An Audience with Kundun

Tsangyang Gyatso, the young Sixth Dalai Lama, finished his most pressing audiences by late afternoon. His head throbbed. He rose abruptly from the Snow Lion Throne, causing all the attendants to scatter.

Though reluctant to stop him, Puntsok Wangpo, his chamberlain, felt obligated. “Your Holiness, I’m so sorry, but there’s one more person to see you—”

“Who’s this last person?”

“A woman. She’s most insistent. I told her to go away, but she refuses. She’s not on the list, and she might cause a commotion. I defer to you on how you’d like to handle this. I’ve already had your attendant, Ugyen, remove her from the premises once, but she shouted. She says she’s the wife of a cousin to your groom, Tenpa.”

Just then, Tsangyang could hear a woman weeping and pounding the door. Since Tsangyang had already risen, he walked toward the door himself. “I’ll invite her in.”

But before he could do so, the door flew open. He saw a woman slap Ugyen and spit on him. Ugyen was about to scold her when he saw Kundun (a respectful title for the Dalai Lama).

“Your Holiness!” Ugyen bowed, falling to his hands and knees, head touching the ground. The woman, in the midst of a stream of litanies, turned and saw Kundun before her.

She ran, clasping Tsangyang’s feet and touching her head on them. “Your Holiness, Kundun, please help me!”

Tsangyang helped her up. Her apron was threadbare and soiled, her hands strong from doing manual labor. He placed the fallen strands of her tied hair behind her ears. “What’s happened? Please, come in. Sit down.” Tsangyang took her hand. “Wangpo-la, please bring us some tea.”

She wiped her face on her sleeve, extremely embarrassed. The Dalai Lama still held her hand. She never imagined meeting him in person. He was so handsome. He became even more so because he clearly cared totally about her welfare. His eyes were soft and shone.

Standing in his presence, she seemed bathed in his light. She immediately relaxed. “Your Holiness, I’m the wife of Tenpa’s cousin. I would never bother you, but I thought—since Tenpa always speaks so highly of you—that you might help me.”

She wrung her hands. “My husband’s missing. His name is Tashi. Something bad has happened. He’s usually a good-for-nothing, but he always comes home at night. He hasn’t for three days now…. We fought.”

“Will you tell me your name, wife of Tenpa’s cousin?” Tsangyang touched her hand again.

“Kelsang…”

“Do you mind my asking what you fought about?”

She began to weep, a mixture of anger and regret. “We fought about a stupid thing—he gave me a ruby; I don’t know where he stole it, but I know it was stolen. I said he must make an honest livelihood and not continue being a thief, and he told me he was fed up with me and I’d be sorry if I talked to him that way, then he stormed out. I haven’t seen him since….”

Tsangyang could tell she wasn’t giving him the whole story. He now grasped that Tenpa’s behavior when they returned to Hlasa was linked.

“Have you mentioned this to Tenpa yet?”

“He insisted I not bother you. I’m sorry to take your time, Your Holiness.”

Tsangyang turned to Puntsok Wangpo. “Please bring Tenpa here.”

Tsangyang saw how only one part of her hair was streaked white, the rest still black. Her cheeks were weathered and ruddy from the sun. She had bruises across her arm and a cut on her brow where a scab had recently formed. He pointed to her bruises. “I’m glad you came. What happened?”

Puntsok Wangpo brought tea, reluctant to serve the woman. Tsangyang took the tea, serving her himself. She was overwhelmed when he insisted on putting the tea bowl into her hands.

She drank his blessings, speaking between tears and catching her breath. “He’s been up to no good. Whatever he was up to was also no good for you.” She reached into the fold of her chuba, placing her hand under her breast. Opening her hand, she showed Tsangyang the ruby. “I can’t take this; anyone seeing it would think I’d stolen it. I’m not asking you to find him. But I miss Tashi. He wasn’t all bad, just so stupid. He gets himself in trouble all the time! I never knew I could miss him. Your Holiness, please forgive him if he’s harmed you.”

“How did you get the cut and bruises, Kelsang-la?”

Kelsang put her hand over her brow. “Nothing…”

“I’m sure it was something.”

Her face contorted between anger and despair. She started slowly and then spoke as if she couldn’t speak fast enough. “Some men came looking for him. Big men. They spoke Tibetan, but strangely. They were dressed like merchants. I didn’t think they were. They shouted, ’Where’s Tashi?’ I said I didn’t know where he was. I told them to take the money. I took out a small bag of money and handed it to them. I told them they could take everything I had, but to leave me alone. They did some things—to me. I…fought, but…then they killed my dog because he was barking too loudly. I heard his neck…. They laughed. Then they saw the ruby. They looked very upset and left. They didn’t take it. One of them grabbed me by the neck and said that I mustn’t say anything to anyone. I’m not easily scared. Even though…they took me, I will have my revenge…. As they were leaving, I heard Tenpa’s name. I was worried the two of them got messed up in something. Tenpa got angry with me—he said that he wouldn’t have anything to do with people who came to offend His Holiness. I would never try to offend you, Your Holiness! I’m sorry for what Tashi may have done to you. I’m sorry I made so much trouble outside, but no one would listen to me.”

She wiped her eyes. She was an intelligent woman.

Tsangyang said a little prayer and blew it on the ruby. “I’m very sorry to hear of how you have been treated, and about your dog. Let’s see if we can find any news regarding your husband.” Tsangyang placed the ruby back into her palm. “Keep this for now until an inquiry is done. If your husband indeed did acquire it legitimately, it would be useful for you. Perhaps Tenpa can help—”

“—I don’t know Tenpa very well, Your Holiness. My husband talks to him. They always meet at the tavern.”

“Well, perhaps this might be a good time to get to know each other better. He might help find your husband.”

“Thank you so much, Your Holiness. May you live a very long, happy life.” She pressed the gem to her face. Kelsang had already decided that she would never sell the ruby, even if she died of starvation.

Tsangyang saw that when she stopped crying and had overcome her anger, she must have once been beautiful. Hardship had made her lips turn downwards.

Tenpa couldn’t conceal the expression of disgust on his face when he saw Kelsang. She wore her stained apron and looked disheveled, dirty, and bruised. He felt embarrassed for her, yet envious that Kundun had given her an audience without his own help.

“Tenpa-la. Kelsang-la has explained to me the unfortunate disappearance of your cousin, Tashi. Please help her find him. Since it’s nearly mealtime now, she can join you. The two of you might think of some places that we might look for him. Do take good care of her—she’s had a hard time. She needs the support of what family she has.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.” Tenpa had great difficulty gesturing to Kelsang to escort her out. He seemed repulsed by her very presence, unwilling to accept her for who she was.

Tsangyang watched them leave, suspecting they might quarrel out of earshot.

Kelsang took one last look back at the Dalai Lama. She knew it was disrespectful to think that way, but she was totally smitten by Kundun and wished she could give him a kiss. She pressed her chest where she had tucked the ruby to make sure it was close to her.

Tsangyang watched Tenpa walk a few steps in front of her and then turn back to hurry her up. His scowl turned into a smile when he saw Kundun looking at them.

♦

From The Magical Adventures of the Sixth Dalai Lama: His Life and Loves, by Annie Bien and Robert A.F. Thurman. © 2025 Tibet House US. Reprinted with permission.