Richard Gere seeks Dalai Lama’s blessings in Bihar

Patna: Hollywood celebrity Richard Gere has come all the way from Los Angeles to Bihar to meet Dalai Lama in Bodh Gaya. Considered one of the most spiritual places on Earth, Bodh Gaya holds special importance as Lord Buddha is said to have attained salvation at the Mahabodhi tree. Gere has met Dalai Lama and according to an official at a Tibetan monastery, the star is here to attend a five-day long religious discourse on Buddhism by the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Spicezee Bureau "Richard Gere arrived in Bodh Gaya Monday evening. Gere is like any ordinary devotee of Dalai Lama. He may be busy in offering prayers, worshipping at the Mahabodhi temple and listening to religious discourses," another official at the Tibetan monastery said. "Gere is in Bodh Gaya as a devotee of Dalai Lama and not as a Hollywood star. He met Dalai Lama," an official close to Dalai Lalma told reporters. Over 50,000 people from all over the world are expected to assemble at Bodh Gaya`s Kalchakra Maidan to hear the discourses by the Dalai Lama. The discourses are being broadcast on FM radio channels in different languages including English and Hindi. Gere, famous for his performance in ‘Pretty Woman’, ‘Runaway Bride’ and ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’, is considered the Dalai Lama`s most high-profile disciple. He regularly visits Dharamsala (headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile in Himachal Pradesh). In the coming five days Richard Gere expects to be enlightened about Buddhism and its teachings. And what we hope is he stays away from ‘kiss’ controversies.