Varanasi Blessings

Hello Everybody,

Are you fully back to the day-to-day? While I'm happy to be home and landed, not a day goes by without thinking about our amazing travels.

Do you remember the wooden water-droplet that we infused with our prayers in Varanasi? Its creator, Nic Bitting, has asked if we'd like to share any of our prayers? You can see his project on its website.

So glad to have shared this experience with you all!

Namaste,

SAA

http://waterblessing.net/2011/11/27/waterblessing-net-in-india/

Cows do drool

Photo compliments of Beth.

Ok I just want to say that just after this photo was taken, I walked by just in time to see the cow drool all over Rebecca's hand and leg. I mean serious drool. Much more than a bulldog. Or any dog. There was a nice long drip all the way from its mouth, down over her hand and dripping on her leg. More than a cup? Just one of the potential consequences of petting a cow. Incredible India! Unforgettable.

*laughing*

Sunny Faces of Nepal

On the last day of our visit to Nepal, we toured a school that educates children from age 5 to 15. The classrooms were made of bamboo, and the school welcomed boys and girls from all backgrounds and religions. A lovely nun named Barbara took us there. The children were so excited to see westerners. They wanted us to write our names on their hands and loved having their picture taken!

Before the trip, I was able to collect over $700 in donations from my students, colleague's, and friends. Thank you all so much for your generosity. The Bamboo school was a highlight for me. To know we made a difference in these children's lives and the lives of future generations is so important. The smiles on their faces brought hope after seeing so much poverty and desperation.

j

Tulku Urgyen Yangsi Rinpoche

At Nagi Gompa, we had the great honor of meeting Tulku Urgyen Yangsi Rinpoche, who in his last incarnation was the father of Scott's Buddhist Teachers, Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Mingyur Rinpoche.  The photos here show us after we had offered ceremonial white scarves and Rinpoche had placed them over our heads as a blessing. He also gave us red blessing cords and touched our heads with a Dharma text as a blessing. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

You can find more information on his incarnation in this announcement speech by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, one of Mingyur Rinpcohe's brothers:
http://www.shedrub.org/teacherpage.php?tid=5

keeping in touch

just learned to use the blog. Better late than never. just did not have the patience to learn before we left for India. Now it is so easy and simple. Something changed.... Blessings, Christine

Update on Yeshe

We met Yeshe on the first trip to India. Yeshe has been promoted to manager of Wongdhen Guest House. She says it has been a bit challenging to go from staff to manager. I can see why she was promoted. She was very sweet and helpful to us, and always seemed to be smiling. Yeshe lives in the Majnu Katilla area, so last year she took an afternoon and helped me shop at the tailors.

We invited her to join us for dinner at Dawa's Cousin-Brother's restaurant and she accepted. The story of the restaurant is for another post. Her uncle lives in Madison, Wisconsin (I was surprised to find out!) and we brought back a little package for him from there. We gave Yeshe a Harley T-shirt (hope she liked it) on the last day, but I did not get to see her wear it. Maybe she will send a picture.

Nagi Gompa, Therapeutic Yoga, Chod and more

Alicia teaching a nun Yoga situps for core strength

Sun salutations to get stagnant energy moving

Pema, the In-charge Ani Gyen Tara (Yeshe Dolma) and Pam
Look at her eyes, they speak a thousand words

Teaching Pema and Pam how to use the drums

A bit of a climb

It was a bit of a climb to get to Nagi Gompa, though the sight of the nunnery, its views and the nuns, themselves, were deeply memorable. After helping some of the nuns with their aches and pains with Alignment Yoga sessions, they fed us a most amazing lunch. The food was so fresh, it nearly jumped off the plate with vitality. We then had the honor of watching a Chod Puja, which is a fascinating meditation form that involves drums and bells. Tomorrow we're off to Delhi; the first leg in our journey home.

Kathmandu

Here we are in Kathmandu, the place where I was ordained. It feels like coming home. Intentionally the last part of our trip, Kathmandu is cleaner than India in many ways. Yesterday we went to Swayambunath Stupa and half of the group attempted a visit to Tergar Osel Ling Monastery. The other half stopped in Thamel to shop for Thangkas (buddhist paintings) and other items.  When we returned, we visited Phakchok Rinpoche at the "White Monastery" to ask if we could go to Nagi Gonpa to see the Chod Puja and to help them by offering Yoga Therapy. He spoke to us about the difference between sentimental compassion and great compassion and gave the group texts on mind training. We ended the day with a meal at Shechen Guest House Restaurant. Today we are going to Nagi Gonpa and we are excited to see the Chod Puja.

Kathmandu!

We've safely arrived in Kathmandu after a long journey from Varanasi, India. The journey was multi-faceted, and included auto-rickshaws, buses, and airplanes.

We'll write more soon - we just wanted to let the readers at home know things are progressing smoothly (at least by South Asia standards).

The Ghats

This trip has been so profound in ways that are hard to describe. Some people say it is more spiritual than the last time, others say the stars are even more aligned. I don't claim to know what it is.

Today we are in one of the oldest cities in the world. The streets in the old city are just wide enough for a motorcycle and two people to get through, often blocked or crowded with cows, bulls, goats, trash or fresh manure. Buildings are sometimes 300 or 400 years old, and today we meditated in the garden of a muslim temple that was over 300 years old. Our hotel overlooks the Ghats -- is right on the Ghat itself. To be here and see the sun rise defies description.  I've never been to a city that wakes in anticipation of the sun rise, pujas welcoming the sun over the riverbank as people gather on the Ghat for yoga bathing, or meditation. 

Tomorrow we visit the Burning Ghats, check out of our hotel and head to Sarnath. After that we board a train for Delhi, and from there we will fly to Kathmandu. I'll write more as soon as words come for all the things we have seen. Until then, sweet dreams of  India.....

Our time in Varanasi

What a wonderful rich and diverse city we are in.
Truly amazing and wonderful to see and feel all that is happening around us.

I am reminded again and again
life is good

India on Saturday

Words are too simple to describe life here.
A person must be present and land here to
truly appreciate all that is India.
I like to think of it as intuitive, creative chaos

We have been in Bodh Gaya for 3 days.
Here is what we have woken up to the last
three mornings.
Simply amazing and beautiful.



Everyone is happy and healthy!!!
Tomorrow we leave at 6am for Varnasi-

Hello from Bodhgaya

We've been enjoying our stay in Bodhgaya. Best known for the Mahabodhi Temple, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, the area is filled with monasteries. (Even the dogs practice meditation, and are known to frequent meditation sessions.)

We've had a great stay, thus far. People have been enjoying great health, and we've been able to be of service to the locals through therapeutic yoga and helping a single-mother finance the completion of her house.

We're well!

Just a brief posting to let friends and family know that we're doing well in NE India. This morning we arrived in Patna, and took a bus ride to the ruins of Nalanda University. We enjoyed a very informative tour, followed by some chanting beneath the shade of a tree.

We're now preparing for lunch, followed by a visit to Vulture's Peak, where concepts such as form/emptiness and emptiness/form were presented by the Buddha.

We plan to upload some photos later today.

Bodhgaya

Here is a nice little video on Bodhgaya: