By Chris Snellgrove
| Revealed
On paper, you’d in all probability assume that Star Trek and the Dalai Lama have little in frequent. In any case, the previous is the long-running science fiction franchise created by Gene Roddenberry and the latter is the religious chief of Tibet. Nevertheless, all it took was an episode of The Subsequent Era to carry the very best of each worlds (so to talk) collectively. Whereas filming the Star Trek: The Subsequent Era Season 3 episode “The Ensigns of Command,” Trek producers and actors bought to satisfy the Dalai Lama’s entourage, they usually even took an image with Knowledge actor Brent Spiner.
Star Trek & The Dalai Lama
That is one story that was very almost misplaced to time however was, satirically sufficient, found because of a time journey film. Whereas engaged on an article about Star Trek: First Contact, Salon author Jeff Greenwald started listening to rumors that the Dalai Lama had visited the set of The Subsequent Era. It was a fairly wild rumor, however the intrepid reporter knew that this well-known monk owned a telescope as a child and was keen on cosmology as an grownup. On condition that, it wasn’t that a lot of a stretch to think about him as a fan of TV’s most influential sci-fi franchise.
Essentially the most thrilling a part of this rumor was the declare that when he personally visited the Star Trek: The Subsequent Era set, the Dalai Lama posed for an image with Brent Spiner, greatest identified for taking part in the android, Knowledge. Greenwald had almost run out of how to run this rumor down when he obtained an surprising present. An unnamed Voyager staffer had heard concerning the reporter making an attempt to place this story collectively and mailed the unique picture slide to him through FedEx.
As soon as Greenwald bought the picture, he found that the rumors had been solely half-true. The picture actually does present the Buddhist monk’s entourage touring the set of Star Trek: The Subsequent Era and taking an image with Brent Spiner (who was in full costume and make-up as Knowledge), however there was no signal of the Dalai Lama himself. On the time, Greenwald thought it was a fairly truthful guess that this iconic spiritual determine have to be a fan of The Subsequent Era and that his busy schedule merely saved him from personally touring the set.
Whereas Jeff Greenwald needed to work very exhausting to acquire this charming picture, many Star Trek followers had a a lot simpler time seeing this image of the Dalai Lama’s entourage. That’s as a result of the picture was included on the UK VHS launch of “The Ensigns of Command.” If you happen to didn’t have these tapes from throughout the pond, although, this picture is kind of the shock, and it continues to please followers who newly uncover it annually.
Whereas Gene Roddenberry was very cautious of together with faith in Star Trek, newer exhibits like Unusual New Worlds have explored the extra religious aspect of this well-known franchise. Because it seems, although, even the golden age of Trek was interesting to at least the Dalai Lama himself.
And this surprising intersection of sci-fi and spirituality actually lived as much as the franchise motto, boldly going the place Roddenberry’s dream had by no means gone earlier than.
Supply: Salon
