I arrived at the monastery almost three weeks ago with many questions about Buddhism. I’d taken a World Religions course focused heavily on eastern faiths and have continued to read about the Buddhist tradition in books such as those by…
There are many reasons why I continue to attend puja (chanting) each morning, and none of them is that I am a devout Buddhist. I enjoy waking up early, and the 6:30 am start time gives me something to look…
The first thing we heard yesterday upon our return from trekking yesterday is that “Jing Mai was killed by a tiger!” Jing Mai – one of the monastery’s four dogs – is nowhere to be found. After some loud noises…
It’s hard to believe Ghana is so close. In just 7 weeks, I’ll be packing up and flying to the other side of the world. I have been waiting for an opportunity such as this for as long as I…
Several of my little monks have received new names! After the Nyune festival last week, celebrating Buddha’s birthday, one of the Rinpoches gave some of the little guys new Buddhist names in a sort of rite of passage. Two days…
The Nyune Festival took place at the monastery just a few days after we arrived. Everything was abuzz. The eight older monks (age 20+) ran around like crazy making preparations for the three Rinpoches (high lamas) who were to arrive…
“If it doesn’t bite, don’t bother.” Anyone who knew me when I was a kid and witnessed one of my hysterical reactions to a large flying bug might be hard pressed to believe this, but I’m not exaggerating when I…
“The Rinpoches are coming! The Rinpoches are coming!” That’s not what they were saying, but I likened the monks’ excited conversation and incessant runnings around to the American colonists’ excitement when Paul Revere rode through Concord announcing the arrival of…
Over the past two weeks I’ve learned that I need very little to be happy. I have three changes of clothes. I have three pairs of socks. I have ten rubber bands, two pens, and a pretty little notebook to…
I’ve just arrived in Namche – a grueling 6 hour walk from the monastery in Pahding. Besides Lukla, this is about the nearest wifi to the monastery. This country is absolutely beautiful; I wish I could transport everyone here for…