Steve Smith rubs noses with Dalai Lama ahead of India-Australia Dharamsala Test

Dharamsala: The Steve Smith-led Australian cricket team on Friday sought the blessings of Tibetan spiritual guru, The Dalai Lama, at his McLeod Ganj monastery.

Smith was happy meeting apostle of peace as not everyone gets to meet the global leader.

(Photo: AP)

Later, the Australia captain himself revealed that he had asked the noble laureate about how to get a peaceful sleep during a high-pressure Test match.

(Photo: AP)

(Photo: AP)

Asked about the meeting, Smith said: "Yeah, it was great. I asked him (His Holiness) a question about sleep and how he could help me and he gave me his blessings. We rubbed our noses together, and (he) gave me some blessings, so hopefully it’ll help me with my sleep over the next five days."

On a more serious note, Smith said the team learnt all about kindness and compassion.

"It probably relaxes us a little bit. He (Dalai Lama) is all about compassion and oneness for each and every human being. It was great to hear something like that from someone as prestigious as the Dalai Lama.

(Photo: AP)

(Photo: AP)

"It was a great experience for all of us. I guess the one thing that we can learn from it, it's that sometimes we get over the top when we are out there playing cricket.

"It's a tough game but at the end of the day it's just a game and you need to realise that at times. I guess that is something this team can take from meeting the Dalai Lama."

The Australian team proved to be lucky that they got to meet the spiritual leader as the touring England team in 2013 visited the monastery but could not meet him.