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DHARAMSHALA, India, 15 March 2003
FEMINA magazine, Bombay, India
Supermodel Christy Turlington came to Dharamsala to
interview His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Lobsang Wangyal
put questions to her. We publish the ones she answered.
What brought you to Dharamsala?
I had never met His Holiness the Dalai Lama. And after
hearing of his health and the events of last year,
I felt it was important to come to Dharamsala to meet
him. He represents peace and is a valuable reminder of
it in these less-than-peaceful times we live in.
Robert Thurman (actress Uma Thurman's father) was kind
enough to facilitate this meeting and arranged for us
(NBC and "The Today Show") to have an interview.
How do you feel after your meeting?
I feel blessed to have had an audience with His
Holiness. Everything that he said was rich and
optimistic. He is a supreme model.
Is TV anchoring your new career?
I have always enjoyed many interests and always
welcome an opportunity to challenge myself and try
something new. Journalism offers me an opportunity to
reach many people, as did my modelling career.
What did you enjoy most about being a supermodel?
Travelling the world & it was always educational
and mind expanding.
You are now known for your interest in yoga. What
inspired you to write the book "Living Yoga"?
I began practising yoga in 1987 and have found that it
has affected so much my life that I wanted to share it
with others in a way that is hopefully more inclusive
and practical than other books on the subject. My book
came out in the US in October 2002.
Do you still get angry, sad and frustrated? How do you
handle these emotions?
Of course! Even His Holiness the Dalai Lama admitted
to having these kinds of emotions or reactions to the
world. I have found that yoga is a very helpful in
coping with these emotions and the source of them when
they arise.
What do you know about the Tibetan people?
I know as much as most, and probably less than others.
I have heard many stories of the inhumane treatment of
the Tibetan people that has gone on in Tibet for many
years now. I know that the Tibetan people would like
to return home again to live and practise their
religion freely.
What do you think the world should do to live in
peace?
As His Holiness said in his interview with us, prayer
is the only thing we can do to ensure this now.
What role can you play as a supermodel to ensure a
better world?
All that anyone can do, really. We must work to
improve ourselves and our relationships with others in
whatever way possible, using whatever means necessary.
I do what I can to help raise awareness when I can.
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