressed thousands of attendees about 'The Three Principal Aspects of The Path,' significant to the Tibetans-in-exile and everyone present regardless of nationality and creed.

Most of the crowd are Tibetans, followed by Indians and some foreigners who are followers of The Dalai Lama. After falling in line towards the venue's entrance, it was good that I found a seat at the back which is more comfortable than sitting on the ground like my previous experience in his lecture in Dharamsala. Some people in groups are sitting on the lawn while others are busy roaming around organizing the event.

Image from: Tibet.net

At the entrance, people are welcomed by Tibetan ushers, and walking on the path are blossoming colorful flowers around. The chirping of birds and the vibrant surroundings relax the senses. Even rabbits and flocks of swans in a pond are visible and have been taken good care of. Walking further are some hilly pathways with petals scattered on the aisles, which are made especially for welcoming His Holiness. The weather is warm but tolerable since it is not the official summer yet. His lecture in Dharamsala was cold, while in Delhi, it was good weather for me since I like the tropical season.

As the open ground was about to be filled with attendees, The Dalai Lama and his entourage walked towards his elevated podium while greeting people with his smiles. This time there were no chanting ceremonies by the Namgyal monks before his lecture, which started at around 2 pm. The good thing about his speech was that an interpreter translated every part of The Dalai Lama's lecture into English for the benefit of the non-Tibetans. This is better since the previous lecture in Dharamsala was delivered in Tibetan, and only those with an FM radio could hear the English translation. 

However, if the same thing happened in the previous experience, I do not worry since seeing the Dalai Lama for me is enough, and I did not mind the language he used in his lecture. Still, since there was an English interpreter, I felt more grateful and happy that I understood his message better. It was also good to hear The Dalai Lama tried speaking in English to make his point. He still cracks some jokes accompanied by his world-renowned laugh and smile to uplift people's spirits. 

Being the living Buddha of compassion, the Dalai Lama has made his teachings as meaningful and lively as possible. Even though it was a long time sitting, it was not tiring, and one could feel his loving and compassionate energy toward the people. His teachings include human suffering, happiness, and enlightenment which is still significant today. 

According to His Holiness, the primary cause of suffering is discontentment. People of today are becoming more materialistic and want something more despite having enough already. Nevertheless, happiness can be attained by contentment and satisfaction with everything. The feeling of 'having enough' and being spiritual at the same time can be an ultimate source of internal happiness and peace of mind. 

Image from:  tibet.net

Likewise, a person can become happier and experience less suffering if enlightenment is achieved. In Buddhist philosophy, spiritual tools like prayer, 'The Power of Meditation,' and selfless services to people are indispensable in attaining a happy, fulfilled, and enlightened life'The Power of Meditation,,' and selfless services to the people are essential to achieve a happy, fulfilled, and enlightened life in Buddhist philosophy. 

Although I am a Christian, this principle is relevant and meaningful. We can learn these things from the Buddhist perspective of living. 

At the end of The Dalai Lama's lecture, he thanked everyone for making the event possible and successful. It was followed by his recessional ceremony going back to his destination. Before he finally vanished into sight, I met him up close while he waved his hand to the people who signaled his blessings. 

Meeting The Dalai Lama is a rare opportunity and truly a blessing. His spirituality and compassionate nature give hope and faith to the people to appreciate life and realize that 'There is Certain Holiness in You.'. It is for us to discover our 'Dharma' or life purpose and live in the holiness of our being. 

© 2013 Del Cusay

Meeting His Holiness The Dalai Lama in Dharamsala

"My experience with meeting The Dalai Lama is one of the most unforgettable moments. His simplicity and compassion for the people made him a great name in the history of Spirituality. His message of enlightenment  is significant in today's time and truly a timeless piece of wisdom dedicated to mankind and the future of the world."

For a few days since I arrived in Dharamsala, I have been accustomed to the unique culture and tradition of the people, most especially the Tibetans-in-exile living in Mcleod Ganj. It is a vibrant community with spiritual people living serenely in the cold breeze of mountains beneath the Himalayas.

Although the Tibetans of Mcleod Ganj have been living in an asylum for several decades, they have still tried to preserve their culture and improve the living conditions of the thousands of refugees. They may be far away from their motherland, but they are fortunate for the achievement of freedom in exile. I have found peacefulness and spirituality in this sacred place in The Land of the Tibetans in Dharamsala: Closer to Heaven. 

The simple way of living of the Tibetans is genuinely admirable. They remain content with the blessings they receive and make the best effort to develop their lives utilizing the valuable teachings and philosophies of their Spiritual teacher and leader, His Holiness, The 14th Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama, vested with the authority to rule his people, has shown the capacity to lead and transform the lives of the Tibetans in exile. At his age, The Holy Man still has the energy and vigor to protect his people and become a man of love and compassion that the world has known.

The Dalai Lama, the head of state of the Tibetans, is the most popular and respected Buddhist monk, yet His Holiness describes himself as a simple monk chosen to lead by the Tibetan people. He is not secluded in the hill station of Dharamsala since He is a well-traveled man. He has met a lot of foreign dignitaries for spiritual and peace talks and received numerous awards and recognition from all over the world, including the Nobel Price Award for his peaceful means of fighting for the sovereignty of Tibet against Chinese communist rule.

The central teachings of His Holiness are for humanity to live in simplicity and contentment while cultivating a loving and compassionate nature. I am not a Buddhist, yet his instructions are beyond religion. It is still relevant to everyone regardless of religious beliefs. It is merely a universal philosophy that was started by a Holy man in the conquest of enlightenment thousands of years ago.

I read some of The Dalai Lama's books in Delhi last year. One of my favorites is the book "The Art of Happiness," about the four noble truths. Reading his works encourages people to live a better life, find inner peace and happiness, and seek enlightenment in a troubled world.

Since visiting The Dalai Lama's temple on my first day of the visit, I have known that he will lecture on the 25th of the month about the teachings from the "Jataka Tales." It is a story based on the life and rebirth of Buddha. There was no registration for this event, so I attended for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet The Holy Man.

The Tsuglagkhang Complex

A day before his scheduled lecture in Tsuglagkhang temple, I had the chance to visit some places and the nearby sightseeing in Mcleod Ganj. From the place I am staying at, Snow Crest Hotel in Naddi Village, it took me a half-hour trek to reach the 4 km distance to Mcleod Ganj. On the way, I was delighted to see the natural wonder of Dal Lake and pass by the Tibetan Children's village, just a few-minute walk from the lake. For the second time, I visited The Dalai Lama's temple to pass around the prayer wheels and to observe the monks in their afternoon rituals. The temple was busy preparing for tomorrow's event, and many pilgrims started to arrive, so I took some 'Kangra tea' at the famous tea house--moonpeak espresso cafe, as recommended. I did not wait for the sunset and returned to the hotel to reserve my energy for the next day's event.

On the 25th of February, I woke up early to prepare and go to The Dalai Lama's temple. The cab driver, upon request, picked me up at 5:30 a.m. and reached the temple before 6 am, just a few minutes before sunrise. The guard at the entrance was strict; no cameras or cellular phones were allowed inside. I left my things in the nearby coffee shop and carried a handbag with a notebook and a pen for taking notes. The man in the shop was so kind, and I told him to get it as soon as the lecture was finished.

Now that I was free from restricted gadgets, I passed by the two security checks before heading to the Namgyal monastery just above the checkpoint. I went to the right section to find my seating place reserved for English-speaking people. When I found the right place overlooking the Holy Man without barriers, the monks gathered, and pilgrims worldwide were excited to see The Dalai Lama.

The residence of The Dalai Lama 

At around 6:20 a.m., The Dalai Lama is set to leave his residence for his processional ceremony. The monks and pilgrims, including myself, were rushing to the nearest place where the Holy Man would pass by going up to the Namgyal Monastery, which is adjacent to his residence. As the procession started, he was guided by the Namgyal monks and guarded by the security men. The entourage followed the footstep of the Holy Man, who waives his hand to greet the thousands of people gathered in his temple.

The Dalai Lama and other monks performed an early morning ritual of sacred chants and mantras for about an hour and a half. At 8 a.m., His Holiness and his entourage went down and proceeded to his lecture place, an elevated rectangular platform with Tibetan decorations. Another 20-minute chant and mantra were observed before The Dalai Lama lectured in the Tibetan language at 8:20 a.m.

The whole complex is filled with an audience, mostly Tibetans, who understood the message very well. Some have brought an FM radio since the lecture is also translated into the English and Chinese languages in a specific radio frequency. I did not have one, so I just listened to the original message in the Tibetan language. The Dalai Lama's voice was clear and calm, and he even cracked a joke with the crowd.

The Namgyal Monastery

The lecture ended at 10 a.m., followed by a recessional returning to his residence just a few meters away. The audience witnessed the Holy Man's last walk before he was gone out of sight. The people along the aisles were lucky to have shaken hands with The Dalai Lama while others started walking down the temple to return to their respective places or destinations.

My experience with meeting The Dalai Lama is one of the most unforgettable moments. His simplicity and compassion for the people made him a great name in the history of Spirituality. His message of enlightenment is significant today and truly a timeless piece of wisdom dedicated to mankind and the world's future.

The Dalai Lama is committed to serving humanity, not just the Buddhist Community. The world has constantly been changing, and there is no such thing as permanence. The Dalai Lama is a Holy man, but ordinary people can achieve enlightenment given that There is Certain Holiness in You.

I am grateful for another day full of learning and energy. I hope to see His Holiness The Dalai Lama at another time if given another opportunity. From now on, what is important is to live with the message of love, compassion, and inner peace--The Dalai Lama's way.


© 2013 Del Cusay