The Karmapa, what to say?

When we entered the room he seemed to be thinking 'Oh great, more people!' We sat down after he put the Katag over each of our heads. Dr. Deborah 'Javita' Chance - the principle of a school for kids at risk in the USA (which means they all bring guns and knifes to school!) - was the first to talk. She told him that she was writing a book on children and enlightenment he raised his eyebrows. He is 26 years old and not allowed outside of his temple because he was a political prisoner of the Chinese, She told him that before she had come she had asked Abbey and I what was most important thing in the world to us, YES! How did you guess? Abbey said CHOCOLATE(!!!)

followed by friends, animals and last but not least family! I said my pony, Lochy, and friends and family. When Abbey told him a smile spread across his face. Javita asked him what was most important thing or things in the world for him. He looked at Javita like she was crazy or silly and said....

'CHOCOLATE'

then family and friends!

We all laughed and Javita asked more questions, like;

For children who have hard life's and are bad because of it how can they help themselves?

He looked around the room and seemed to struggle for the right word he eventually said 'motivation'.

Can the common man reach enlightenment?

No pause just 'yes'.

Have you experienced struggles in your life / how did you cope with them?

He looked confused, he did not understand the word struggle, then after we told him he nodded and said with many pauses, 'don't look at the small things look at the big picture,' then 'humans have funny minds, when you experience hardships you have to think of it as a game, not a funny game a serious game or challenge (or word to such effect).

What is your message for the youth of today?

He paused and looked around the room for awhile, we thought that he did not have a message so we didn't hear him say the answer to her question...

Is enlightenment the process or the destination?

He had a long conversation with his helper, in Tibetan, then his helper answered for him No definitely not the process. It is the destination.

By the time the last questions were being asked the language was making it hard for him, he asked his helper in Tibetan more and more. When we were leaving, before we had a photo he asked a monk something, and the monk ran out of the room. He must have liked Abbey because he made her come and stand in front of him. Javita is tall for a lady and His Holiness must have noticed because he stood on his toes and said ' I am the tallest person here'.

Cheese!

The monk came back with a handful of chocolates! H.H gave Abbey a Ferrero Rocher and me a Snicker bar.

It had to be the best chocolate in the world!

We have kept the wrappers!

We had lunch at the most beautiful garden/temple/restaurant/craft place!

Frances