Yesterday Lama Ole had just arrived on stage, and was connecting with the giant crowd in his usual spirited way. I somehow knew that he was going to say something really funny so I crept up to the front, right next to him. Then I stood up, just inches from his face and raised my camera. He immediately turned and looked directly at me. Just staring into me through the camera with his piercing blue eyes, almost daring me to see if I would start to shoot. And so I did. He started laughing and making jokes to the crowd of thousands behind me, who’s eyes were already beginning to burn holes in my back, standing up there alone at the front with nothing but my camera to hold on to. He was taunting me and supporting me at the same time; looking to them, back at me with a huge grin, them again, roars of laughter, a game of cat and mouse in front of 2000 people at a Dharma course. Finally he gave me one last smile, a big thumbs up, and started to teach. I was really touched. I could see that even with a massive crowd of thousands eager for his every word, he was willing to spend a few priceless moments with me. He let me try. He let me do my crazy work. He let me capture his unique and charismatic genuineness best seen close up. Alone in a crowded room, he showed me his full support for my will and courage to just get it there and go for it.
Lama Ole Nydahl Europe Center
