My next trip took me to the high Himalaya mountain range in Nepal. A small monastery located north of Kathmandu with approximately 25 monks, between 6 and 23 years of age, was my next adventure. Knowing what these people have gone trough in 1949 because of the power of the knowledge they had, it was time to learn more.
Upon my arrival to the monastery, I entered a class room full of monks, giggling and enjoying the English lecture provided by L.A. I took a seat in the back row, and as soon as they noticed me they called me Miss Tai Chi. I was wearing a shirt from the secret Wudangshan Mountain from China, where I practiced martial arts, with a Yin Yang sign on it. I smiled back and greeted them with Namaste!
I was happy to be there for these little kids and help them as much as I could. Some of them lost their parents; some of them were so poor that their parents could not afford to put them through basic schooling, and had to give them to the monastery to take care of them.
Upon my arrival to the monastery, I entered a class room full of monks, giggling and enjoying the English lecture provided by L.A. I took a seat in the back row, and as soon as they noticed me they called me Miss Tai Chi. I was wearing a shirt from the secret Wudangshan Mountain from China, where I practiced martial arts, with a Yin Yang sign on it. I smiled back and greeted them with Namaste!
I was happy to be there for these little kids and help them as much as I could. Some of them lost their parents; some of them were so poor that their parents could not afford to put them through basic schooling, and had to give them to the monastery to take care of them.
First day of class I was testing the English level of the kids and asked them what we can do with our eyes or our ears. When I asked what can we do with our hands,one of the monks said: We slap. I was like Hmmmmm....
Later that day I asked the guru if I could participate in the morning meditation called in Tibetan puja, and he said yes if I could get up at 5 am. Next morning I was up by 5 am and joined the monks for morning meditation. On the right hand side in the monastery were the older monks and the young one were seated on the left side. After 15 minutes of chanting a few of the monks fell asleep. The monks who were awake would slap the asleep monks to wake them up. :) So my long Hmmmm turned into Ahaa!! This is what we do with our hand, when the monks fell asleep we slap each other to wake up.
Every day after lecture I would bring cookies and we would sit together and try to learn from each other. Uri, who was 6, would come saying: Miss khanu khanu!; which means more cookies. One day I forgot to bring cookies and he found an old remote battery, chasing me around the monastery. Even monks have their days when they just don't want to do anything.
Later that day I asked the guru if I could participate in the morning meditation called in Tibetan puja, and he said yes if I could get up at 5 am. Next morning I was up by 5 am and joined the monks for morning meditation. On the right hand side in the monastery were the older monks and the young one were seated on the left side. After 15 minutes of chanting a few of the monks fell asleep. The monks who were awake would slap the asleep monks to wake them up. :) So my long Hmmmm turned into Ahaa!! This is what we do with our hand, when the monks fell asleep we slap each other to wake up.
Every day after lecture I would bring cookies and we would sit together and try to learn from each other. Uri, who was 6, would come saying: Miss khanu khanu!; which means more cookies. One day I forgot to bring cookies and he found an old remote battery, chasing me around the monastery. Even monks have their days when they just don't want to do anything.
| During my trip in Nepal I stayed with a native Nepali family, who hosted me and provided everything I needed during the trip. Very loving and kind people who are offering to share their life with everyone. We would eat Dalbad, a traditional Nepali dish prepared with rise, potato and spices. One day while we were having dinner I noticed a picture, I looked closer and it was President Barack Obama. I asked them where was a picture of their president and they said they don't want a picture of their president. Until today I have not found out the real reason of that picture in their home. The living conditions were hard, daily they would be without water for couple hours. Warm water is luxury in Nepal. Nepali are hard working people, mostly raised and lived on farms. The following days I went to every morning meditation with the monks in the monastery. Their guru didn't speak much English but he noticed that I arrived with heavy heart. One day he invited me to his meditation room and shared knowledge that was difficult to obtain in any school or from any book. His words were: Your are born alone and you die alone, no attachment - no emotions - everything is a dream. It took me a while to understand his message but asking to many questions would have not gotten me far. These people don't talk and waste energy on talking or even listening to materialistic problems that have no relevancy for future incarnations. All you take with you is the imprint on your spirit, everything else vanishes. |   |
People in Nepal, especially Tibetan origin visit the monasteries in the morning and offer light candles as a symbol for clear spiritual path. Every morning, 5 am, while walking to the monasteries, candles were lit up everywhere. Incenses were burn on every street corner. Monk were chanting using their Vajra bells: Om Mani Pedme Hum.
So much about Nepal... Off to the Arctic!!!
