..The Road to Buddhism, “Take One”:
When you make a decision to do something,shift (shit) happens:
I may not know much about Buddhism at this point, but I think I’ve
heard somewhere that patience plays into the philosophy. I’ve certainly had
loads of opportunity to practice patience:
·
As part of my volunteer package to
teach Buddhist monks English, the organization said you would be able to
meditate, chant, & learn Buddhism from the monks.
·
We met the 1st day at
7:00AM at a specific place near the monkey temple monastery where it was
supposed to take place at 7:00AM. We
were told the chanting happened at 9:00AM & to come back at that time.
·
My fellow volunteer went at 9:00AM.
It turned out there were no monks chanting, but she attended a great yoga
class.
·
The next day was the same, yoga, no
monks.
·
The 4th day we spoke w/ our monk
contact in Swayambhu Monastery & got the final verdict that the monks
meditate in their temple (stupa) at 5:00AM daily.
·
There is no way for me to get there
that early daily so I will go once/week.
·
Due to this twist of events, I will
be taking my initial journey into Buddhism into my own hands.
Baby Step #1:
Buying Books on Buddhism:
Kopan Monastery (where I will be spending the last 50 of my 100 days
in Nepal in retreats & what I’m calling “Buddha Boot Camp”) provided me an
extensive (100 or so) reading list of books.
I’m starting with 2 books written by The Dalai Lama, “The Heart of the Buddha’s Path”
& “All you ever wanted to know from his Holiness The Dalai Lama on
Happiness, Life, Living, & Much More.”
Baby Step #2:
Visiting Kopan Monastery:
I have a decision to make on where to spend the free time I will
have when my volunteer commitment ends at the end of Oct. My retreat in Kopan Monastery begins on Nov. 11, but I can begin my stay as early as
Nov. 5. I needed to check out my next
digs to see how badly I need to go to Italy for pizza for a week or Sweden for
a spa (I am in serious “Foodie” withdrawl & a spa sounds heavenly)
MUSIC MAKES THE WORLD GO AROUND III:
As we sat on the road
to Chitwan, a Nepali teenager next to my fellow volunteer was listening to
music on her I phone. The volunteer saw it was Adele & commented on it.
They had a great conversation on Adele & her music & the Nepali girl
let her listen to her I phone for a while.
·
My “Mini Monks”: In light of the fact that I grew up an only child, have never
babysat a day in my life, & have no children of my own, my experience in
being around children is basically nil.
Teaching 12 children ages 5-12 is
a whole new ball game for me. I’ve found out that just because they’re monks,
they aren’t born zen’d out. They punch,
stab with pens, run around, & have a miniscule attention span. I do really
love them & am enjoying the experience getting to know their individual
personalities.
·
ATM’s: I’ve just accepted that getting money out in Kalanki is not one
errand, but many. Usually, by the 4th
ATM, I’ll find one that’s working.
·
Living w/ 18 people: I remember when I visited my
friend in New Zealand & her family a few years back. It took me about a week
to pinpoint why I felt so out of sorts & strange in the house. It was all
the people (7) & the constant conversation & noise I simply wasn’t used
to having lived by myself for 26
years. This round in the hostel, it’s
still an adjustment, but an easier transition.
Even though women
really do not leave the house (overall), must cover up in how they dress, can’t
smoke in public, & there are arranged marriages,there is a “Nepali Idol”
fashioned after “American Idol” TV show.
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