To begin, anyone who knows me or has read many of the posts on this blog understands that I have the greatest respect for His Holiness the Dali Lama.  I hope that what I say here will not be considered disrespectful, even though it goes against some people’s belief that His Holiness has reached a state of enlightenment that is not influenced by money.

Ever since the Dali Lama established Tibet’s government in exile in the beautiful town of Dharamsala, in a valley at the foot of the Dhauladhar Mountains, one of his greatest supporters has been Analjit Singh, a billionaire who is one of the richest men in India.  He is the former head of Max India, a corporation with extensive interests in health insurance, health care and senior living facilities.  It costs a lot of money to run any kind of government, so Mr. Singh’s financial assistance has certainly been appreciated.

Dali Lama speaking at Vana, April 6 2016 (photo originally from dalilama.com)

Analjit Singh is from the area around Dehradun, a town in another lovely valley that is at the foot of the Himalayas.  His son, Veer Singh (who spends a lot of time here in Colorado – in Aspen, to be more precise), has recently developed the family’s 21-acre Dehradun estate into a wellness and retreat center called Vana.  The center is designed for an elite clientele. With rooms starting at 25,000 Rupees per night ( a little less than US$400), and a minimum stay of five nights, plus extras, even the bare minimum stay, with no spa services, would cost more than the annual income of the average Indian (about 100,000 Rupees per year). A retreat there may well be worth the cost.  The staff includes practitioners of Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, yoga, Reiki and traditional Tibetan medicine (courtesy of the the initial graduates of the Men-Tsee-Khang Institute that was established by the Dali Lama).

Well, Veer Singh decided that it would be nice for the Dali Lama to come by and talk with a few hundred of his close friends and associates. Continue reading →