India – safe n’ sound
Sorry for the wait in sending out updates and info, I am determined to embrace technology 
and be somewhat more diligent…
Thus far India has been strange and fantastic! I only had 24hrs in Delhi before heading up to Bir and Deer Park. Everything (travel and accomodations) was organized so well for me that all was smooth, easy and enjoyable. Delhi was very much what we see in the movies, so really nothing came as a shock. And yes it does smell, but nothing as bad as what I had imagined – no gagging 
Interestingly what I have found to be completely awe inspiring and majestic have been the Himalayan mountains. These beasts are utterly majestic and breathtaking, their size and power are beyond words…. and honestly they make the Rockies seem like tiny little cousins!
Bir, the village of where Deer Park sits is in the mountains’ valley range and it is quite lush and sunny with big big blue skies. The village is small and seems to be the perfect balance of Indians and Tibetans. There are many monks and Tibetan prayer flags flying everywhere…
Deer Park itself is serene, peaceful and magical. Everyone is very friendly, welcoming and helpful. Most guests are english speaking coming from everywhere across the globe. The food is super fresh and really yummy vegetarian. The best of all is I love my bedroom. It is large and yet cozy with high ceilings, inlaid bookshelves, and 2 big character style windows on either side – so lots of light, a beautiful view of the temple from my bed on one side and a valley view of homes and prayer flags on the other side… my bathroom is off the bedroom and it too is big and open with another big window for light and fresh air. All is very clean and warm and sweet. (as warm as it can be with no central heating but my linens are plenty and I am toasty warm to sleep)
Just a couple of days ago I got back from a teaching retreat up in Dharamsala. It was led by a very well known Rinpoche – Tsoknyi Rinpoche. He has been traveling and teaching (much in the US) for the past 18yrs and I found him to be delightful, wise and funny. He was speaking on different forms and ways of meditation. I found it to be a perfect introduction to Buddhist teachings and of course meditation. I felt very blessed to have found my way into this retreat! “Life is magical and the timing is perfect”
In two days I will be starting a 3 day Zen meditation retreat here at Deer Park. Three days of silence and meditation. The hours will be broken up with sitting meditations and walking meditations, some teaching and guidance, food and sleep. I can already feel myself getting squirmy with the thought of meditating that long…
I seem to be taking it day by day. How perfect! Life and time here seems to go by slow and yet fast… It has been super great to start gearing down from busy Western life…
In some of the photos you will see some of a ceremony I had participated in at one of the local monasteries – this particular one happens once a year and its’ theme was beginnings and overcoming obstacles while destroying the ego – once again, how perfect! This was truly a Baraka like moment, with the chanting, drumming, llama dancing and blessings of butter teas and ceremonial smudges of color to the cheeks and forehead.
Filed under: Uncategorized on November 18th, 2009
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