Airship Stowaway

A Surprising Discovery

Joanna stared at Lopsang in confusion. "Oh, is that who that was? We didn't actually speak. He was about to say something, but you all interrupted us."

"It doesn't really matter, as His Holiness cannot speak English," said Lopsang gently. 

"Oh!” Was she supposed to call him His Holiness? “I’m sorry," said Joanna. "I didn't mean to offend!"

Lopsang smiled. "I know. You could not know how we refer to His Holiness. But you do now."

Joanna had heard the Dalai Lama mentioned many times in her conversations with Deepak and the other novices who could speak English, but she had never realised that the ruler of Tibet and the master of the Potala Palace was a five-year-old boy. But if he had been identified as the Dalai Lama’s emanation when he was a year or two old, then it was quite possible for this to be so. 

Lopsang was still looking at her expectantly. Joanna suddenly realised he had not really explained what had happened. "I was... practicing something, and His Holiness was suddenly just there. It was only moments before you all arrived."

Lopsang looked thoughtful. "His Holiness has been known to... leave his entourage before; but usually it happens because someone is suffering in pain, or struggling with a great burden." He turned to Joanna. "I do not wish to pry, but is that true of you?"

Joanna tried to make light of the question. "Doesn't the first of the Four Noble Truths say that life is suffering?"

Lopsang nodded, a wry smile lifting one corner of his mouth. "Indeed, that is one of the translations offered."

He became more serious.  "But I've never felt that to be quite correct. To me, life can be challenging at times, but it is not constant suffering. When you do feel great pain or despair, it is not usual or normal."

Lopsang looked directly into his eyes. "The truth is that I feel guilty. I have not made sure that you are being looked after, as I promised you would be when you came to us. I have been meaning to come and see you, but I am very much afraid that His Holiness has had to intervene because I have been remiss."

Joanna frowned. "Is that what the other two monks were saying to you?"

Lopsang nodded gravely. "I am afraid so, yes."

"Oh, Lopsang!" Joanna didn't quite know how to start. "Of course it has been hard for me to be away from home. But Deepak and the other novices have been kind to me, and I have found some solace in my work."

"I am very glad to hear that," Lopsang replied, his face softening. "Speaking of work, how is it with Gansung?"

Joanna looked away. "It's all right," she said. 

"Because I know Gansung can be a... demanding individual." 

"I can't really say anything."

"Joseph, your loyalty does you credit. But if you are very unhappy because of Gansung, then I need to know."

Joanna felt caught. she didn't want to break Gansung's confidence, but she could see that by not telling Lopsang, she would allow Gansung to be suspected of wrongdoing. That would surely be worse than betraying a trust. She decided to tell Lopsang about her secret training. 

Lopsang listened gravely, and then he smiled calmly. "Joseph, you have done the right thing. Some of the monks who practice the old martial arts believe they do so against our wishes, but in fact it is a harmless pastime. So no action that will be taken because of what you have told me. And I can see how for you it would be of benefit. "

Joanna shook her head. "But it won't! I can't do it, and Gansung will stop teaching me!"

Lopsang smiled fondly. "My dear Joseph! If you have managed to convince him to start, I doubt he will be easily stopped. But I can offer you some advice..."

Many minutes later, after Lopsang had left, Joanna sat cross-legged in the centre of the hall with her eyes closed, and imagined herself moving as Gansung had done. She saw herself as if she were watching a film. Over and over she did it, until the vision was bright and clear in her mind, balanced and sure-footed and devastatingly fast. 

Then she followed the next step in Lopsang's advice, and imagined herself stepping into the image in her mind, becoming the Joanna she saw, and feeling it in her body. She felt the moves flow out of her, easily and effortlessly, as if time was standing still, and she and the movement were a single thing, the only thing in the universe. 

Joanna opened her eyes, and stood up. She faced the front of the hall, and let her awareness spread out, so that instead of looking at a single spot, she seemed to see the entire hall in a single blended view of sight, spatial awareness, and sound. 

Lopsang had told her to stop trying to control her body, and instead to just become the movement. She felt time stopping again, felt herself becoming one with everything, and then she began.