Cliff:

Speaking of Tibet, yesterday was the 70th birthday of the Dalai Lama.

Happy Birthday, Your Holiness!

Here is a transcript of my one and only conversation with The Dalai Lama, at

Westminster Church Hall in 1984, when he was on a visit to England.

JD (initiating handshake): Welcome to England!

DL (shaking hands, making a slight bow): Ah!

JD: I am a member of the Society. [I.e. the Tibet Society]

DL: Ah!

JD: I enjoyed your address very much.

DL: Ah!

All right, it’s not exactly Johnson and Boswell — but how many of you

have shaken hands with a reincarnated Buddha? Hah?