BOGH GAYA – The last time West Carleton Online met with Dunrobin’s Arya Landers, she was a juror in a high-profile murder trial. Now Landers is kicking off the New Year with a meeting with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

While her work as a juror was for a role in the Rural Root Theatre Company’s (RRTC) production of 12 Angry Jurors last October in Constance Bay, the chance to meet the Dalai Lama was a real life opportunity – afforded to Landers thanks to another opportunity in theatre.

The Canadian actor is in India preparing for a role as upcoming role as Lady Macbeth, in a Vedic interpretation of Shakespeare’s famous play, Macbeth.

Last week, Landers had the opportunity to meet the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people.

“Yesterday, I had the honour to be officially received by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in Bogh Gaya – the city of enlightenment,” Landers told West Carleton Online in an email interview from Bogh Gaya Jan. 9. “It was a surreal experience.”

The Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso was hosting a Darshan, an opportunity to be in the presence of a holy person.

“He had an intimate Darshan with several Tibetan exiles and a handful of foreigners,” Landers said. “Afterwards, I had the opportunity to meet and speak to His Holiness, at which point in time, I gifted him a poem that I wrote.”

Landers says the meeting was actually an opportunity of being in the right place at the right time.

“The opportunity was quite fortuitous actually,” she said. “I have been travelling with my colleague, Canadian opera singer, Dustin Hiles, in India. This past weekend, we decided to take a pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya, the city of the Mahabodhi Temple, which is over 2,000 years old. When we arrived, we were informed the Dalai Lama was in town for the Buddhist Kalachakra initiations and to comfort the Tibetans in exile.”

Hiles contacted the Dalai Lama office, explained we were Canadian artists visiting Indian, and inquired whether it was possible to attend one the Dalai Lama’a programs.

“We were instead invited to be personally received by His Holiness,” Landers said.

Landers also had the opportunity to speak with the Dalai Lama.

“I did have the pleasure to speak to His Holiness,” she said. “I presented him with a copy of a poem that I wrote about Tibet, while visiting Bodhgaya. Paired with my poem, I also presented a poem from my dear friend and mentor, Melanie White, who is the Department Head of English and Fine Arts at Nepean High School. Meeting the Dalai Lama was such a heartwarming experience. His never fading smile and jovial laugh brightens up even the cloudiest of mornings. He is like that beloved, wise, and compassionate grandfather that you cannot wait to see again.”