The very air in the room changed. I was sitting with a friend, chatting, waiting for the conference to start. I was interested and a little excited but had no idea that my life was about to change forever.

I looked up and there, slowly making his way across the stage, was this rather short man, dressed in yellow and red robes, actually, it looked almost like a dress, he was stopping every few feet to gently touch head with the monks on stage or to turn and smile out at the audience, bowing. I realized that I was holding my breath and exhaled and then took a deep breath of this rarified air. His Holiness the Dalai Lama had just entered the room and the change that I felt  I have come to associate with his presence. During the next three days I learned about many things (I was attending a Mind and Life conference exploring the effects of meditation on psychiatric issues and concerns). I learned about the impact that persistent meditation can have on both physiological and psychological processes and I learned that there was a whole world of practical gentle wisdom waiting for me.

This all happened many years ago and as I set my foot upon the path I felt like I was coming into a way of being that was  going to lead me into wondrous learning and growth. One of the present manifestations of these events is the Montreal Study Circle.  I came away from that conference excited and wanting to share my experiences with as many people as I could. I had read a few things by the Dalai Lama and now began to search for more. One of the books I found was Ethics for the New Millennium and then I found the website for the Foundation. I am a teacher by heart as well as profession and a study circle seemed the perfect way for me to continue my learning and share it at the same time. I searched for a study circle in my city and was amazed to find that there were none in Canada.   Another deep breath and I decided to start on here in Montreal I have some experience with computers and the internet and thought that a website/blog could be a wonderful way to provide easy communication for  members of the study circle, a place where they could share their experiences, questions and discoveries. I also thought that a web-based site would be a great way to support the group and easily provide access for all members to the many resources that are available around the world.  What a perfect opportunity to combine my love for learning, my growing interest in Buddhism, in His Holiness the Dali Lama and computer technology – I would support my Study Circle with a website/Blog.  The next step was to find the best internet site to host such an endeavor.