Even Olympic gold medalists sometimes need a little spiritual guidance.
Judo star Satoshi Ishii made a surprise appearance Thursday at a speech by the Dalai Lama, asking Tibet's exiled spiritual leader for clues on how to achieve peace of mind.
"Hello, I am Ishii," he told the Dalai Lama after joining a queue of people waiting to ask the Nobel laureate questions.
"I had a big turning point, and now I don't know what to do. So I have received advice from many people," said the star, who announced this week that he would switch to the cash-rich world of mixed martial arts.
"After listening to advice, I wonder whether I should make a decision for myself, or I should sometimes yield to the powerful. Please tell me," he asked.
The Dalai Lama replied: "Ultimately, your own investigation — that's most important."