Smith relaxes after meeting the Dalai Lama

Dharamsala, March 24 (IANS) On the eve of Australia's fourth and final cricket Test against India here, the visiting team led by skipper Steve Smith met Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

After rubbing noses with the Dalai Lama at his temple in McLeod Ganj, the skipper sought advice on how to rest his mind when in the throes of a battle.

"Incredibly fortunate to meet the Dalai Lama and listen to him speak at his temple in Dharamsala today #compassion #oneness #peaceofmind," Smith posted on Instagram.

Smith has been involved in a series of battles on and off field as he leads Australia, scoring two centuries and being the highest run-getter so far with 371 at an average of 74.20.

The series is now locked at 1-1.

Off the field, he has drawn a lot of flak for looking up at the Australian dressing room seeking a nod for whether to seek review of a leg before wicket (LBW) decision in Bengaluru Test, Indian skipper Virat Kohli stopping just short of calling him a "cheat".

The likes of Ishant Sharma have also targetted him, with on-field needling.

It has thus been reported that in India Smith has had sleeping disorders and before the final day of the Ranchi Test where Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb together stitched a 124-run association for the fifth wicket to save the tie for the tourists, Smith could hardly close his eyes.

"His Holiness, do you have any good meditation techniques to fall asleep?" Smith was quoted by Australian newspaper the Daily Telegraph as asking the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama replied: "That I don't know."

"I think indirectly when your mind is at peace, then sleep automatically or naturally comes."

"If your mind is much disturbed and too much anxiety, too much anxious and too much stress and anger of course -- these are very bad for sleep."

"So relax your mind and go there. Usually, I spend nine hours sleeping. Very peaceful. Around 6 p.m. sleep then 3 a.m. wake up. Then at least four hours for some meditation."

Smith recieved blessings from the Dalai Lama and also posted a picture of the pair rubbing noses together.

"He gave me his blessings. We rubbed our noses together," said Smith.

"Hopefully it'll help me with my sleep over the next five days."

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

"It was a great experience for all of us."

"We get over the top sometimes when we are out there playing cricket, but at the end of the day it's just a game and you need to realise that at times. That's something this team can take from meeting with the Dalai Lama," Smith was quoted as saying.