Welcome
Gate Put to Further Use
 When the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, arrived on campus
for his visit to Smith in May, he passed through a traditional
Welcome Gate specially constructed for his visit by the local
Tibetan community.
The colorful gate, which
was constructed inside the main campus gates next to John
M. Greene Hall, was adorned with special signs symbolizing
good wishes, success, health, happiness and long life.
A Tibetan inscription across the top of the gate read, “On
this auspicious occasion, we are blessed with your presence.”
The Dalai Lama’s Welcome
Gate remained in place for more than a month until it was
disassembled on June 21. The gate was sold to Sonam Lama,
a stone mason in South Deerfield, who is building a large
Tibetan stupa – a Buddhist
religious monument – in memory of his friend the late
Paul “Tiny” Stacy, of Holden, Mass., who worked
to help those in need. Stacy died in 1994.
Sonam is building a stupa at
his recently opened Tibetan Plaza located on Routes 5 and
10 in Deerfield. He expects to finish the structure in about
six weeks. The Welcome
Gate will be used in a ceremony honoring Stacy when the stupa
is completed.
“This will be a beautiful
thing to have in the community,” he
said of the gate.
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