People parked between the Wood Valley crossroads and Pahala, some walking as far as 3 to 4 miles, as if they were on a pilgrimage, to see the Buddhist leader and international spokesman for peace.The details for the one day visit were multi-faceted. Assisted by a dedicated team of volunteers, the logistics of the visit were coordinated, along with renovation of the lama's quarters and construction of a new room for His Holiness. Monks' quarters, a new office, store and expansion of the meditation center dining area were also built in a period of ten weeks. Nechung Choktrul Rinpoche, Thupten Ngodrup the Nechung Medium, and several monks from Nechung and Namgyal Monasteries came especially for the visit.

Upon his arrival at the temple, the Dalai Lama was greeted in the customary Tibetan manner - the road and pathways were lined with colored banners and auspicious symbols, monks played ceremonial horns and His Holiness was escorted up the stone stairs to the temple under a golden parasol. Tea and sweet rice were offered in the main hall, followed by the recitation of Refuge and good fortune prayers. In an afternoon audience, His Holiness remarked on how he felt like he 'was coming home' when driving up the road to the temple. His discourse follows:
 

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