Monday, October 31, 2011

Morning over Delhi


I think most of us got to bed at a reasonable hour last night, though our bodies may not be sure whether to calibrate via Delhi or Madison. The 6am meditation session was surprisingly well attended (related to jet lag?), and we watched the sun rise over the Yamuna River before moving into the physical practices of yoga.

A good start to the day. Many members of our trip are at the tailor's shoppe, now, selecting fabrics and styles for their custom-tailored clothing. We'll be sure to send photos of the results.


Heart Sutra by His Holiness

This was first taught by the Buddha at Vulture's Peak, where we will be visiting soon

Audio: http://www.lamrim.com/archive/hhdl/mp3/16k/01.05.19-HHDL-16k-HH_Dalai_Lama-Heart_Sutra.mp3

GYA GAR KE TU BHAGAVATI PRAJNAPARAMITAHRDAYA.
BÖ KE TU CHOM DEN DE MA SHE RAB KYI PA ROL TU CHIN PA’I NYING PO
CHOM DEN DE MA SHE RAB KYI PA ROL TU CHIN PA LA CHAG TSAL LO
***********
DI KE DAG GI TÖ PA DÜ CHIG NA, CHOM DEN DE GYAL PO’I KHAB CHA GÖ PUNG PO’I RI LA, GE LONG GI GEN DÜN CHEN PO TANG, JANG CHUB SEM PA’I GEN DUN CHEN PO TANG TAB CHIG TU ZHUG TE, DE’I TSE CHOM DEN DE ZAB MO NANG WA ZHE JA WA CHÖ KYI NAM DRANG KYI TING NGE DZIN LA NYOM PAR ZHUG SO.

YANG DE’I TSE, JANG CHUB SEM PA SEM PA CHEN PO PAG PA CHEN RE ZIG WANG CHUK SHE RAB KYI PA ROL TU CHIN PA ZAB MO CHÖ PA NYI LA NAM PAR TA ZHING, PUNG PO NGA PO DE DAG LA YANG RANG ZHIN GYI TONG PAR NAM PAR TA’O

DE NEI, SANG GYE KYI TÜ, TSE DANG DEN PA SHA RI’I BÜ JANG CHUB SEM PA SEM PA CHEN PO PAG PA CHEN RE ZIG WANG CHUK LA DI KE CHE ME SO:

RIG KYI BU GANG LA LA SHE RAB KYI PA ROL TU CHIN PA ZAB MO CHÖ PA CHE PAR DÖ PA DE JI TAR LAB PAR JA

DI KE CHE ME PA DANG, JANG CHUB SEM PA SEM PA CHEN PO PAG PA CHEN RE ZIG WANG CHUK GI TSE DANG DEN PA SHA RA DA TI’I BU LA DI KE CHE ME SO:

SHA RI’I BU, RIG KYI BU AM RIG KYI BU MO GANG LA LA SHE RAB KYI PA ROL TU CHIN PA ZAB MO CHÖ PA CHE PAR DÖ PA DE, DI TAR NAM PAR TA WAR JA TE, PUNG PO NGA PO DE DAG KYANG RANG ZHIN GYI TONG PAR NAM PAR YANG DAG PAR JE SU TA’O

ZUG TONG PA’O. TONG PA NYI ZUG SO. ZUG LE TONG PA NYI ZHEN MA YIN NO. TONG PA NYI LE KYANG ZUG ZHEN MA YIN NO. DE ZHIN DU, TSOR WA DANG, DÜ SHE DANG, DÜ CHE DANG, NAM PAR SHE PA NAM TONG PA’O.

SHA RI BU, DE TA WE NA, CHÖ TAM CHE TONG PA NYI DE, TSEN NYI ME PA, MA KYE PA, MA GAG PA, DRI MA ME PA, DRI MA DANG DRAL WA ME PA, DRI WA ME PA, GANG WA ME PA’O.

SHA RI’I BU, DE TA WE NA, TONG PA NYI LA ZUG ME, TSOR WA ME, DÜ SHE ME, DÜ CHE NAM ME, NAM PAR SHE PA ME, MIG ME, NA WA ME, NA ME, CHE ME, LÜ ME, YID ME, ZUG ME, DRA ME, DRI ME, RO ME, REG JA ME, CHÖ ME DO.

MIG GI KHAM ME PA NE YID KYI KHAM ME, YID KYI NAM PAR SHE PA’I KHAM KYI BAR DU YANG ME DO.

MA RIG PA ME, MA RIG PA ZE PA ME PA NE GA SHI ME, GA SHI ZE PA’I BAR DU YANG ME DO.

DUG NGAL WA DANG, KUN JUNG WA DANG, GOK PA DANG, LAM ME, YE SHE ME, TOB PA ME, MA TOB PA YANG ME DO.

SHA RI’I BU, DE TA WE NA, JANG CHUB SEM PA NAM TOB PA ME PA’I CHIR, SHE RAB KYI PA ROL TU CHIN PA LA TEN CHING NE TE, SEM LA DRIB PA ME PE, TRAK PA ME DO. CHIN CHI LOG LE SHIN TU DE NE NYA NGEN LE DE PA’I TAR CHIN TO.

DÜ SUM DU NAM PAR ZHUG PA’I SANG GYE TAM CHE KYANG SHE RAB KYI PA ROL TU CHIN PA LA TEN NE, LA NA ME PA YANG DAG PAR DZOG PA’I JANG CHUB TU NGÖN PAR SANG GYE SO.

DE TA WE NA, SHE RAB KYI PA ROL TU CHIN PA’I NGAG, RIG PA CHEN PO’I NGAG, LA NA ME PA’I NGAG, MI NYAM PA DANG NYAM PA’I NGAG, DUG NGAL TAM CHE RAB TU ZHI WAR CHE PA’I NGAG, MI DZÜN PE NA DEN PAR SHE PAR JA TE, SHE RAB KYI PA ROL TU CHIN PA’I NGAG ME PA:

TADYATA OM GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SVAHA

SHA RI’I BU, JANG CHUB SEM PA SEM PA CHEN PÖ DE TAR SHE RAB KYI PA ROL TU CHIN PA ZAB MO LA LAB PAR JA’O.

DE NE, CHOM DEN DE TING NGE DZIN DE LE ZHENG TE, JANG CHUB SEM PA SEM PA CHEN PO PAG PA CHEN RE ZIG WANG CHUK LA LEG SO ZHE JA WA JIN NE, LEG SO LEG SO, RIG KYI BU DE DE ZHIN NO.

RIG KYI BU, DE DE ZHIN TE, JI TAR KHYÖ KYI TEN PA DE ZHIN DU SHE RAB KYI PA ROL TU CHIN PA ZAB MO LA CHE PAR JA TE, DE ZHIN SHEG PA NAM KYANG JE SU YI RANG NGO.

CHOM DEN DE KYI DI KE CHE KA TSAL NE, TSE DANG DEN PA SHA RI’I BU DANG, JANG CHUB SEM PA SEM PA CHEN PO PAG PA CHEN RE ZIG WANG CHUK DANG, TAM CHE DANG DEN PA’I KHOR DE DANG, LHA DANG, MI DANG, LHA MA YIN DANG, DRI ZAR CHE PA’I JIG TEN YI RANG TE, CHOM DEN DE KYI SUNG PA LA NGÖN PAR TÖ DO.
*******************
CHOM DEN DE MA SHE RAB KYI PA ROL TU CHIN PA’I NYING PO ZHE JA WA TEG PA CHEN PO’I DO DZOG SO.

And we're here

We got in a few hours ago, bussed to our hotel in Majnu Ka Tilla, and just had an incredibly good meal at a nearby restaurant. The trip coordinators even managed to get cakes for our two birthday people - Scott and Lisa - along with toy rikshas as gifts . The trip couldn't have started in a better way!





Sunday, October 30, 2011

Greetings, All!

The sun is setting here in Majnu Ka Tilla, as you all are making your way soon to the Van Galder bus and wending your respective ways to O'Hare! We expect a smooth convergence of our travelers at O'Hare, coming in from Madison, Florida, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Virginia!

We will be at O'Hare to receive you all, and then whisk you and your bags to our private bus into Majnu Ka Tilla, the Tibetan enclave of Delhi....We download our luggage and then gather for a lovely dinner at Ama Rabsel restaurant. We will share some announcements during dinner, and then get you all to your waiting beds at Wongdhen House!


Blessings to you all! Try to rest well on the plane!

We eagerly await your arrival!


Love,

Pam, Pema and Dawa

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Phone number in India

Our phone number in India will be: 011-91-9540-272-206

Please use this number for urgent or emergency contacts. Family members will be able to call home from the telephone lines here in India from about 9 AM to 9 PM local time, and can receive pre-scheduled incoming calls at the local hotel. Contact info can be located here: http://ayindia.blogspot.com/2010/07/travel-itinerary-for-family-and-friends.html

Have you met Dawa, our Tibetan Guide?

I bet I know what Scott is going to do when he gets to India.........


Dawa is sporting the Wisconsin Badgers cap that Pam gave him


Are you READY for India?


Friday, October 28, 2011

URGENT Update from India

Dear friends,

Pam and I arrived safely yesterday and are looking forward to a day of shopping and logistics. This mornign we will go to the tailors and this afternoon meet with our travel agents. In the meantime, please take the following informaton into consideration as you are packing.
  1. The international flight departs from the AA terminal #3, not the international terminal #5. We left a phone message for Scott, but if you are meeting the group there, make sure you go to the AA terminal. We did not go through security a second time before boarding the plane.
  2. Pema already has eight mosquito bites. This is a reminder that we are staying next to a river in two cities and that you may want an antimalarial. I did not take one last year and was OK after Mosquito bites but we will be in a risk area despite the doctors saying it is not the case. They are not thinking that in a city we will be staying near a river like that. You may also want a gentle mosquito repellant. I used essential oils last night after I got the bites and was not bitten again.
  3. Delhi Heat Wave 90 degrees during the day, 65 to 70 at night - THe temperature has not yet dropped in delhi. IF you followed the packing list you are probably correctly prepared for the weather in Delhi/Bihar (currently hotter) and Nepal (currently expected to be cold). However, I was wishing I had packed a few more cotton socks than the five pairs of wool ones and one more lightweight cotton shirt. I wore wool socks last night and was not too hot.
  4. Phone number We expect the cell phone number to remain the same as last year but we do not have confirmation yet. You can look back in the blog under _2010 to reference it otherwise we will print it later.
  5. Check your personal email We will be sending some requests to part of the group so please check your personal email as soon as you can.
Thank you,
Pema

To the Meriter Chaplains

Dear friends,

I've come on a 14 hour plane flight halfway around the world, and it took coming that far to realize that in a very short period of time, knowing you are there has become a source of strength for me. I appreciate every one of you and have learned so much from you. I look  forward to seeing you in 3 weeks.

Pema

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Beasts of burden?

Would you willing to carry some books to Nepal? My daughter's 4th grade teacher was in Nepal last Summer, and made connections with some schools that desperately need textbooks. Janice has been collecting texts ever since, and is looking for people to carry these books to Nepal.

If you are only taking one checked bag, would you consider taking a second bag?

I'll be taking one, and am planning to jettison it in Delhi on the first day. When we swing back thru Delhi on our way to Kathmandu, we can reclaim these book-bags, and get 'em to Nepal. There may be a small charge for the second bag on this Delhi-Kathmandu flight, though I'm considering that a small donation toward a young person's education.

Greetings, Travelers!

The countdown is on! Pema and I leave this coming Thursday to make sure all is ready for your arrival in Delhi! There are just a few details that I wanted to share with you before we blast off!

1. Please bring a small journal, something that you can write notes in each morning; we will share the fine details of our daily itinerary, often at breakfast or other appropriate moments.... it will be very helpful for you to have something easy in which to record information.

2. Be sure to print out copies of your travel insurance documents, and pack them somewhere safe and easily accessible. Stash copies of important phone numbers (eg: lost credit card contact #'s; insurance contact numbers, etc) in a couple of secure places that you can access easily.

3. Our flight from Delhi into Kathmandu will be on Kingfisher Airlines; (they are my favorite Indian Airline!) On this flight you will HAVE to have some sort of luggage lock on any checked bags, ie one lock for each checked bag.... baggage allowance for checked luggage is 20 kg (about 50 pounds); overweight charges for checked bags will accrue at 180 rupees / extra kg..... Your carry-on weight allowance is 7 kg or approx 15.5 pounds.... Sometimes they are sticklers on carry-on weight, sometimes they are not.... ya never know!

4. Bring Snacks!


That's all that comes to mind now! We look forward to seeing you all at the airport in Delhi!

Safe travels! Happy travels!

Blessings,

Pam and Pema

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Emergency Contacts needed & Roommate assignments

Dear Travelers,

Just checking in as we inch closer to departure time! My hunch is that you are all as excited as we are! There are just a few bits of information that we wanted to share with you all....

First of all, everyone should now have their roommate assignments; we thank you all for your gracious patience as we worked out all these arrangements! It's always good to know who your traveling mate will be, so that you can get together and decide important things like who is bringing the brownies and who is bringing the chocolate chip cookies! (Just kidding!) (Actually, this sounds quite brilliant on second thought!)

Kidding aside, much careful thought and consideration went into honoring all roommate requests and pairings. We believe that everyone has a traveling mate that will mutually enrich your experiences of India and Nepal. We are also experimenting a bit ourselves, in that staff persons, who in previous years have roomed with other staff persons, will be rooming with travelers on this journey. This arrangement is a first for us; it seemed like a fun and worthwhile experiment that might enrich our own and our travelers' experience. We do know from experience that the demands of staffing our trips are strong, and that a little 'down time' can be very beneficial to keep our staff members in top shape to guide and serve you! To address these issues, we will be reserving an extra room at each of our hotels; this room will be available to staff persons for an occasional quiet night. What this means for our travelers is that, if you are rooming with a staff person, you may be asked to room with another traveler or staff person for a night or two. We would be very grateful for your understanding and flexibility with accommodations as we work to refine the arrangements that best serve both present and future travelers. Thank you again for your understanding in this matter!

Finally, if you have not yet entered your Emergency Contact Information, it is absolutely necessary to do so! Please follow the link below, to take care of this important detail!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Test Blog Post

Just a couple more weeks to go. Can't wait!!

Peace and Compassion Mantras

For those who would like to participate in the recitation of mantras at the holy sites, here are the most common ones that anyone can chant. If you want to have this with you in India, please print out this page as a reference.

You may choose to try these mantras at associated holy sites along our journey to see how they feel. But it is usual to spend more time with one mantra than to divvy up a short amount of time saying many different mantras. If you have questions about what practice is best for you, and do not have someone to assist you, please speak with Pema for suggestions.

The first two are Hindu and can be combined (3, 7 or more Lokah's followed by one Om Shanti). The headers are linked to audio files.

LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU


Right-click to Download MP3

Translation: May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.

lokah: location, realm, all universes existing now
samastah: all beings sharing that same location
sukhino: centered in happiness and joy, free from suffering
bhav: the divine mood or state of unified existence
antu: may it be so, it must be so (antu used as an ending here transforms this mantra into a powerful pledge)

OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI


Right-click to Download MP3

Translation: Om Peace Peace Peace

Hindu mantras may be especially resonate for practice at the Mother Gagna River in Varanasi.

OM MANI PADME HUNG (version heard at Boudhanath Stupa)

Fast - usual chanting speed

Right-click to Download MP3

Slow - special version of this mantra

Right-click to Download MP3

Buddhist Mantra of Compassion. While this mantra can be translated, it is best experienced in its essence form (of being chanted without thinking of the translation). This mantra is said to be the word-form or vibrational form of the Buddha of Compassion. Chanting the mantra generates the quality of compassion in the chanter. This mantra usually chanted very fast or very slow -- one breath per word. The Boudhanath version above is in between, but is played at the stupa.


OTHER MANTRAS Also, we will be visiting holy sites of enlightened beings. Some high level beings have a mantra associated with their qualities. 


OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNI SHAKYAMUNI YE SOHA. (slow to medium speed, or more traditional)
Buddha Shakyamuni is the one we often refer to as "the Buddha."  His mantra would be especially appropriate in the Buddhist sites in Bihar.

OM AH HUNG BENZA GURU PEMA SIDDHI HUNG. (fast speed) 
In Kathmandu we will be visiting one of the holy sites of Guru Padmasambhava. It is considered auspicious to recite his mantra in the holy place of his meditations if you wish to create a connection with his special enlightened qualities.

Below is Ani Choying Drolma singing the Guru Padmasambhava mantra.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Greetings, Travelers!

Yes, the adventure begins soon! (Hi, Lisa!) Here is some hopefully helpful information regarding American Airlines baggage allowances and fees for extra/ overweight baggage.

For travel to/from India you are allowed the following items, free of charge:

1) One personal item (purse, computer bag, etc), no larger than 45 total linear inches; (ie, the added length, height, and width of this bag/ personal item cannot exceed 45" total)

2) One piece of carry-on luggage, not to exceed 62" total, figured by the same above method.

3) One checked bag, not to exceed 50 lbs./ 23 kg

Additional checked bags will be charged at $60.00 per bag. (Shoppers, please know that you are limited to 10 extra bags, figured under this provision!!!) (Just kidding!)

Overweight Bags will be charged as follows:
  • Over 50#'s and below 70#'s will be fined at $60.00/ bag
  • Bags over 70#'s will not be accepted
Oversized Bags will be charged as follows:
  • Over 62" total linear length will be fined at $150.00 each
  • Bags over 126" total will not be accepted
*** In my experience, the airlines are not absolute sticklers on the length allowances for carry-on items; unless you bring some rather outrageously configured carry-on item, like your skis or your golf clubs, they most likely won't hassle you! But they are pretty firm on the weight allowances; if you get a 'nice' check-in person, they might let you get away with a few pounds overweight without charging you; others might just go by the book, and ask you to pay up!

Blessings, and happy packing!

Pam

Friday, October 7, 2011

Bus to the airport on October 30

Please gather at 11 AM at 612 West Main Street Dock 8. You can park briefly next door at 634 West Main Street to unload and say "see you later" to your friends and family members. Below are pictures of the buildings and the dock.

The fee is $100 round trip. You can pay online here: http://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ws.asp?studioid=16532&stype=41&prodid=178





skate boarding in india

here's a great little movie to get you more excited about India

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NGwJqrub6w

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Hello?

I hope this gets through.

Blog participation

Hello All,

From now until we depart, any time one of our group posts to the blog, the group will receive an email notification with the entry in the email. This is so that it will be easier for you to keep track of new posts.

However, you must go to the blog to post new entries or to comment on existing entries, so please be sure to log in and post something before we meet on Monday. That way we know that you are fully set up and can get into the blog when we go to India. If you need a tutorial or encounter a challenge, please let me know and I will make some time to help you as soon as possible.

The first time you log into the blog, you will need to follow the link in the invitation I sent to you. If you have a gmail account, you can use the same username and password. Otherwise you will need to select a username and password.

Afterwards, you can log in through using the same link you give to your friends (log in in the upper right corner) The link to give to your friends is http://ayindia.blogspot.com . Remember do not use a "www"

Thank you!
Pema