McLeodganj: Cricketers suffer from a lot of stress both on and off the field and are in constant need of spiritual guidance to be able to handle it all better. And the weekend saw a lucky few IPL stars meet a spiritual guru who helped guide them towards the path to inner peace.
The players of Kings XI Punjab, Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings and IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi were among those to be blessed by Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in a one-on-one meeting.
The Nobel laureate was a special guest at both the IPL matches played at Dharamsala and watched the games along with several Buddhist monks from his monastery.
On Sunday, His Holiness met the KXIP and CSK cricketers before the game began and presented them with the ‘khata’, a traditional ceremonial scarf. All the players sought his blessing to not only improve their game but also to find spiritual fulfillment.
The Dalai Lama watched the match in the company of Preity Zinta, co-owner of Kings XI Punjab and Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) president Anurag Thakur.
Earlier on Saturday, the players of Kings XI Punjab and Deccan Chargers teams along with IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi had the good fortune of having an audience with the spiritual leader at his official home at McLeodganj.
The players and a host of IPL officials attended a one-and-a-half hour long discourse by His Holiness with the Dalai Lama exhorting the group to look within for peace.
The discourse was followed by a question and answer session in which Yuvraj Singh and others asked questions to the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama also chatted with the players and even told Yuvraj that the only sport he had played was table tennis, once even with a Chinese Prime Minister.
Modi, who had been accompanied by his wife, said he felt enlightened after listening to the Tibetan spiritual leader.
"His teachings are very meaningful and one derives peace of mind listening to him," Modi said.
“I am feeling relaxed after listening to the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama,” Modi said, adding that he “needed the Dalai Lama’s blessings”.
“From today, I shall be a changed man. I could relate to a lot of things he said,” KXIP bowler Sreesanth declared after meeting with the Dalai Lama.
Speaking after his audience with the Dalai Lama, Yuvraj said that the monastery had a very calming effect on him and also that he found His Holiness’ discourse inspiring.
On the aspect of handling the constant stress of winning and performing, he said that though he would still have to grapple with it, he would do so with a calmer mind.
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