--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Floating down the river, I could not keep…" description: "\"“Floating down the river, I could not keep my eyes off the Potala; I knew the Dalai Lama was on the roof looking at me through his telescope. On”\" — He..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/heinrich-harrer-22910_dalai-lama_floating-down-the-river-i-could-not-keep_499923.jpg" --- # Floating down the river, I could not keep my eyes off the… ![“Floating down the river, I could not keep my eyes off the Potala; I knew the Dalai Lama was on the roof looking at me through his telescope. On” quote by Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/heinrich-harrer-22910_dalai-lama_floating-down-the-river-i-could-not-keep_499923.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/heinrich-harrer-22910_dalai-lama_floating-down-the-river-i-could-not-keep_499923.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/heinrich-harrer-22910_dalai-lama_floating-down-the-river-i-could-not-keep_499923.jpg) > ““Floating down the river, I could not keep my eyes off the Potala; I knew the Dalai Lama was on the roof looking at me through his telescope. On”” [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator feels awe and connection to the sacred landscape, sensing the Dalai Lama's presence watching over him. **In simple terms:** Feeling watched by a spiritual leader while traveling. Key Takeaway Recognize the spiritual presence in everyday moments. Themes spirituality travel mindfulness Mood contemplative reverent Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - pilgrimage - mountain trek - cultural immersion Key Concepts presence connection reverence Questions to Reflect On - How does awareness of the sacred alter your experience? - What does the "telescope" symbolize? A Different Perspective The metaphor may be exaggerated, not literal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“Instead of taking in the splendor of the emerging fall colors and the choppy Hudson River, his eyes scanned her face like it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/instead-of-taking-in-the-splendor-of-the-emerging-fall-colors-and-the/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“We were told that the name Dalai Lama is not used in Tibet at all. 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We must love what we do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/for-success-doing-is-not-enough-we-must-love-what-we-do/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [A good model of how to 'work with the enemy' internally is presented by the Dalai Lama, in his endless caretaking of his soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/a-good-model-of-how-to-work-with-the-enemy-internally-is-presented-by/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [I heard about the Dalai Lama, you know and I thought to myself, why not me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-heard-about-the-dalai-lama-you-know-and-i-thought-to-myself-why-not/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [As soon as I began to talk to Dalai Lama, I realized that Chinese and Tibetans from his point of view are mostly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/as-soon-as-i-began-to-talk-to-dalai-lama-i-realized-that-chinese-and/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [In my downtime, you'll mostly find me curled up with a book. 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Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-dalai-lama-when-asked-what-surprised-him-most-about-humanity-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To the Dalai Lama, suffering and adversity are the necessary conditions for developing patience and tolerance. These qualities are vital if we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-chan/to-the-dalai-lama-suffering-and-adversity-are-the-necessary/) Victor Chan > [The Dalai Lama would say that meditation is something that can help everyone. But he's aware that it can be misused or things can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-would-say-that-meditation-is-something-that-can-help/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) ## More by Heinrich Harrer > [“We had learned on the North Face of the Eiger that men are good and the earth on which we were born is good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/we-had-learned-on-the-north-face-of-the-eiger-that-men-are-good-and/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [“The absolute simplicity. That's what I love. When you're climbing your mind is clear and free from all confusions. You have focus. And suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/the-absolute-simplicity-that-s-what-i-love-when-you-re-climbing-your/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [“Rich or poor, all come full of devotion and with no inner misgivings to lay their offerings before the gods and to pray for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/rich-or-poor-all-come-full-of-devotion-and-with-no-inner-misgivings/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [All our dreams begin in youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/all-our-dreams-begin-in-youth/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [“Decades of destruction, suppression, genocide, sterilization, and political indoctrination could not break the Tibetans’ will for freedom, or their deep-rooted religious beliefs. On”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/decades-of-destruction-suppression-genocide-sterilization-and/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [“Tibetans are not famed for their perseverance. Full of enthusiasm at the start, and ready for anything new, their interest flags before long. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/tibetans-are-not-famed-for-their-perseverance-full-of-enthusiasm-at/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [We have a saying in Tibet: If a problem can be solved there is no use worrying about it. If it can't be solved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/we-have-a-saying-in-tibet-if-a-problem-can-be-solved-there-is-no-use/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [“I have always envied the Tibetans their simple faith, for all my life I have been a seeker. Though I learned, while in Asia,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/i-have-always-envied-the-tibetans-their-simple-faith-for-all-my-life/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [“It was inevitable that Red China would invade Tibet, and then there would be no place for us two friends of Tibetan independence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/it-was-inevitable-that-red-china-would-invade-tibet-and-then-there/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [“There are times when visible poverty has its advantages.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/there-are-times-when-visible-poverty-has-its-advantages/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [“What has since happened in Tibet is hardly to be believed. More than 1.2 million Tibetans lost their lives and of about six thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/what-has-since-happened-in-tibet-is-hardly-to-be-believed-more-than-1/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [Fear... the right and necessary counterweights to that courage which urges men skyward, and protects them from self-destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/fear-the-right-and-necessary-counterweights-to-that-courage-which/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [“We were told that the name Dalai Lama is not used in Tibet at all. It is a Mongolian expression meaning “Broad Ocean.” Normally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/we-were-told-that-the-name-dalai-lama-is-not-used-in-tibet-at-all-it/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [Wherever I live, I shall feel homesick for Tibet. I often think I can still hear the cries of wild geese and cranes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/wherever-i-live-i-shall-feel-homesick-for-tibet-i-often-think-i-can/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [“On October 7, 1950, the enemy attacked the Tibetan frontier in six places simultaneously.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/on-october-7-1950-the-enemy-attacked-the-tibetan-frontier-in-six/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) [Explore all 25 Heinrich Harrer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) ## More Dalai lama quotes > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [The Dalai Lama would say that meditation is something that can help everyone. But he's aware that it can be misused or things can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-would-say-that-meditation-is-something-that-can-help/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [“To the Dalai Lama, suffering and adversity are the necessary conditions for developing patience and tolerance. These qualities are vital if we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-chan/to-the-dalai-lama-suffering-and-adversity-are-the-necessary/) Victor Chan > [“The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, he said: 'Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-dalai-lama-when-asked-what-surprised-him-most-about-humanity-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Dalai Lama, these days, encourages Westerners not to take up Buddhism, partly because he feels that our roots are deep in other traditions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-these-days-encourages-westerners-not-to-take-up/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [In my downtime, you'll mostly find me curled up with a book. I love reading biographies. My favourites are those of Dalai Lama, Osama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madhur-bhandarkar/in-my-downtime-you-ll-mostly-find-me-curled-up-with-a-book-i-love/) [Madhur Bhandarkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madhur-bhandarkar/) > [As soon as I began to talk to Dalai Lama, I realized that Chinese and Tibetans from his point of view are mostly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/as-soon-as-i-began-to-talk-to-dalai-lama-i-realized-that-chinese-and/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [I heard about the Dalai Lama, you know and I thought to myself, why not me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-heard-about-the-dalai-lama-you-know-and-i-thought-to-myself-why-not/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [A good model of how to 'work with the enemy' internally is presented by the Dalai Lama, in his endless caretaking of his soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/a-good-model-of-how-to-work-with-the-enemy-internally-is-presented-by/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“For success, doing is not enough. We must love what we do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/for-success-doing-is-not-enough-we-must-love-what-we-do/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“Let Today Be The Day You Give Up Who You’ve Been For Who You Can Become Every day, think as you wake up, ‘Today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/let-today-be-the-day-you-give-up-who-you-ve-been-for-who-you-can/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Buddha's teaching are very simple, you don't have to break your head to understand the message. The part that I like the most from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-martin/buddha-s-teaching-are-very-simple-you-don-t-have-to-break-your-head/) [Ricky Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-martin/) > [“Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back, and reasons to stay.” ~Dalai Lama”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-noelle/give-the-ones-you-love-wings-to-fly-roots-to-come-back-and-reasons-to/) [Erin Noelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-noelle/) > [The Dalai Lama's entire being is about peace and harmony, forgiveness and self-discipline. Those are qualities to be admired. I am really looking forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-nichols/the-dalai-lama-s-entire-being-is-about-peace-and-harmony-forgiveness/) [Joe Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-nichols/) > [ Yet \[Dalai Lama\] has said very strongly that basic freedoms of thought and speech have to be respected in Tibet and they're not at… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/yet-dalai-lama-has-said-very-strongly-that-basic-freedoms-of-thought/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) Browse all 157 Dalai lama quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Floating down the river, I could not keep my eyes off the Potala; I knew the Dalai Lama was on the roof looking at me through his telescope. 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