From Brahma to Buddha, Fall 2008

Kate with her homestay mother

Hi!

We've been back in Dharamsala for a couple days now, and I'm having a wonderful time. Retreat was a lot of fun and it was great to learn more about Buddhism. My homestay mom is very nice and we've had a lot of fun so far. She lives by herself; a few months ago, her husband and two of her daughters moved to Minnesota a few months ago for school. She needs to stay here for at least a few more years since her oldest daughter is in school near Delhi (she's in 9th grade). She's the sewing and costume master for the Tibetan performing arts school and so she's going to teach me to sew at night. And she's cooked fantastic meals!

Yesterday, we had a private audience with the Karmapa Lama which was incredible.

Then we had a great lunch at the Norbu Institute, which teaches Tibetan crafts in order to preserve the traditions. We got to go to all of the different workshops and classrooms and see the art in progress- metal/silver work, wood carving, cloth Thankas, painted thankas, seamstresses and the traditional doll museum. For each of the crafts, they have to study for years and years, and then they spend months creating each work of art. We'd all borrowed Chupas (sp?), the Tibetan dresses, from our families so we looked awesome!

Tomorrow, we're starting our ISPs. I'm doing jewelery making with Mirise followed by yoga, which I think most everyone in the group is doing and then sewing in the night. We also have Hindi class in the morning and guest speakers in the afternoon...I'll have a very full day, but I'm so excited :)

Love to you all,
Kate