I have always felt such a strong connection with him, though we cannot exchange much in terms of words, his sparkling eyes and unbelievably kind heart speaks volumes.
He is a true Bodhisattva, and a living embodiment of Dharmic devotion. There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for him. And so, when I was asked to leave the EC early, drive all night to be back in Prague in time for his book release event and a public lecture - then rush back with him to the EC again - I jumped at the opportunity. The end result was a whirlwind adventure of three days, and some of my favorite photos of Rinpoche to date. The stark contrast between the bright lights of EC and the dimly lit and positively delightful artsy ambience of his events in Prague notwithstanding, these were wonderful and extremely personal moments with him and those close to him, and I feel so happy to have been able to document it. Somehow this small humble man conjures up the absolute best in people, and their joy, love and admiration for him and all that he stands for just melts out their hearts into a puddle on the floor. Grown men crying, children kissing his head, all from just being around him. How could you blame them? The man takes nothing for himself, devotes his entire being to Dharma, and spends every waking minute of his life praying for the benefit of all beings. From the airport to the blessing line, rain or shine, he was unstoppable in his simplicity, his humble nature, and his incredible kindness towards everyone. Riding with Maniwa, the most simple and humble of men, and his enormous heart with room for us all.
