And Now.....Heeeeeeeeere's Nancy!

So many amazing and unexpected adventures for Matthew and I here in India! We’ve been here 3 weeks, and it’s felt like time has slowed down considerably for us. Our usual reference points have dissolved here. What makes sense in the hygienic American psyche has no relevance here. It seems like our arrival in Delhi, and our travel north to Palpung Sherabling, the monastic seat of my guru Tai Situ Rinpoche was very long ago. For me, it is always a familiar joy to return there; and this time, it was such a wonderful gift to share this sacred place with Matthew. Now that we’ve traveled to other places in the country, we realize even more now, that Sherabling is indeed a refuge of peace and wisdom.

Nestled in the Himalayan foothills and pine forest, the country-side thrives in slowed-down routines that have probably not changed for centuries. Except for cell phones and access to the internet, which of course is a significant shift in changing one’s myopic view of the world. As soon as one goes to “the city”, the hectic pace is a powerful force which requires deep breaths and reckoning with. But we were fortunate to find an easy rhythm at the monastery, while the 400+ monks of all ages carried on in their duties of learning texts, studying English, learning the traditional lama dancing or other performing arts as part of their daily routine at Sherabling.

Part of our day was visiting Amma and Akka, my adopted Tibetan parents. Now 87, Amma is a great example of resiliency and devotion. She and Akka walked over the Himalayas in 1959, like so many at that time. The journey took months, and it’s incredible that they even survived. I first met them 36 years ago, during my first venture to Sherabling. They were the cow caretakers for the monastery at that time, and Amma would feed us “Engees” (Westerners) milk tea and chapati with home-made curd. This was a real treat, and it was then that I first came to love Amma for her nurturing fierce spirit.

An important part of our time at Sherabling was to catch up on much-needed rest. Our efforts over months, to move and prepare for Erin, our tenant, were exhausting. But we couldn’t really settle into the sleep we were missing until we “landed” at Sherabling.

And now, a month into our journey and so many images and memories already. Snippets to share from my point of view, and maybe a reiteration of Matthew’s sharings:

From Sherabling to Dharamsala and being in the great presence of Karmapa; waiting a whopping 3 hours for a minute of his time and energy, a blessing nonetheless

Back to Delhi for a day and night, waiting to take the overnight train to Bodhgaya

feeling so grateful for this journey and the spontaneous possibilities

hearing a lively puja happening when we were wandering and dodging cars, bicycles, people, motorbikes and rickshaws on the street, we were invited with an enthusiastic smile into a neighborhood Durga celebration. Durga is the mother of the universe, who eliminates everyone’s suffering and the evils of the world; a good omen to take with us in our continuing journey…

On the train to Bodhgaya, having flashbacks of my first trip to India 36 years ago; and how amazed I was that every material thing seemed to be considered a resource for something else after its original use…there certainly wasn’t so much trash or plastic back then, but there wasn't the billion human beings living here then either, just a mere 700 million back in 1979...Whew! I am aware of the stark difference of being an American, on so many levels, here in this love/hate place. How the States are so fat with the excesses of stuff, for so many of us, not all I know…but this addiction to “things” is so insidious and an addictive craving; and I’m not immune to this poison I know. For now, I will lug my stuff of suitcase, backpack and bag, like a turtle lugging my house around with me, but I’m thinking I’ll slowly eliminate some of this so-called “necessary” stuff, maybe even paring way down to the minimum, whatever that looks like…and then I also remember that we have so many boxes full of things, sitting in storage in Santa Fe….and do we really need any of it? Who or what is it all serving?

It’s momentous to return to Bodhgaya where Matthew and I first met so many years ago. 

  India and Thailand in Haiku bites:

I 

Leaving it open

Grateful for every moment

To share with Matthew;

What a time to be!

II 

Sherabling magic

And we are under its spell

Peace for our tired hearts,

Deep sleep refuge here

III 

Delhi chaos dance

Learning new steps to keep up

Ready for the ride,

Mother India!

IV 

Where does space begin?

Vast peaks of Dharamsala

And Karmapa’s heart:

Big Presence with Love

V 

Wise children; bright joy

Who could imagine this gift?

Bodhi tree treasure

I weep with such grace…

VI 

Is this possible?

Sacred and profane one breath

So many smiles here

And suffering hearts

VII  

We really did this:

All of us meditating

Together as one

At the Bodhi tree

VIII 

We will not forget

Our sweet Indian family

A love connection

We made in past lives

IX 

Varanasi blues

Toxic and Holy one thing

How does one survive

On Mother Ganga?

X 

We are in Thailand:

New food, new culture, new land

New adventures too;

Jungle seaside air

XI

Lots of adjustments

Grieving leaving India…

It’s all in my gut;

Great time to move slow

XII

Jungle fever sounds:

great frog symphony music

It's rainy season

green moist ooze of life