OMG-lab
Hi everybody. Sandy here (posting from my actual own account for the very first time!! I had to look up the directions...)
We finished 10 days at Tushita, filled with meditation (I tried my best), and twice daily teachings on Buddhist philosophy-- it was great to get a solid foundation about the ideas and beliefs behind all the iconography we've been seeing at the monasteries. There's a lot to it.
I found myself getting frustrated only a little, and I realized just about detaily logistical stuff for the most part (like the intricacies and loopholes of throwing karma, for instance). But the core of it is all about kindness, and compassion, which is really just life-ism. One story the teacher told is about a monk who was imprisoned and tortured in China for a bunch of years (I forget how long), and when he escaped he met with the Dalai Lama upon his arrival. His Holiness asked the monk what he was most scared of during the whole experience, and he replied about his fear that he would lose compassion for his torturers.
That takes some pretty deep love. Right on.
And I figure, in regards to the bits and bobs I don't quite get, I likely don't understand enough yet. So I'm leaving the course with pleanty to think about and churn over in my head.
Plus, our meditation instructor, Richard, was SOO cute. As in, like a puppy dog absolutely adorable. He was from Holland, and so softspoken and easy going and peaceful seeming. .. but in a way that constantly made me crack up. good stuff.
Sandy and homestay mom
As for the rest of life: we're here in Dharamsala now. I'm enjoying my homestay so far: they have students all the time, so they totally know what they're doing and are taking very good care of me. I keep seeing pictures all over the place of their other visitors, though, and tshirts and posters from exotic lands like Florida and Montreal. I feel like I have a lot to live up to.. but I think it's going lovely. =)
We started ISPs two days ago, also. AND Hindi class (omgomgomg that's a puddle of sweetness). So are isps (independent study projects). I'm doing a self directed study of street children in Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj (the part of the city we're staying in). And here's the thing: I know once I start describing everything I could (and should and will want to) babble on for ages, and I'm absolutely dying to go get a glimpse of the news (ummm holy frikkin??) before Hindi class starts in an hour, so I'm going to try to keep this short. But I promise a more detailed consolidation and synthesis and description of my project and process and thoughts so far soon. But I met the first day one little boy named Suraj, up here in McLeod Ganj. And he actually speaks legitimately great English. So I sat with him for a while, and then he found me on my way to Hindi yesterday afternoon. He's a wily little devil, but more on that later. Also, yesterday Peter and I (our local coordinator: he's an angel-) went to lower Dharamsala and spent about half an hour at this busstand before heading back up the hill. I met a brother and sister pair, as well as a girl named Sidha, who wrote her name for me in Hindi, and seemed sort of shy and sweet and was pretty responsive. Anyway, we're heading back down today, so hopefully I'll see her again and can establish more of a connection. I'll brainstorm/organize more questions before we go, and keep trying to map out the remaining days to make sure I get the most out of it.
Anyway, I'm starting to ramble. I promise betterly organized more cohesive and even potentially insightful commentary in the near future (well.. maybe I shouldn't guarantee all that, but I'll try).
In the meantime, lots of love to you all.
Doug, (I almost wrote Dough..), thanks for your election updates. I feel educated and informed and very worldly wise and I haven't even googled Obama yet.
Hope all is off the heezey in D.C.
Love,
<3 sandy
Comments
omg. in 11 minutes the west coast polls will close. Obama has 207. McCain 142. CAlifornia is 55, so that when the west coast closes, we should see Mr. O head over the 270. and that is now 10 minutes. I have 3 electoral maps. BBC, MSNBC, CNN, and The Phoenix TV station up on the web. There are zillions and bejillions of people gathering in Chicago for the Obama celebration. There are... well, Sarah Palin went to Arizona to celebrate with McCain. I think there is a party in the yard at the Biltmore too. Well. the answer will be clear in about 8 minutes. (9 if they take time to count the ballots), and I'll write another comment then. PS- I'm staying up. Feel free to call... six minutes til west coast closes. aaaahhh I do love wireless internet access.
Posted by: mom | November 5, 2008 3:55 AM