Its difficult to sum up how intense, beautiful and affecting this event was for me. For the opening act, Buddhist monks played traditional instruments filling the layer cake-like Music hall with their resonant chants which was pure glory.

Then following this Beautiful, Spiritual and Traditional performance was a line up of two of the most revered Punk Rockers in history- Iggy Pop & Patti Smith- interspersed with with bouts of celebratory glee from the musicians Gogol Bordello- which literally caused people to spring from their seats dancing and clapping like enraptured gypsies- to Regina Spektor’s heartfelt poetic songs pounded out on a baby grand piano.. I have to quickly mention among them were Bajah & the Dry Eye crew and Jesse Smith who also ruled…

This is my actual ticket which was a gift from Smith & Alisa of Bella Cucina. [Thank you!! ]And a flic of Iggy- from where I was shaking in my boots with utter elation-  who was shirt-less and glowing!!

Afterwards Lindsey and I went to the Gotham Hall post-show gathering for food & drinks. We had the tremendous fortune of meeting ‘Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche ‘ who’s table we bellied up to and proceeded to enjoy many laughs and glorious tidbits of Tibetan Buddhist wit & wisdom. The best comment of the evening was in relation to the event …’The Absolute truth is we want peace for Tibet. The relative truth is we all enjoy dinner.’ Well put!!

For more information on the TIBET HOUSE please visit their website or the Cultural Center here in New York. They are truly undertaking so worthy an endeavor. The survival of the Tibetan culture depends on recognition of the current struggles they face and deserves the support [from donations to loving thoughts] of every single person on the earth who values the rich cultural identities of our roots as one Worldly Community.