Three years, three walks, and almost 900 miles after the first "March for Tibet's Independence" from Bloomington to Indianapolis, Indiana, the path of individuals walking for Tibet's independence finally intersected with that of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. In a hotel conference room in Fishkill, New York, Thubten Jigme Norbu (Taktser Rinpoche), the marchers for Tibet's independence, and the organizing members of the International Tibet Independence Movement (ITIM) held a private audience with His Holiness The Dalai Lama. There were 25 individuals including Tibetans, Tiawanese, and Westerners present at this audience.

In December 1996, the organizers of the "March" discovered that approximately 40 miles from the planned walking route His Holiness would be giving teachings in Kent, New York. Believing that the close proximity of His Holiness and the walk was quite auspicious, a letter was drafted and sent to Dawa Tsering of the Office of Tibet in New York requesting an audience with His Holiness. However, considering the possible implications of a meeting between His Holiness and and an organization clearly supporting independence, ITIM continued to plan the march uncertain that an audience would be held.

On March 6, the day before the steering committee of ITIM left for Toronto to begin the march, word was received that His Holiness would hold an audience with the marchers for Tibet's Independence. Having received such a blessing, this group of individuals felt greatly inspired, fortunate, and honored. More importantly, the significance of the walk itself was changed.

The morning of the audience the walkers listened to His Holiness in the Great Buddha Hall of Chuang Yen Monastery in Kent, New York. Following the public talk, His Holiness addressed approximately 500+ Tibetans sitting in a large tent behind the Great Buddha Hall. During this talk, His Holiness spoke about the importance of the structure for the democratic exiled government, stating that it must be well built and not just propaganda. His Holiness also stated that the Tibetan issue cannot depend on one person, and if the Tibetans depend only on The Dalai Lama, when The Dalai Lama dies, the future of Tibet would be endangered. His Holiness strongly urged that all Tibetans take greater personal responsibility for Tibet's future.

His Holiness said He had no doubt that China's situation would change and that there is still a chance to protect the Tibetan culture, if something is done soon. Most importantly, His Holiness explained that if He died in-exile and the Tibetans felt the need to find His reincarnation, He would never be discovered inside China's legal and illegally occupied territories and that the 15th Dalai Lama would continue the 14th Dalai Lama's commitment to protecting Tibet's culture, religion, and people. His Holiness also assured that the 15th Dalai Lama would be even a stronger advocate for the Tibetan cause.

Regarding the referendum option of independence, His Holiness mentioned the failed attempt of talks with the Chinese in 1979, reporting that there were no results at that time from the middle way approach. He added that many people, Tibetans and friends of Tibet, think that the middle path is not right. Instead, Tibetans need to struggle for independence and talk about independence. For this reason, His Holiness explained the need for Tibetans to discuss what they want and to make a decision. "People must talk about independence," He said. "That is good. We have the right to ask for independence, but we need to think of our methods to struggle forindependence. Only prayers will not get independence, and only slogans will not get independence." His Holiness stressed that Tibetans must carefully and systematically construct and implement a method to pursue independence.

After lunch at the monastery, the walkers drove to the hotel in Fishkill where the private audience with His Holiness was to be held at 4:30. As the walkers and organizers waited nervously in the conference room, they prepared gifts and arranged themselves in proper rows to greet Tibet's Spiritual and Political Leader. Larry Gerstein, ITIM Director, gave specific instructions on what to do and how to do it. Right on time, His Holiness, His attendents and security, and Dawa Tsering and Rinchen Dharlo entered the conference room. After the walkers prostrated His Holiness, Taktser Rinpoche offered His Holiness a kata and then Rinpoche introduced each of the walkers and organizers. The Tibetans approached His Holiness first, offering their katas and gifts, and receiving katas and photographs autographed by His Holiness. Then each of the Westerners approached His Holiness, doing the same. On behalf of the walkers and the 70+ co-sponsors of the "March," Larry Gerstein then offered His Holiness a recently published

rare poetry book entitled "Rlung," The Wind. This poem was written by Lhagyal Tsering, a 34 year old Tibetan living in Tibet with caligraphy designed by Pema Bhum (a Tibetan in the exile community). The poem described different ways to think about the wind according to the four seasons of the year.

During our audience, the affection shared between His Holiness and Taktser Rinpoche was very apparent, and almost everyone present was brought to tears experiencing the meeting between these two brothers. The most accurate way to describe participating in a private audience with His Holiness, is to simply call it a blessing. However, for the walkers and members of ITIM, being in the presence of these brothers, who each on their own path have dedicated their lives to protecting Tibet and the Tibetans, the meeting held special significance.

After everyone in attendence exchanged katas and were seated, His Holiness asked if there had been any problems on the walk such as illness or blisters. Taktser Rinpoche answered that some people had suffered colds and Kunchok, in particular, had many blisters but they hadn't stopped her from walking.

Then His Holiness addressed the marchers for Tibet's Independence in Tibetan and then repeated in English the following message: "I just want to say with sincere motivation you volunteered to participate in this peace march, and I thank you. I always listen to the Tibetan broadcasts Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America Tibetan Service. So, from time to time, I have heard Taktser Rinpoche and other Tibetans talking about the walk. Especially hearing Taktser Rinpoche's words in Amdo dialect, I am very much moved. So, thank you very much. And for you Americans who are walking and helping, I want to say that, of course, we Tibetans have lost our country and our people are suffering very much, so it is our duty, our moral responsibility to do something. Because of your love of justice and for the Tibetan nation and the Tibetan culture, you Americans have happily joined our movement which we appreciate. Thank you. There is no doubt that Tibetans inside Tibet, when they hear about such a movement like your walk

, it certainly gives them inspiration."