For anyone following along here. I talked to Loralyn today and she had made it safely to India. She, in theory, left India for London and is in the air as we speak. She is supposed to land at Heathrow at about 11:55 pm our time, so unless she blogs from the airport we probably won't hear from her until tomorrow afternoon when she lands.
She sounded quite well but very tired. It is impossible for her to sleep at the airport as she is sitting with all of her bags and they pop in every few minutes announcing boarding and make sure that you hear them.
Her next flight is about 9 hours so hopefully she will get some rest on the flight! And I think she is pretty sure there will be very few more coach flights on these long trips. Very uncomfortable for such a long time in the air.
She has one bag that is quite oversize. The maximum amount of total inches l+w+d is like 62 and her bag is 96ish. So far she didn't have any trouble on JetLite but lets hope Brittish Airways doesn't give her any problems either! Looks like a $200 penalty if she has to pay for the large bag! Ouch!
Tim
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
My friends
Dechen and I were teasing each other. Got a good shot of her while playing keep away with my camera. I had to put my camera in my bra to keep her from deleting this picture.
Dechen's father and I. He thought it was so great that I could take a photo of both of us.
Ani and I. She is such a treasure! She loves it when I call her my friend!
This is the 'other' Dechen. She always wears this shirt. So cute! Although she was embarrassed at how grubby she was.
My friend, Ani!
September 29, 2008 8:45 p.m.
Last night in Nepal. At least for a while. What a trip! To sum it up into 2 words… beyond imagination! So many new experiences, so many lessons! I will leave the wrap up of the trip write up for later.
Today was a whirlwind day of course! Got up late, said goodbye to Tom who was leaving today, headed into Boudha.
I ordered some pictures for Lama-la and the monks. I then hit the net real quick like for a chat with Tim. Then I tried to find a suitcase around the Stupa, no luck.
I ran back to the monastery and tried to pack a bit better. Not much luck or hope for getting it all neatly packed away, but I could do it… maybe. Lama-la, Dechen, and I headed out. They went into the Home Ministry complex for their passport renewals while I sat in the truck and knit on Anna’s hat. I finished it up while I waited for them.
Then Dechen and I headed back. We nabbed Anna and had lunch together. We were supposed to eat at a fantastic momo restaurant, but it was closed!!! So we went to another place and their momos were not very good. My stomach has been cramping since then.
Anna and Dechen returned to the monastery and I decided to do some last minute errands. I went and picked up the photos. I then had coffee and waited a bit for my shirts to be ready. It was absolutely pouring by this time. I decided to stop and buy an umbrella and I found a super large bag to replace my duffel. I hope there isn’t a size limit on your bag sizes… this thing is huge! Ani has been joking that she’s going to come to the U.S. with me in my bag. She could definitely fit into this one. I really don’t want to pay extra for an oversized bag! Like really don’t want to! Money is all gone. I mean, all gone!
I headed back to the monastery and repacked my stuff. Now I have room for an entire store more of things… hehehe. Which is good as Lama-la has been throwing gifts at me left and right. And it means that I will have to carry fewer bags. But this bag is so hurkin’ I’m not sure how I will carry it at all. It’s like 2 feet wide by 4 feet long!
I wove in some ends on some hats I had knit and then went down for puja. Puja got started really late as the monks were late in returning back from their other puja
I gave Lama-la the hats and Dechen told me that Lama-la would bless my thangkas first thing in the morning so that I could finish packing them.
Tomorrow I hope to get up early. Pack a few more things. I’m all packed except for last minute things like toothpaste, electronics, etc… Have Lama-la bless my things. Get on the net and chat with Tim for a bit. Then come back and say my goodbyes. And then head to the airport where I will begin my stress-free event-free journey home. Amen!
Today was a whirlwind day of course! Got up late, said goodbye to Tom who was leaving today, headed into Boudha.
I ordered some pictures for Lama-la and the monks. I then hit the net real quick like for a chat with Tim. Then I tried to find a suitcase around the Stupa, no luck.
I ran back to the monastery and tried to pack a bit better. Not much luck or hope for getting it all neatly packed away, but I could do it… maybe. Lama-la, Dechen, and I headed out. They went into the Home Ministry complex for their passport renewals while I sat in the truck and knit on Anna’s hat. I finished it up while I waited for them.
Then Dechen and I headed back. We nabbed Anna and had lunch together. We were supposed to eat at a fantastic momo restaurant, but it was closed!!! So we went to another place and their momos were not very good. My stomach has been cramping since then.
Anna and Dechen returned to the monastery and I decided to do some last minute errands. I went and picked up the photos. I then had coffee and waited a bit for my shirts to be ready. It was absolutely pouring by this time. I decided to stop and buy an umbrella and I found a super large bag to replace my duffel. I hope there isn’t a size limit on your bag sizes… this thing is huge! Ani has been joking that she’s going to come to the U.S. with me in my bag. She could definitely fit into this one. I really don’t want to pay extra for an oversized bag! Like really don’t want to! Money is all gone. I mean, all gone!
I headed back to the monastery and repacked my stuff. Now I have room for an entire store more of things… hehehe. Which is good as Lama-la has been throwing gifts at me left and right. And it means that I will have to carry fewer bags. But this bag is so hurkin’ I’m not sure how I will carry it at all. It’s like 2 feet wide by 4 feet long!
I wove in some ends on some hats I had knit and then went down for puja. Puja got started really late as the monks were late in returning back from their other puja
I gave Lama-la the hats and Dechen told me that Lama-la would bless my thangkas first thing in the morning so that I could finish packing them.
Tomorrow I hope to get up early. Pack a few more things. I’m all packed except for last minute things like toothpaste, electronics, etc… Have Lama-la bless my things. Get on the net and chat with Tim for a bit. Then come back and say my goodbyes. And then head to the airport where I will begin my stress-free event-free journey home. Amen!
Flight Home (from Tim)
So, for anyone who is interested. I talked to Loralyn last night, my time, at around 8. She was in a bit of a dither over suitcase space. Might be some trouble if she can't buy bigger ones. That is one of her main missions, and getting her tools blessed by Lama Wangdu.
I checked on her flight and all are ontime. As of right now, at 5:36 pm our time, she has less than 9 hours left in Kathmandu, on this visit. (You will return baby!)
Following is a breakdown of her gruelling flight schedule:
Leave Kathmandu at 240Pm local time 1:55 am Seattle time
Arrive in DELHI INDIA 355Pm local time 3:10 am tuesday Seattle time
Leave Dehli at 210Am local time Wednesday 1:40 pm Tuesday Seattle time
Arrive in London 655Am local time Wednesday 11:55 pm Tuesday Seattle time
Leave London at 1255Pm local time 5:55 am Seattle Time
Arrive in Seattle at 230Pm and we are on the same day and time...hehe.
Send her energy for peaceful flights and that she gets some rest! She has some killer layovers. Especially the one in India where she will be back in her prison for 10 hours!
But when she gets home she can rest! Yeah, right...that'll happen.
She gets home on Wednesday, Thursday is healing circle, Friday is game night with CBMC, Sunday is a COAST meeting, Tuesday is YAD201, Wednesday is the counseling class, then the next weekend she goes away for a planning retreat. She comes back from that and....maybe takes part in some D&D for PPD on Friday and or Saturday, Drumming circle, another counseling class, then the next weekend she flies to Virginia for a week...ok enough. I get tired just typing it and I am sure you get the idea. What an amazing woman I am married to!
Just two days left....two days! And she will be in my arms....
Tim
I checked on her flight and all are ontime. As of right now, at 5:36 pm our time, she has less than 9 hours left in Kathmandu, on this visit. (You will return baby!)
Following is a breakdown of her gruelling flight schedule:
Leave Kathmandu at 240Pm local time 1:55 am Seattle time
Arrive in DELHI INDIA 355Pm local time 3:10 am tuesday Seattle time
Leave Dehli at 210Am local time Wednesday 1:40 pm Tuesday Seattle time
Arrive in London 655Am local time Wednesday 11:55 pm Tuesday Seattle time
Leave London at 1255Pm local time 5:55 am Seattle Time
Arrive in Seattle at 230Pm and we are on the same day and time...hehe.
Send her energy for peaceful flights and that she gets some rest! She has some killer layovers. Especially the one in India where she will be back in her prison for 10 hours!
But when she gets home she can rest! Yeah, right...that'll happen.
She gets home on Wednesday, Thursday is healing circle, Friday is game night with CBMC, Sunday is a COAST meeting, Tuesday is YAD201, Wednesday is the counseling class, then the next weekend she goes away for a planning retreat. She comes back from that and....maybe takes part in some D&D for PPD on Friday and or Saturday, Drumming circle, another counseling class, then the next weekend she flies to Virginia for a week...ok enough. I get tired just typing it and I am sure you get the idea. What an amazing woman I am married to!
Just two days left....two days! And she will be in my arms....
Tim
Sunday, September 28, 2008
September 28, 2008 8:45 p.m.
Well, my time is short here. Very short! I am missing so much of this place already!!! Today I was thinking about home and this place. I was talking a while back with one of my teachers about how I didn’t think I could move away from Washington. He had said that we lived in a unique area where we were cradled between the ocean and the mountains. This is the first time in my life where I feel that same cradled feelings, except this time I am being cradled by mountains on all sides.
I have not seen the actual Himalayans. It is the wrong time of the year for that. The fog/clouds are hiding the true mountains behind the mountains you see in so many pictures. I am sure they are breathtaking!
This morning as I was doing kora, just a refresher for those who have forgotten kora is when you say prayers or mantras while walking around the Stupa, a large procession joined up with me. This procession was led by monks playing trumpets and then a long line of monks following.
After I finished kora, Tinley (the Tibetan teacher) joined me for coffee as I waited for the power to come on so I could get on the net. Tinley said that the monks had just finished their summer retreat and this procession was a way to announce they were completed. It was wonderful to walk with the monks.
I returned to the monastery to find that Tom had been by and had grabbed Ani to extract 2 teeth that were very infected. I watched as Kunga and Dechen’s father placed incense, mantras, and mandala offerings within statues. I then helped Dechen package up the tsog. Then it was lunch time and Tom joined us.
I then went out with Tom as he did some quick shopping. He is hoping to return home tomorrow. We met up with his lama, Lama Kunga. He was a very nice man and spoke English to some extent. There was another monk with them named Tenzing. He spoke English very well.
Tom had a huge ziplock bag full of toothbrushes he wasn’t sure what he was going to do with so I made the comment that he could hand them out while shopping. He thought that was a great idea and gave me the task of handing them out. It was so much fun!!! It felt so wonderful to hand them out to children. I had a gaggle of kids following me for quite a while. They were very excited by them.
I decided to remain in Boudha as Tom headed off to do some other tasks. Bad idea! Tim had mentioned that he would like some Free Tibet items. Well, the monsoon rains kicked into high gear. At home, this would be flash floods! Many of the shops had packed up a lot of their stuff so I didn’t have a whole lot to choose from. I got him a couple embroidered t-shirts, a couple flags, stickers, and a magnet. I then ran to my café and got a mocha as I waited for the rains to calm down a bit.
I then ran back to the monastery as it is a bit of ways off and I didn’t want to hike through the rains in my tank top. I finished watching the movie I had started the day before while working on a hat for Anna. I hope I can finish it in time. I’m not even 1/3rd of the way done with it yet. I hope to knit on it a bit more.
Then during dinner Lama-la was asking some questions, like who is from what lineage. He asked if I was from Ngingma (sorry about the spelling). I answered “I’m from Lama-la.” He thought that was pretty funny.
I may or may not be on the net tomorrow. Lama-la is doing puja elsewhere tomorrow morning and Dechen asked me to ride with them, she’ll drop him off and she is going to get her passport renewed. Then we are going to get momos. Yeah! Tomorrow evening my shirts will be finished.
At some point I need to have Lama-la bless them and the thangkas. And I need to give my dana (offering) for inviting me to stay with him. I have to finish packing as well. Wish me luck! Not sure I’m going to be able to pack it all! And I remembered tonight I have more stuff than I remembered as I have my damaru, bell, dorje, wooden tea cup that Lama-la gave me and a few other things in the gompa that I need to pack. Gompa is the ritual area.
Have I told you how much I love Tibetan puja? They begin the puja by blessing their instruments each time. I love that!
Tomorrow is my last day here. Oh my goodness! I don’t know where the time went! I still haven’t taken down the photos to get printed yet. I have to do that tomorrow some time. If I don’t I will have to have them printed at home and pay a fortune for it. I am only printing a couple for the monks. But I said I would so I really need to do that.
I reviewed my flight information. Ugh! I have a 10 hour layover in Delhi and a 6 hour layover in London. Not good! And none of my flights are scheduled for when I should be sleeping to get back on U.S. time so that stinks. I think it is funny how I’m leaving London around 1 p.m. and land in Seattle around 3 p.m. and my flight is almost 10 hours long.
Anywho, it is getting late here and I have to get up early. I won’t be knitting any tonight, just some mantras and then to sleep for me. 4:30 a.m. comes awfully early!
I have not seen the actual Himalayans. It is the wrong time of the year for that. The fog/clouds are hiding the true mountains behind the mountains you see in so many pictures. I am sure they are breathtaking!
This morning as I was doing kora, just a refresher for those who have forgotten kora is when you say prayers or mantras while walking around the Stupa, a large procession joined up with me. This procession was led by monks playing trumpets and then a long line of monks following.
After I finished kora, Tinley (the Tibetan teacher) joined me for coffee as I waited for the power to come on so I could get on the net. Tinley said that the monks had just finished their summer retreat and this procession was a way to announce they were completed. It was wonderful to walk with the monks.
I returned to the monastery to find that Tom had been by and had grabbed Ani to extract 2 teeth that were very infected. I watched as Kunga and Dechen’s father placed incense, mantras, and mandala offerings within statues. I then helped Dechen package up the tsog. Then it was lunch time and Tom joined us.
I then went out with Tom as he did some quick shopping. He is hoping to return home tomorrow. We met up with his lama, Lama Kunga. He was a very nice man and spoke English to some extent. There was another monk with them named Tenzing. He spoke English very well.
Tom had a huge ziplock bag full of toothbrushes he wasn’t sure what he was going to do with so I made the comment that he could hand them out while shopping. He thought that was a great idea and gave me the task of handing them out. It was so much fun!!! It felt so wonderful to hand them out to children. I had a gaggle of kids following me for quite a while. They were very excited by them.
I decided to remain in Boudha as Tom headed off to do some other tasks. Bad idea! Tim had mentioned that he would like some Free Tibet items. Well, the monsoon rains kicked into high gear. At home, this would be flash floods! Many of the shops had packed up a lot of their stuff so I didn’t have a whole lot to choose from. I got him a couple embroidered t-shirts, a couple flags, stickers, and a magnet. I then ran to my café and got a mocha as I waited for the rains to calm down a bit.
I then ran back to the monastery as it is a bit of ways off and I didn’t want to hike through the rains in my tank top. I finished watching the movie I had started the day before while working on a hat for Anna. I hope I can finish it in time. I’m not even 1/3rd of the way done with it yet. I hope to knit on it a bit more.
Then during dinner Lama-la was asking some questions, like who is from what lineage. He asked if I was from Ngingma (sorry about the spelling). I answered “I’m from Lama-la.” He thought that was pretty funny.
I may or may not be on the net tomorrow. Lama-la is doing puja elsewhere tomorrow morning and Dechen asked me to ride with them, she’ll drop him off and she is going to get her passport renewed. Then we are going to get momos. Yeah! Tomorrow evening my shirts will be finished.
At some point I need to have Lama-la bless them and the thangkas. And I need to give my dana (offering) for inviting me to stay with him. I have to finish packing as well. Wish me luck! Not sure I’m going to be able to pack it all! And I remembered tonight I have more stuff than I remembered as I have my damaru, bell, dorje, wooden tea cup that Lama-la gave me and a few other things in the gompa that I need to pack. Gompa is the ritual area.
Have I told you how much I love Tibetan puja? They begin the puja by blessing their instruments each time. I love that!
Tomorrow is my last day here. Oh my goodness! I don’t know where the time went! I still haven’t taken down the photos to get printed yet. I have to do that tomorrow some time. If I don’t I will have to have them printed at home and pay a fortune for it. I am only printing a couple for the monks. But I said I would so I really need to do that.
I reviewed my flight information. Ugh! I have a 10 hour layover in Delhi and a 6 hour layover in London. Not good! And none of my flights are scheduled for when I should be sleeping to get back on U.S. time so that stinks. I think it is funny how I’m leaving London around 1 p.m. and land in Seattle around 3 p.m. and my flight is almost 10 hours long.
Anywho, it is getting late here and I have to get up early. I won’t be knitting any tonight, just some mantras and then to sleep for me. 4:30 a.m. comes awfully early!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
September 27, 2008 8:05 p.m.
I am blogging only for my baby tonight. Why? Because I know he counts on my blog, otherwise I would be asleep right now. It is so hot right now and I am so worn out. Beyond exhausted. Delirious I believe.
And I didn’t get up till 6:45 a.m. and I took a half hour nap this afternoon. And I didn’t do much all day. And my stomach is hurting!!! Doubt I have travel sickness. Just think something I ate didn’t quite agree with me. Time will tell though.
Got up, went to the internet café, ordered a mocha and hashbrowns. Definitely not like mama makes them. Hehehe. More onions and bellpeppers than potatoes and it was sautéed almost like a stir fry… Good though. Then um… I think I did something but I don’t remember.
Then I came back and started packing up some of my stuff. Kinda worried about getting it all home safely. I still wanted to pick up an item or two, but may need to skip them because of lack of space.
Oh yeah, I went by the tailor and ordered another wool apron, shirt to go under my chukpa, and a silk puja shirt…
I read a bit, did my practice, napped, picked up my thankga, started watching a movie and knit a bit, then went to puja. Ate dinner, now blogging, then sleeping!!! Maybe sleeping before I even get to bed. You never know!
I will tell you more stuff later. Good night!
And I didn’t get up till 6:45 a.m. and I took a half hour nap this afternoon. And I didn’t do much all day. And my stomach is hurting!!! Doubt I have travel sickness. Just think something I ate didn’t quite agree with me. Time will tell though.
Got up, went to the internet café, ordered a mocha and hashbrowns. Definitely not like mama makes them. Hehehe. More onions and bellpeppers than potatoes and it was sautéed almost like a stir fry… Good though. Then um… I think I did something but I don’t remember.
Then I came back and started packing up some of my stuff. Kinda worried about getting it all home safely. I still wanted to pick up an item or two, but may need to skip them because of lack of space.
Oh yeah, I went by the tailor and ordered another wool apron, shirt to go under my chukpa, and a silk puja shirt…
I read a bit, did my practice, napped, picked up my thankga, started watching a movie and knit a bit, then went to puja. Ate dinner, now blogging, then sleeping!!! Maybe sleeping before I even get to bed. You never know!
I will tell you more stuff later. Good night!
Friday, September 26, 2008
September 26th, 2008 8:30 p.m.
I wish I could describe the beauty of this place! There is a primal beauty here. As I do kora in the mornings around this magnificent Stupa, I am often pestered by little boys begging for money and/or food. As I continue around, I see calves and full grown cows sitting next to benches as the old treasures, the men and women who have been aged by grace, sit and talk. I continue around and I see dogs that look like they are barely alive. Being eaten alive by fleas and scabies and who knows what else as their skin barely covers their rib cage. And I continue around as merchants say prayers, light incense, and give offerings in hopes that today will bring enough money for them to feed their families. And I continue around and walk ever so slowly next to a hunchbacked monk who may have one tooth in his head, but is muttering mantras faster than I can even decipher it.
As I walk back to the gompa, I travel along treacherous paths. This morning I walked a path that was less than 12 inches wide with an 18 foot deep hole on one side and a concrete path over 20 feet below me on the other side. I timidly climb this hill, but knowing in great safety that this is not my time to go. Why? Because there is a great peace this place brings to you. It is ok if it is my time, but I know it isn’t. I still do my ‘woohoo’ dance though when I safely make it across the road.
As I write this, an old Tibetan couple sits with Lama-la. I have never seen so many beautiful people in my life. The deep lines in their brown skins. Turquoise dripping from their ears. Maybe some teeth, maybe not. I want to just sit with them. Hold their hands. Like Ako, the old monk that lives here. Oh how my face lights up each time I see him. He is a vision, such grace and beauty!
Tears come as I think of leaving this place. I miss my family, but this place sinks in deep to your soul and I hunger for more of it and I haven’t left yet.
Enough of the whimsy. I was saddened today that I could not be with my baby as I know he struggled. It was a long day at work. He had a bit of troubles there. I know that our finances worry him and I know how much he loves my support and care. On top of that we received some bad news about his oldest son. I know it is throwing him into turmoil. His oldest son is 16 years old and we don’t hear from them very often. His ex-wife does not tell us anything about them and has tried her best to keep them sequestered from us.
Until today, Jake (Tim’s son) was arrested for theft. He is most likely addicted to drugs. This comes to us as a great shocker as we have not heard anything about any hint of anything other than he is a great musician, loves outdoor sports, and is a wonderful, obedient child. I am not saying he isn’t wonderful. He has such a beautiful heart and is truly awesome.
Today as I did kora I prayed that he might open like a lotus flower. That he might find great compassion. That he might… awaken. I pray this for all of my children each day as I do kora, but I had forgotten about my other 2 children. Tim’s boys are my boys. I want to fly to Idaho this minute and hug him. Hold him. To let him know he is loved beyond imagination.
I want to do this for my baby as well! To let him know he is loved! Beyond understanding! To let him know that things might appear difficult, but I have faith. I have faith in him. I have faith in our path. I have faith that this life is a great blessing. I know he knows this, but sometimes it is good to hear again.
I am feeling very philosophical today. Well, everyday in this great land of beauty. In this great land of suffering. Maybe I am more at peace today. Ok, so let’s get down to what I did today, lol!
I woke up before dawn. I showered and what not and headed down to morning puja. By this time, the sun was peeking out and lighting up the morning sky. Anna helped me with a couple of questions. I decided to type out all of my Buddhist practice and have it bound together for ease. It is so much cheaper here for copies, printing, and binding that it made sense to do it now instead of later. The whole thing cost me about $1.
I headed into Boudha meeting a ngakpa that comes to our monastery for all day pujas. We chatted a bit and then we crossed over the road work. A bit scary. I remembered to walk home a different way to avoid the various work that is happening around the area. I got on the net and learned about Jake while chatting with Tim.
I purchased some malas to sell at the Center. Rosewood as that is one of the cheapest natural materials here. Sandalwood would have been nice, but also 6 times the price. I then had my practice printed and bound.
I went in for a blessing with Lama-la. I had my mandala and water bowls blessed as well as my new mala.
Then Anna and I headed out for Tomel. We picked up my thankga and left the one she gave me so that it can get the brocade. One of the men will deliver it tomorrow at 3 p.m. I can’t wait! I’m not sure when I will have them blessed by Lama-la. I also purchased some dvds on Tibet and 2 music cds. And I purchased 3 pairs of pants and 2 shirts in bright and fun colors. Buying clothes here isn’t easy since they are made for very small people. There are plenty of overweight people here, but they have all of their clothes custom made. Even if I was to be at a perfect weight, clothes shopping would still be difficult!
We had lunch with one of Anna’s friends. We shopped a bit for carpets, but I didn’t find anything I liked. So we came back. I headed up to my room and finished my practice for the day. Then it was time for evening puja, dinner, and here I am am.
Day after tomorrow Dechen and I are going to try to go out to lunch together. That will be tricky as she tries to be here to attend to all of Lama-la’s needs. I tell her every day that she is going to miss me so much that she’s going to cry. Which probably isn’t even close to the truth as her sister arrives the day after I leave for a visit. But then she’ll miss me, I know it.
Yesterday, or maybe the day before that, the monks told me that I was their sister. I thought that was so sweet until I learned that if I’m their sister than I have to do everything they ask of me and buy them everything they want. So no, I’m not their sister. They can be very naught, demanding little things. I will be their friend. Lol!
As I was in a hurry today, I brought my laptop down and started working on typing things up during puja. Oh my! I caught their attention. I have seen very few laptops as nice as mine here and only foreigners have them. To be truthful, I have not seen any as nice as mine. If an internet place has laptops, they are really old, thick, monstrosities.
I noticed even Kunga walked past me a couple of times to take a look. Some of them sat and watched the whole time and I was just sitting and typing. Not even in English, I was typing in what they call Roman here. Roman is the Tibetan texts written so that English speaking people can read it. Not phonetically either. So English speaking people can sort of read it with practice.
Maybe tomorrow I will purchase some little supplies. Like incense. They have amazing incense here! Tons of bulk herbs, like juniper and cedar. Sitting in huge gunny sacks all over the place. Tom tells me that you can buy a large bag of it for cheap. So I might do that. Not sure what I will do tomorrow. I think Lama-la and Dechen might be gone in the morning for a bit and I think tomorrow might be a holiday for the monks. It is holiday for most people so about a quarter of the shops won’t even be open tomorrow.
Not that all I can think to do is shop. It is something to do and will such little time left I don’t have a whole lot of options. Especially with holiday tomorrow.
Well, I am going to end this here. Much love and Medicine Buddha!
As I walk back to the gompa, I travel along treacherous paths. This morning I walked a path that was less than 12 inches wide with an 18 foot deep hole on one side and a concrete path over 20 feet below me on the other side. I timidly climb this hill, but knowing in great safety that this is not my time to go. Why? Because there is a great peace this place brings to you. It is ok if it is my time, but I know it isn’t. I still do my ‘woohoo’ dance though when I safely make it across the road.
As I write this, an old Tibetan couple sits with Lama-la. I have never seen so many beautiful people in my life. The deep lines in their brown skins. Turquoise dripping from their ears. Maybe some teeth, maybe not. I want to just sit with them. Hold their hands. Like Ako, the old monk that lives here. Oh how my face lights up each time I see him. He is a vision, such grace and beauty!
Tears come as I think of leaving this place. I miss my family, but this place sinks in deep to your soul and I hunger for more of it and I haven’t left yet.
Enough of the whimsy. I was saddened today that I could not be with my baby as I know he struggled. It was a long day at work. He had a bit of troubles there. I know that our finances worry him and I know how much he loves my support and care. On top of that we received some bad news about his oldest son. I know it is throwing him into turmoil. His oldest son is 16 years old and we don’t hear from them very often. His ex-wife does not tell us anything about them and has tried her best to keep them sequestered from us.
Until today, Jake (Tim’s son) was arrested for theft. He is most likely addicted to drugs. This comes to us as a great shocker as we have not heard anything about any hint of anything other than he is a great musician, loves outdoor sports, and is a wonderful, obedient child. I am not saying he isn’t wonderful. He has such a beautiful heart and is truly awesome.
Today as I did kora I prayed that he might open like a lotus flower. That he might find great compassion. That he might… awaken. I pray this for all of my children each day as I do kora, but I had forgotten about my other 2 children. Tim’s boys are my boys. I want to fly to Idaho this minute and hug him. Hold him. To let him know he is loved beyond imagination.
I want to do this for my baby as well! To let him know he is loved! Beyond understanding! To let him know that things might appear difficult, but I have faith. I have faith in him. I have faith in our path. I have faith that this life is a great blessing. I know he knows this, but sometimes it is good to hear again.
I am feeling very philosophical today. Well, everyday in this great land of beauty. In this great land of suffering. Maybe I am more at peace today. Ok, so let’s get down to what I did today, lol!
I woke up before dawn. I showered and what not and headed down to morning puja. By this time, the sun was peeking out and lighting up the morning sky. Anna helped me with a couple of questions. I decided to type out all of my Buddhist practice and have it bound together for ease. It is so much cheaper here for copies, printing, and binding that it made sense to do it now instead of later. The whole thing cost me about $1.
I headed into Boudha meeting a ngakpa that comes to our monastery for all day pujas. We chatted a bit and then we crossed over the road work. A bit scary. I remembered to walk home a different way to avoid the various work that is happening around the area. I got on the net and learned about Jake while chatting with Tim.
I purchased some malas to sell at the Center. Rosewood as that is one of the cheapest natural materials here. Sandalwood would have been nice, but also 6 times the price. I then had my practice printed and bound.
I went in for a blessing with Lama-la. I had my mandala and water bowls blessed as well as my new mala.
Then Anna and I headed out for Tomel. We picked up my thankga and left the one she gave me so that it can get the brocade. One of the men will deliver it tomorrow at 3 p.m. I can’t wait! I’m not sure when I will have them blessed by Lama-la. I also purchased some dvds on Tibet and 2 music cds. And I purchased 3 pairs of pants and 2 shirts in bright and fun colors. Buying clothes here isn’t easy since they are made for very small people. There are plenty of overweight people here, but they have all of their clothes custom made. Even if I was to be at a perfect weight, clothes shopping would still be difficult!
We had lunch with one of Anna’s friends. We shopped a bit for carpets, but I didn’t find anything I liked. So we came back. I headed up to my room and finished my practice for the day. Then it was time for evening puja, dinner, and here I am am.
Day after tomorrow Dechen and I are going to try to go out to lunch together. That will be tricky as she tries to be here to attend to all of Lama-la’s needs. I tell her every day that she is going to miss me so much that she’s going to cry. Which probably isn’t even close to the truth as her sister arrives the day after I leave for a visit. But then she’ll miss me, I know it.
Yesterday, or maybe the day before that, the monks told me that I was their sister. I thought that was so sweet until I learned that if I’m their sister than I have to do everything they ask of me and buy them everything they want. So no, I’m not their sister. They can be very naught, demanding little things. I will be their friend. Lol!
As I was in a hurry today, I brought my laptop down and started working on typing things up during puja. Oh my! I caught their attention. I have seen very few laptops as nice as mine here and only foreigners have them. To be truthful, I have not seen any as nice as mine. If an internet place has laptops, they are really old, thick, monstrosities.
I noticed even Kunga walked past me a couple of times to take a look. Some of them sat and watched the whole time and I was just sitting and typing. Not even in English, I was typing in what they call Roman here. Roman is the Tibetan texts written so that English speaking people can read it. Not phonetically either. So English speaking people can sort of read it with practice.
Maybe tomorrow I will purchase some little supplies. Like incense. They have amazing incense here! Tons of bulk herbs, like juniper and cedar. Sitting in huge gunny sacks all over the place. Tom tells me that you can buy a large bag of it for cheap. So I might do that. Not sure what I will do tomorrow. I think Lama-la and Dechen might be gone in the morning for a bit and I think tomorrow might be a holiday for the monks. It is holiday for most people so about a quarter of the shops won’t even be open tomorrow.
Not that all I can think to do is shop. It is something to do and will such little time left I don’t have a whole lot of options. Especially with holiday tomorrow.
Well, I am going to end this here. Much love and Medicine Buddha!
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