… the one who has taught in England since the late 60s, my first teacher, and from Benchen if not the “Benchen Chime Rinpoche” (rather the Radha Lama of Benchen, at the risk of labouring the point), Dave Lawson is again responisible for this picture. In fact I think it was taken on the same occasion as the HH Dalai Lama picture I posted recently.
That’s right taken at the Dalai Lama’s teachings in Nottingham last year. Chime has his pass around his neck.
I got in as a press photographer and as such was initially given permission to photograph for the duration of the several days of teachings. On arrival we were told we were allowed a one time photo shoot as His Holiness walked on stage and took his seat, other photographers said this took a minute or so. Security had been tightened, I think partly due to expected demonstrations from the Dorje Shugden lot. I never saw them but was only there for parts of two days. All photographers were thoroughly searched by a very large, but nice guy, then marched to the stage. I saw Chime who I knew from Leicester where he oversaw Alex’s centre, so I felt I should reintroduce myself. Kneeling in front of him, bedecked with two flashed up Nikons and to the amusement of the other important Lamas and Rinpoches, I told him who I was and I hadn’t seen him since way back when. He smiled, as he does, and said everybody says they haven’t seen him since 1972. I then said I’d like to photograph him so I could send a photo to Alex, he obliged and I took several shots of the Lamas. Chime then asked me what I was doing there, I said I was a photographer these days, but was really just there for the blessing freom being there, Chime then gave me his blessing. By this time the Dalai Lama was appearing on stage, so somewhat blessed out I turned and started photographing, fortunately I got a couple of good shots. Security had given up on me, probably as I had been seen bumping heads with someone on the front row of the grid. His Holiness sat down at which point we thought we had to leave so we started gathering our bags up, it’s OK you can have another two minutes we were told, I was done and so were the other photographers and we all left smiling. After being escorted out I was allowed back into the arena to listen to the teachings, which I snuck out of early to get a good position around the sand mandala the monks of Sera monastry were constructing. Once a photographer always a photographer I’m afraid but I did get some nice shots of them doing it and returned the next day to give them some prints and sell a few pictures of the Dalai Lama as part of their fund raising.
One of the great things photography has enabled me to do is get places and see things, this one one such occasion.
David
Bonjour,
I met Rinpoche twenty years ago in south of France just before
entering a three year retreat.i am happy to look at this photo of him.
Is it possible to write him ?
Bonjour,
as far as I know letters reach him over his centre Marpa House in Ashdon.
If you contact the secretary Louise there, I’m sure you will get an answer.
Good luck and best wishes
Ulrike