Brett Garamella

Photo Stories: November 4, 2008

Patricia Palden (in black) and a mother and daughter sit in silence as Patricia's husband, Lama Lobsang Palden, conducts a puja, or prayer, for Barack Obama at the Blue Beryl Dharma Center in the Rogers Park neighborhood. "I've really been waiting for this my whole life," said Patricia, who believes Obama is the best candidate for world peace and a cleaner environment. Five years ago Lama Lobsang moved to Chicago from Tibet. He has been a lama his entire life.
Patricia Palden (in black) and a mother and daughter sit in silence as Patricia's husband, Lama Lobsang Palden, conducts a puja, or prayer, for Barack Obama at the Blue Beryl Dharma Center in the Rogers Park neighborhood. "I've really been waiting for this my whole life," said Patricia, who believes Obama is the best candidate for world peace and a cleaner environment. Five years ago Lama Lobsang moved to Chicago from Tibet. He has been a lama his entire life.