Min tibetanska barndom i Zorgay - Life and Culture on the Tibetan ...

"Kondro, get up," called Mother. She roused me the
next morning as the sun prodded everything from its slumber,
beaming throughout Lhasa City. No wonder people call it 'the
City of Sunshine'. Everything was clear <strong>and</strong> fresh under a
cloudless sky. My parents were in a great hurry to visit the
Jokhang, so we went without eating breakfast. The door was
only just opening as we approached.
Putting his palms together, Father said, "See, son! If
your belief in Buddha is true, then just like today, we are not
too early or late, we are perfectly on time."
Seeing the famous statue of the Shakyamuni Buddha,
my parents were so moved that tears of happiness flowed
down their dark, suntanned cheeks, in unison with many other
Tibetans shedding tears of joy, dreaming of a marvelous next
life. They prostrated countless times <strong>and</strong> prayed for the wellbeing
of all sentient beings.
We emerged through the throng to circumambulate
the Jokhang. As others had said, there were many beggars,
one of whom grasped my h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> said, "If you don't give me
some money, I won't let you go."
I tried to pull my h<strong>and</strong> away, but the harder I pulled,
the tighter he held me.
Then I heard Father calling, "Please, Kondro, get up.
You still want to sleep? You'll be late for school. Hurry up <strong>and</strong>
have breakfast."
What a wonderful, impossible dream! This is the only
childhood dream I can remember. Later, looking into the sky, I
said, "Mother, I miss you so much."
▪67▪