Dalai Lama dedicates combined cultural centers

Rainy and cold weather did not deter the hundreds who braved the elements Tuesday to catch a glimpse of the 14th Dalai Lama as he made his fifth visit to Bloomington.\nNearly 300 students, community members and volunteers lined the driveway of the newly named Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center as they awaited the arrival of the Tibetan head of state for his dedication of the new symbolic archway. The archway represents the former Tibetan Cultural Center’s inclusion of Mongolian culture.\nMore than 100 center volunteers dressed in traditional Tibetan costumes waited anxiously for the Dalai Lama’s arrival, including Bloomington High School North senior Jeremy Gotwals.\nGotwals, who was dressed as a “cham” dancer, explained the significance of the volunteer’s costumes.\n“Cham is an ancient art form from Tibet and Mongolia,” he said. “It’s a theatrical, musical element that was around before Buddhism came to Tibet.”\nThe choice of costume was fitting, as the inaugural ceremony incorporated a ribbon-cutting ceremony that symbolized the newly-forged link between the Tibetan and Mongolian Culture Centers, said Lisa Morrison, director of media and public relations for the cultural center.\nVolunteers strung ribbons across the intricate, colorful archway for the Dalai Lama’s dedication ceremony. The colors of the ribbon were symbolic to Tibet and are part of the Tibetan flag, Morrison said. The new archway was designed by center Director Arjia Rinpoche and hand carved and painted by the Gomang monks, she said. \nAs the Dalai Lama’s motorcade approached the center, music of Tibetan throat singers began playing, and the excitement among the crowd intensified.\nCenter volunteers dressed as traditional Mongolian archers raised American, Tibetan and Mongolian flags while others lit strong incense. \nThe Dalai Lama stepped out of the limousine and was immediately swarmed by a crowd of Buddhist monks and Secret Service agents. He approached the monks and accepted platters of blessed rice and flower petals, both symbolic to Tibet and Buddhism, Morrison said.\n“(The rice and flower petals) are a ritual in a meditation or prayer service,” she said. “They represent good health and anything that is positive, as well as having historical and symbolic meaning to Buddhism.”\nAfter he accepted the offerings and drank traditional Tibetan butter tea, the Dalai Lama cut the ribbon to the newly renamed center.\n“This was the first public appearance of the center’s new plan and new name,” Morrison said. “Arjia is Mongolian, and he wished to extend outreach to not only Tibetans, but Mongolians as well.”\nAs quickly as he approached, the Dalai Lama was briskly whisked away by Secret Service. He was only at the archway for less than a minute, but he made a lasting impression on those present, Morrison said.\n“This was really an extraordinary time,” Morrison said. “The cham masks and costumes took hundreds and hundreds of hours to create, and there were 200 to 300 people on the property, but this was such an exciting and historical moment to be blessed and consecrated by His Holiness.”