Leila Lopes met His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa at a social gathering last evening (September 22, 2012) at New York City on the occasion of the 'Pad Yatra' New York Screening at Asia Society. Pad Yatra is a biopic following His Holiness on an eco-odyssey through Nepal, and a visit of compassion to a Juvenile lock-up at a South Bronx prison.

Part of the many social proceedings were His Holiness's 'Live to Love' foundations' commemoration. The foundation is an international network of non-profits, and spearheads countless charitable projects from green schools to medical clinics. Among the others who attended were Ava Roosevelt, Drukpa Lama Chusang Rinpoche, Fashion Designer Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart, Joshua Katcher and Director Wendy Lee


The Leader of the world's second-largest sect of Buddhism, has been visiting New York City from Saturday, September 22nd to Tuesday, September 25th. His visit coincides with the convening of United Nation's General Assembly, where He will participate in official activities with heads of state, religious leaders, and diplomats and ambassadors.


His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa is the head of the Drukpa Order, also known as the Dragon Order. He has received a United Nations Millennium Development Goals Award for his environmental initiatives, and his humanitarian work includes programs to promote gender equality, establish educational institutions, medical clinics and meditation centers, and rebuild heritage sites in the Himalayas. He is also the founder and spiritual director of the Druk White Lotus School in Ladakh, India, which provides a modern education while preserving local culture to children in the area. He is based in Northern India.