Syracuse, N.Y. – The Dalai Lama, a world spiritual leader who typically draws big crowds anywhere he goes, quietly spent this summer at a suburban home outside Syracuse without much of anyone knowing.
His Holiness, as he is called, spent six weeks recovering from knee replacement surgery at the Jamesville home of Sam and Carol Nappi, who have known the 89-year-old Dalai Lama for years.
He departed Tuesday for New York City. Members of the Tibetan Community of North America will gather Thursday at the 19,000-seat UBS Arena to pray for him, according to the Dalai Lama’s website. The exiled spiritual leader of Tibet will return to his home in India Aug. 28.
The Nappis are traveling with the Dalai Lama and his entourage today in New York City, Sam Nappi said.
“His Holiness is a dear friend,’’ Nappi said by text message today. “We keep in touch by visiting (him) in India every few years.”
The Dalai Lama had knee replacement surgery June 28 in New York City. The Nappis arranged for the surgery, working with the Dalai Lama’s emissary, secretaries and physicians, Nappi said.
