One of my alternative medicine mentors, Shenoa Robinson, mentioned Kopan
Monastery to me at least 10 years ago as
a place for Buddhist retreats & to
learn the religion. It’s always been in
the back of my mind, it looked like a good place on line, the stars aligned in
my life for this career break, & voila, here I am.
In conjunction, having the belief
that life is meant to be in the service of others, it made sense to incorporate
that aspect into my trip. I’m very
excited to teach English to Buddhist Monks while here in Kathmandu at “The
Monkey Temple” where tons of them roam free.
I don’t know if I’ll be sitting on the airplane back to San Francisco on
Christmas day, saying to myself, “Wow, I’m just sooo enlightened,” but I do know that if you pick yourself up
out of your everyday routine & environment,
& plop yourself smack dab in the middle of a foreign environment
that’s a distance away, you see
yourself, your views, and your life through a whole new lens.
What Kathmandu is like:
The Country:
If you saw the movie, “Slum Dog Millionaire,” you have a pretty good
idea. Nepal is the 2nd
poorest country in the world. The main
religion is Hindu(I think over 90%), but there is great religious tolerance for
the small population of Muslim & Buddhist faiths as well.
The People:
Public affection of friends is very open, but not with couples, with
friends. Mostly men, but some women,
from age 12 up, walk holding hands or with their arms around each other. They stare at you, because I get the feeling
this isn’t a big tourist destination & most who come here head straight for
Mt. Everest/The Himalayas versus hang around the city. In the
10 days I’ve been here, I’d say I’ve seen less than 20 tourists total,
& that includes the tourist area of Thamel in Kathmandu.
Learning things from scratch:
Crossing the street.
In Nepal, looking left to cross the street instead of right took about a
week. Traffic is
absolute chaos. There are no
traffic lights & cars & buses constantly honking, as well as kicking up
the soot in the street. A good number of
people wear face masks because of the dirt.
Eating:
I do want to become acclimated to the local customs & that means no
silverware. Right now I use it. There is a skill to eating rice & not
touching your mouth, as Nepali people
do.
Washing clothes:
Although I’ve used woolite for years, no washing machine means sitting
on the ground at the faucet on the roof, & scrubbing, then rinsing twice,
until the water is clear.
Toilets:
This one’s been the toughest for me.
On many occasions, I’ve been in a sort of out house or behind a tarp at
the side of the road (with a very low
ceiling as Nepali people as I’d say 5’5” at the tallest) squatting over a hole
in the ground. There is a bucket of
water with a little pitcher to wash with
afterwards.
“Just because you don’t recognize your path,
doesn’t mean you’re not on it.”
Western Comforts:
I think of how your experiences
not only shape your life, but put it in perspective. I am so grateful when the sun is shining
‘cause I know that means the solar panels will be heated & I’ll have a good
chance at a hot shower the next day. The
electricity is off more than on. It’s
just a way of life to be in the dark, & have no street lights. A siren (Kind of like a tornado one) goes off
just before the power cuts at night. So
there really are no refrigerators to speak of, except in some restaurants &
stores.
Hmmmm:
Flippi ng TV channels in Hong Kong,
the US Embassy killings in Libya were all over the news. Then I found an
hr. documentary on the French holding a
“Burning Man” Festival outside Paris,modeled after the one in the U.S., founded
on the beaches of San Francisco 25 yrs ago.
The level of enthusiasm over this unique expression of human creativity
was simply amazing. It reminded me that although the world is divided in many
ways, we are also united.
“Surrendering to the feeling of being lost is
the first step in transformation.”
Sun. Sept. 16:
Citizens of the World:
I just met everyone in my Hostel.
It is so invigorating to be surrounded by enthusiastic, glass ½ full,
adventurous, world traveling women (most are),
who have their whole life in front of them. They are strong, independent, & from all
over the globe-Switzerland, Germany, Latvia, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia,
and more Americans(I am proud to say) than I’d expect-Michigan, Wyoming,
Montana, Kansas, Maryland, & me.
I think back on my own life & what a rebel I was considered at 22 yrs
old leaving Des Moines, Iowa as I
graduated from college to move across the country to L.A., to start a new life,
not knowing a soul. Few understood my
need to explore & get out there.
Kathmandu, Nepal Sept. 15, 2012-Dec. 25,2012 100 DAYS:
Week 1: Sat. Sept. 15-Sun. Sept.23, 2012
Introduction:
Just over 5 months ago, I had my 1st job where I actually did spend time in meetings in a boardroom. When it ended, I knew it was time for a mini vaca from my managerial career. I am so happy & grateful to have the opportunity to take this time off to explore another part of the world.
Why I’m here:
The answer is rather malleable. I get cozy in the mind set that I don’t know how this 3 & ½ month trip will alter me, my beliefs, or the course of my life. The idea of Buddhism has always appealed to me. The definitions of Khama and Dharma fit in with my core beliefs. And who doesn’t want more inner happiness and bliss? (regardless of the current circumstances in your life) I’ve always been told I’m a black or white thinker. Doing things ½ way isn’t my style. So, if you’re going to explore Buddhism, don’t go to an Ashram in New York, go to Nepal, the very birthplace of Buddha.
