I had a teacher once, a Tibetan Buddhist who fled from his homeland hoping to escape the shadows of oppression.

The Chinese had advanced their troops, destroying all testaments of his faith. Those who refused to leave were either imprisoned or killed, considered ‘enemies of the state’ by the new regime.

Under the cover of night, he fled along with others through the unforgiving terrain. Ahead the snowy summits of the Himalayas loomed forebodingly in the distance, as the caravan lurched precariously through the 17,000 foot pass.

And, with each new step he was granted the opportunity to choose – “Do I question my faith or find peace within fear?”

“I was still learning,” he smiled, “though I knew the answer to be significant.” That our freedom is defined by the choices we make.

He could have easily found blame or hate, though instead – he kept his heart open.

“When we hate, we become separate,” he said. “And, when we are separate we can never be whole.”

I’ll never forget the time we spent together, and how each conversation lent its light to an undiscovered facet. In my life now, I try always to share his lessons forward – thankful for each step in his faith-affirming journey.

Wishing peace to all today, my loves…

Namaste ❤