In the wake of his last two courses here in Spain, and as we were all here at the same time, we decided we would try and take advantage of these few precious free moments in his hectic and busy schedule and try to get some filming done. As we were filming an interview, our gracious hosts allowed us to transform their living room into our temporary studio, bringing in lights and arranging tables, finding the right corner that had just the right amount of beautiful natural light coming in from the large windows looking out onto the Mediterranean sea.
This home has a great sense of welcome and family to it, I have from the moment I stepped foot here felt completely at home, thanks to its owners, and our wonderful hosts Anna, Galu and Maggie Kossowski. Rinpoche also seems to be extremely comfortable and at ease here, as he is in a wonderful mood and energy, smiling from ear to ear as I prepare the cameras and get situated, setting up the microphones, joking with us as he rests poised, ready and energetic - excited to get started.
The filming goes off perfectly, and afterwards I ask Rinpoche if he would be ok if I was to casually take some photos of him while he was still seated in his chair. I rarely get a chance to take some more official shots of Rinpoche, and today seems like a great time as he is looking especially regal and wearing his beautiful purple jacket that truly suits him so well. He agrees, and I spent the next twenty minutes or so taking a photo from time to time as he casually talks with the others, but I was in clear amazement by just how magnetic and witty he was - I had to remind myself to continue taking photos as I was becoming totally engrossed in their conversation and would constantly forget. Everyone was almost falling over each other laughing and joking together, the warmth in this room was really powerful and I could tell that they all had such a wonderful connection together, truly enjoying each other’s company, I really felt very lucky to be here with them, a guest in this space being shared by them together. Rinpoche was simply glowing, not only was his sense of humor and wit totally undeniable, he is such a wonderfully simple, compassionate and conscious man, you can truly feel his attention is completely on whoever he is speaking with, his presence felt in the whole room, yet never overly powerful or dominating in any way, regardless of his great status as a teacher. He is approachable, gentle, kind and warm, he is genuinely interested in all things - we even joke that one cannot impress him as he seems to be truly informed and educated about everything we can think of.
These few moments that I did manage to capture with Rinpoche, this lucky morning basking in the wonderful ambience of this family and friends, I feel like I got to see the truest side of Rinpoche I have had the luck to see. He was glowing, his eyes sparkling and his face full of life and humour, and we all were too, surrounded by his great presence and yet so welcomed into his personal space. Here in the warmth of the Spanish Costa Del Sol, with the wind running through the trees and the ocean at the horizon, one feels like you can simply reach out and touch it from the terrace, this morning spent with Rinpoche as his glowing smile imprints forever on us all, I am feeling so lucky and blessed to be here. Rinpoche is glowing, and his glow will rest with me in my heart, for I will be forever grateful for his allowing me to share these most precious moments with him.
This home has a great sense of welcome and family to it, I have from the moment I stepped foot here felt completely at home, thanks to its owners, and our wonderful hosts Anna, Galu and Maggie Kossowski. Rinpoche also seems to be extremely comfortable and at ease here, as he is in a wonderful mood and energy, smiling from ear to ear as I prepare the cameras and get situated, setting up the microphones, joking with us as he rests poised, ready and energetic - excited to get started.
The filming goes off perfectly, and afterwards I ask Rinpoche if he would be ok if I was to casually take some photos of him while he was still seated in his chair. I rarely get a chance to take some more official shots of Rinpoche, and today seems like a great time as he is looking especially regal and wearing his beautiful purple jacket that truly suits him so well. He agrees, and I spent the next twenty minutes or so taking a photo from time to time as he casually talks with the others, but I was in clear amazement by just how magnetic and witty he was - I had to remind myself to continue taking photos as I was becoming totally engrossed in their conversation and would constantly forget. Everyone was almost falling over each other laughing and joking together, the warmth in this room was really powerful and I could tell that they all had such a wonderful connection together, truly enjoying each other’s company, I really felt very lucky to be here with them, a guest in this space being shared by them together. Rinpoche was simply glowing, not only was his sense of humor and wit totally undeniable, he is such a wonderfully simple, compassionate and conscious man, you can truly feel his attention is completely on whoever he is speaking with, his presence felt in the whole room, yet never overly powerful or dominating in any way, regardless of his great status as a teacher. He is approachable, gentle, kind and warm, he is genuinely interested in all things - we even joke that one cannot impress him as he seems to be truly informed and educated about everything we can think of.
These few moments that I did manage to capture with Rinpoche, this lucky morning basking in the wonderful ambience of this family and friends, I feel like I got to see the truest side of Rinpoche I have had the luck to see. He was glowing, his eyes sparkling and his face full of life and humour, and we all were too, surrounded by his great presence and yet so welcomed into his personal space. Here in the warmth of the Spanish Costa Del Sol, with the wind running through the trees and the ocean at the horizon, one feels like you can simply reach out and touch it from the terrace, this morning spent with Rinpoche as his glowing smile imprints forever on us all, I am feeling so lucky and blessed to be here. Rinpoche is glowing, and his glow will rest with me in my heart, for I will be forever grateful for his allowing me to share these most precious moments with him.
