cc.goldenbuddha-第81部分

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ied　in　their　hands　the　sacred　texts。　
　Next　were　more　horsemen；　four　dozen　in　total；　who　were　also　musicians。　They　played　their　flutes　and　stringed　instruments　while　they　steered　their　mounts　with　their　knees。　The　horse…mounted　musicians　were　followed　by　monks　from　the　Tsedrung　Order；　who　represented　the　government　of　Tibet；　followed　by　children　waving　thin；　pointed；　ornately　colored　flags　that　danced　through　the　air　like　kites　without　tails。　
　To　the　rear　of　the　children　was　another　group　of　horsemen　with　serious　faces；　dressed　in　Tibetan　army　uniforms　of　green　cloaks　and　red　hats。　They　steered　their　horses　a　few　feet　forward；　then　stopped。　A　few　more　feet；　then　a　pause　again。　These　soldiers　carried　the　Tibetan　Seals　of　State。　Just　to　the　rear　of　the　soldiers　carrying　the　Seals　of　State　were　ten　simple　monks；　barefoot　and　dressed　in　yellow　robes。　The　ten　monks　were　humming　loudly。　
　The　Golden　Buddha　came　next。　It　sat　on　a　plain　wagon　pulled　by　a　single　horse。　
　Only　a　few　feet　behind　the　Golden　Buddha　was　the　throne　chair　containing　the　Dalai　Lama。　
　Two　hundred　thousand　Tibetans　lined　the　procession　route　leading　to　Potala。　They　massed　on　both　sides　of　the　cleared　path　through　the　meadow。　The　day　they　had　prayed　and　hoped　for　over　these　last　decades　was　finally　hereand　they　allowed　their　joy　to　wash　across　the　land。　As　soon　as　the　Golden　Buddha　appeared；　the　crowd　went　wild。　
　A　roar　erupted；　and　the　faithful　prostrated　themselves　onto　the　hard　soil；　then　began　to　chant　as　one。　
　The　Dalai　Lama　began　passing　through　the　crowd　and　witnessed　the　tears　of　joy　on　the　cheeks　of　the　faithful。　The　sight　filled　him　with　happiness；　duty　and　honor；　and　it　caused　him　to　smile。　
　Following　the　throne　chair　were　members　of　the　Dalai　Lama's　inner　cabinet；　the　Kasag。　Next　came　the　Kusun　Depon；　the　Dalai　Lama's　bodyguards；　dressed　in　their　black　padded　suits　and　carrying　their　curved　swords。　Following　the　bodyguards　was　the　mander　in　chief　of　the　Tibetan　army；　the　Mak…chi；　and　a　platoon　of　soldiers。　
　The　Mak…chi　and　the　soldiers　were　dressed　in　their　ceremonial　uniforms　consisting　of　blue　trousers　and　yellow　tunics　covered　in　gold　braid。　They　marched　in　slow　and　perfect　cadence；　with　their　boots　making　a　timed　thumping　sound　as　they　struck　the　soil。　Next　were　the　Dalai　Lama's　religious　tutors　and　teachers；　as　well　as　family　and　friends。　
　At　the　rear　of　the　procession　came　a　wagon　with　a　tiger　in　a　cage；　followed　by　a　single　horseman　holding　a　thirty…foot…tall　staff　flying　the　formerly　outlawed　Tibetan　flag。　The　parade　was　both　magisterial　and　magnificent。　It　was　based　on　two　thousand　years　of　tradition　and　strengthened　by　fifty…five　years　of　exile。　The　procession　continued　toward　Potala。　
　
　AT　THE　BASE　of　the　eighty…foot…tall　foundation　wall　of　Potala；　four　hundred　laborers　had　worked　eight　hours　the　night　before　to　build　a　series　of　stone　steps　leading　from　the　edge　of　the　meadow　to　the　top　of　the　wall。　As　soon　as　the　first　of　the　procession　reached　the　lowest　step；　they　parted　to　each　side；　like　the　flow　of　water　in　a　stream　being　split　by　a　boulder；　then　took　their　positions　alongside　the　temporary　stairway。　
　Once　the　Golden　Buddha　reached　the　base　of　the　steps；　the　ten　monks　walked　over；　formed　a　ladder　with　their　arms；　then　carried　the　Buddha　up　the　steps　and　placed　it　on　the　top　of　the　wall。　Then　they　descended　the　stairway　as　the　throne　chair　containing　the　Dalai　Lama　slowed　and　stopped　at　the　base。　On　a　signal　from　the　Dalai　Lama；　the　monks　carrying　the　throne　chair　bowed　down　on　their　knees；　then　swiveled　to　the　side。　Holding　the　throne　chair　only　inches　above　the　ground；　they　waited　until　the　Dalai　Lama　climbed　off　the　chair　onto　the　thick　woven　carpet　that　lay　upon　the　ground。　Breathing　a　sigh　of　relief　as　the　weight　was　removed　from　the　chair；　the　monks　waited　until　the　Dalai　Lama　started　up　the　stairs；　then　they　set　the　throne　chair　upon　the　ground　and　rose　to　their　feet。　
　With　a　soul　seeped　in　tradition　and　divinely　inspired；　the　Dalai　Lama　ascended　the　stairway。　
　Reaching　the　top；　he　slowly　turned　and　stared　out　at　the　crowd。　The　mass　of　humanity　stretched　across　the　meadow　and　onto　the　surrounding　hillsides。　He　bowed　his　head；　then　closed　his　eyes　for　a　moment。　Then　he　spoke。　
　〃I　have　missed　you；〃　he　said　simply。　
　The　crowd；　so　subdued　only　seconds　before；　once　again　erupted　into　cheers。　
　Twenty　minutes　would　pass　before　it　quieted　down　enough　for　the　Dalai　Lama　to　speak　again。　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
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