Greetings from the view of a new backyard

Hello dears,

This is what I see first thing in the morning as I rise and shine... well, no.  Not exactly.  I see only the dark night sky at 5:30AM, which is 15 minutes before the morning gong for prayer at the temple will be sounded.  But this view is what I see from the steps of my room here at Thosamling.  The name of the nunnery means, "Place of hearing and contemplation."  Oh yah.  It is.

The scale in this photo does not accurately capture the grandeur and magnificence of the Himalayas.  We are completely nestled in a valley, so enjoy a microclimate much warmer than Dharamsala, which is about 20 minutes away.  The village is called Sidipur, which means "Place of realizations."  
Oh yah. Again.

So, the area that I dwell in, the nuns' building, is a 'silent always' zone.  It took a bit of a transition to get used to this, especially after just spending 2 weeks in South India at Tashi Lhunpo monastery with 32,000 people!  Anyway, turn and face the strange changes...little nod to the late great David Bowie.

Overall, this is a wonderful place to arrive to.  There are not many people here in the moment as it is winter and an off season (no classes going on until February and many nuns off traveling).  There are about 6 nuns from various countries, 4 lay practitioners, 2 volunteer grounds keepers, and a lovely community of locals who run the kitchen and bakery.  Food is very tasty but a bit heavy on the carb side and low on the protein, so I will have to figure that out, as I have met two women who have developed diabetes from this lack of nutrition based diet during their travels in India and Nepal.  Any and all suggestions welcomed!

Had a rough night of illness, sweats and runs, and lots of sleep. It left me humbled and grateful to have a bed and pillow, even if the room was 55 degrees without heat.  I have recovered and now fallen in love with a hot water bottle that shares my bed nightly!  Then even 54-50 is tolerable. Reminds me of the coal fired oven in East Berlin Prussian winters. Wearing a sleeping cap helps, too.

There are a few Americans here, and I am happy for the company and guidance as I was feeling a bit unmoored initially.  One woman helps out in the office and uses the lay practitioners hostel as a home base of sorts.  There are a few resident nuns, but generally everyone has her own thing going on: laywomen professors here translating or completing books on Tibetan Buddhism, retreat women doing qi going and silence. No speaking in the dining halls during any meals.  So, you can get the feel.  

Lots of intentionality!  Not a bad thing at all.  I have always loved the Buddha's edict,"Do not speak unless what you have to say can improve upon the silence."
Or as I said to a dear artist friend in Maine who is a woman of few words and therefore does not enjoy openings very much," Most talk is over-rated and under-appreciated so don't take it too seriously."

Anyway, I will try to add a few more photos to the Face Book page but wanted to drop a line.  

Here's a closer of the moon from the roof of the nunnery this evening.  Good night.  All my love, xxx