Opening the gates of loving kindness and entering into compassion

The gates of Thosamling, opening out into the world with love, stepping into community with compassion.  The mountains are now coated in a fresh crisp cover of white snow which arrived days prior to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's return to His residence 30 minutes from here.  We rejoice to welcome Him back and pray for His long and incomparable life to continue for aeons to benefit all beings.

It is March and we have had warm spells, which have seen our gardens here explode in offerings of green delight.  The past few days have been full of thunder storms and rain down here, lots of snow in the mountains.  Good all the way around, as this is a water supply and there has been a long drought.

I was thrilled and honored to share a visit from Traca Gress, Eva and Don from Maine with the lovely community of nuns, laywomen, and other friends here at Thosamling last week.  We shared much laughter, spiritual practice, unconditional love and friendship, touring the nunnery, sitting in meditation, eating communal meals in the garden, visiting Norbulinka the Tibetan Community's art and cultural preservation project that is just next door, and doing early morning yoga on the roof, joined by our abbess Sangmo and other nuns.

The latest update from the growing effort to become entirely sustainable is a chicken house/cage that will be home to a flock of about 7 hens laying organic eggs.  They may even get permission to take a free range from time to time.  Today Fred and I hung a bamboo roost for the ladies and soon their accommodations will be ready.  My day to day includes 4.5 hours of Tibetan language class, taught by a lovely Geshe.  We took our first test last Friday and it was very comprehensive.  I passed with less than flying colors, but happy that so much has been offered in such a short time.

More updates soon, just dropping a line of Love. Leave a comment if you feel compelled, I appreciate hearing from you!  Warm hugs

Losar Tashi Delek!

Losar Tashi Delek,

The Buddha in the photo is Maitreya, the future Buddha of Universal Love, seems like a nice image to start off the Tibetan New Year with.  Some of you may not know this, but the Tibetan calendar is based on the lunar cycle, so the New Year just began Feb. 9, 2016/Tibetan year 2143.

Life here at Thosamling is moving along in winter's way, which is often a steady 55 degrees indoors and out.  Yesterday we caught a nice break of clear skies, sunshine, 74 degrees to go out and deliver our Losar baskets to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's residence, the abbot of Namgyal Monastery (HHDL's Temple in McLeod Ganj0, Jhado Rinpoche (abbout of Guyto Tantric Monastery, His Holiness the Karmapa's main residence) and another lovely Geshe La who is head of the Tibetan Library and Institute of Buddhist Philosophy.  So much fun to go around offering lovely baskets full of fruit, nuts, incense, and offer Khatags to everyone.  I also requested to take the novice vows eventually leading to full getsulma vows from the abbout of HHDL's monastery yesterday.  It seems that the first step, the Rabjung, or novice vows may happen in March.  

I have the robes, but not the haircut yet.  I posted a photo on FB that appears like it is all shaved but it is just pulled back for now.  Patience is definitely a virtue and in the meantime, there is plenty to occupy life: organic gardens, sign painting for the Nunnery, prayer flags to be taken down and switched out, daily karma yoga jobs, lots of study and prayer, Tibetan language class starts next week, 4 hours a day.  I have to learn all the prayers in Tibetan, including the entire Heart Sutra, before the full ordination.  So, not shortage on things to keep me busy.  And each morning, we are in the temple by 5:50AM until 7:00AM for morning meditation and prayer.    Sunday we have off, and we had a little break for Losar on the early morning commitment.  

Thank you all for your love, prayers, support and spiritual friendship along this pathless path.  I plan to come back to the US this November for a month's visit.  Until then, you are all tucked warmly in my heart!

All my love

Greetings from Thosamling

Hello dear friends,  

Here is another brief entry from life in the lovely place that it is being lived from currently.  The photos are of sunset a few nights ago taken from the roof of the nun's quarters where there are also some transplanted basil and dragon fruit seedlings growing.  And the condensed bottom thangka is Green Tara, who graces the nun's dining hall.

Life is settling into a quiet yet productive flow of up early and asleep early, morning meditation and prayers daily, Monday-Saturday, beginning at 5:45 - 7:15 AM.  I am learning to chant/pray in Tibetan while simultaneously doing full length prostrations, which is as complicated and challenging to focus on as it sounds.  I read that the taller, longer your body is, the more merit for the ground covered, so that is some consolation.

Also, although we have been saying many prayers at Tashi Gatsel Ling, my home base in Maine for years in Tibetan, they are no where near the speed, tempo, and accuracy that is required here. So I am taking on an intensive update to that capacity, revising the tunes that are set in my memory bank to the new tempos and cadence that is standard here.  Great practice in letting go, humility and perseverance!

Yesterday was the full moon and we offered Medicine Buddha Puja for healing and world peace.  There were two nuns, one from Germany, the other India, and myself.  Just love this practice and am so grateful to the Staffords for introducing it to me way back when in Pownal, Maine. 

We said this in English, so it was a bit easier, but I could hear the lovely British English of the Indian nun as she said, "When we pass away from this life, may we be born in that Buddha field, qualities complete..."  Her pronunciation of "pass"  was so lovely, like just letting go, "pahs a way"  (You have to hear it with a lilting British accent spoken from a bodhicitta heart).  It definitely encourages me to shift the short hard "pass, as in p ass) to this gentler version

of the spoken word with eloquence and grace.  Yes, lots of learning daily.  

Khen Rinpoche's first edict to me to observe a teacher for a long time to see if they have the spiritual qualities is coming in handy, as I am integrating into a community of monastics and others.  It is really good to reserve and withhold all judgment to meet people as good human beings with a genuine open heart. Of course. Yet, we also must use both wings of wisdom and compassion, not just blind faith and initial impressions to deeply discern qualities. This takes time. Glad I have plenty of that currently.  

This is a view of one of our neighbors, a Nyingma Monastery.  I walked around it yesterday briefly and spun the prayer wheel a few times and caught the eye of a hidden yogi, in the guise of an old man turning a hand held prayer wheel, but whose eyes blinded me when he looked up from under his baseball hat to give me a direct shot of bodhicitta!  

No photos of myself to include, basically not much change there, except a few more wrinkles and gray hair.  There was a great sign I noticed today in the nun's bathroom/shower as one of the points of orderly tidiness, "Check the drain after your shower for hair, if you have any."  Ha, ha, ha!

Have not taken the rabjung vows yet, so no change of wardrobe, either.  Slowly, slowly.  Just happy for each day and the time it affords for prayers, practice, meditation, learning and heart opening.  Had a lovely help session on pronouncing the prayers last night with Tsojong, a beautiful Austrian nun, so dedicated, so pure.  Her generosity and kindness were so appreciated.  She has lived here for 8 years, 4 as a lay woman and 4 as ordained nun. She told me I will need to really memorize all of these prayers to be able to say them in Tibetan when I take full ordination vows and to go to sojong, which is confession, each month at the main temple in McLeod Ganj.  There are specific prayers the monastics say at that time.  So, lots of hours devoted to learning these, which I think will get easier when the intensive Tibetan Language Courses that I am taking this year finally begin.  

Have a feeling this is the calm before the storm.  Soaking up the mild weather today, about 54 degrees, which is balmy compared to winters in Maine, but at night when the indoors dips down to 52 without a heater or electric blanket, well, then I am tucked into the sleeping bag, several blankets and hot water bottle by my side.  

Thanks for all the love and friendship.  

May all beings be freed in the strength and power of compassion, and may all hearts/minds awaken to their true nature!

All my love. 

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

Happy New Year from India, with Love

The motto I am living by right now is, "What if everyone's happiness was your happiness?"  This has been a great practice for the past two weeks of the New Prayer Hall Inauguration at my teacher's (Kachen Khen Rinpoche Lobsang Tstetan, pictured here with his family being blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama) at Tashi Lhunpo  monastery in Bylakupee, South India.  The teachings and vows and initiation bestowed upon us all through the incredible and non-fatiguable daily sessions were incredible blessings.  

Many happy hearts, much sharing of dharma and incredible hospitality by the Jangchup Organizing Committee.  We were housed and fed 3 delicious meals daily, sharing many unforgettable moments with dharma friends from around the world, dining with enlightened masters, and feeling humbled by the glory that Tashi Lhunpo Monastery has been restored to, led by tireless efforts of Kachen Khen Rinpoche, who always had time for everyone.  Truly, deeply, entirely grateful and full of loving devotion.  

This is a shining example of the warm hearted feeling we all took part in over these past weeks.  Thank you to my teachers His Holiness the Great XIVth Dalai Lama of Tibet, to Kachen Khen Rinpoche Lobsang Tsetan, to Geshe Tsewang Dorje and Geshe Yeshi, to all the Kachens and Jangchub Organzing Committee, Volunteers, Staff and monks at Tashi Lhunpo, who helped, cared for, and cooked for over 30,000 people for 2 weeks straight.  Magnificent Love.

Growing Fuller, Awakening to Infinite Love

Very aware these days, of impermanence and life cycles, change and renewal. About to enter a new phase of life, offering up everything with love, humility, faith and belief in the power of transformation to evolve into the most loving presence possible.  


This process has been interwoven with contemplation, intention, decision making based on the courage of conviction and reason.  It is a letting go, a holding in, a release and an expansive embrace. Wow, wow, wow, cannot truly find words to express the joy, wonder, awesome, amazing journey.  

So many loving presences offering smiles, encouragement, blessings, lifting up and supporting this effort to release and transcend.  Humbly grateful, presently uplifted. With so much gratitude, fully, deeply, truly.  

As many are aware, my journey on the pathless path is leading to India and a nunnery called Thosamling http://www.thosamling.com/.  Please visit this beautiful website to get a better flavor of what some of life will be like there.

Many have asked what goes on inside and at a nunnery?  This lovely site will give you a taste of some of the programs there and what some of the steps are for a woman seeking to take ordination as a nun.  Of course, I have no idea what this will be like.  My life has been lived in the sacred secular, not sacred monastic, so very clearly there will be a shift of daily rhythms and responsibilities.

This process has been long and slow in coming and will continue along that trajectory, step by step.  It is easier to keep our balance, lighten our load, and proceed with intention, dedication, motivation as we move carefully and skillfully in the direction we are headed in.  This past year has been such a practice, as have several of the past years studying and growing in dharma.  

Even with a positive aspiration and motivation and the wonderful blessings being showered on this journey, I have no idea what will happen once there.  Just taking it day by day and keeping a clear dedication for the benefit of all sentient beings as the final result of my intention and motivation. 

Thank you for your genuine interest and accompanying me on this journey with your love and prayers.  Very deeply inspiring and helpful, dear friends, and wishing that all of your noble intentions come to fruition, too!
                                                                                    Go Love
                                                                                      
  






                                                   

LOVE & LET GO: FACING OUR FEARS, CALLING OUT CREATIVITY AND MAKING NEW FRIENDS

Glass bottom gondola in Taiwan

 When I was young I had a terrible fear of heights.  I used to climb trees a little higher each time gripping the branches, trying to help myself get over this fear.  Slowly this practice helped me trust heights.  Well, except on the high dive at the public pool. That always remained particularly scary!  

I was glad that I managed to defeat that fear by learning ways I could love heights.  When I was 12 years old and flew in an airplane for the first time, I thought it was amazing!  I was still a little afraid, but the exhilaration more than compensated.   Plus, I was flying to a magical island called Bermuda, and that as a destination was a great motivator!

  

I still felt scared of heights but I was slowly learning to trust in my experience of them.  Well, except when my friend in high school and I were stuck high up on a ferris wheel at Mountain Park in Holyoke, and she began swinging our little bucket chair back and forth.  I felt so scared I thought I was going to faint.  But later in life, with another friend from college, I would willingly pay for and board a gigantic ferris wheel on the edge of a great lake in Chicago, IL.  That was very different.  Serene and fun.  I would also take up skiing in high school and get over the fear of heights sitting exposed on a chair lift with no safety bar and 300 foot drops.  Yes, I would clutch the side of the seat, that is true enough.  Especially on one chair lift in the Alps that was over 60 years old and had a little wooden seat.  It ascended over the cloud line.  

That is very high, if you know mountains.

My feet and the view through the glass bottom gondola.
Those are trees on the side of a mountain in a volcanic forest below.

A few years ago I attended a conference on Natural Healing in Taiwan to speak about the health benefits of meditation.  Meditation is a deep and profound spiritual practice.  Yet, there are so many other benefits that come along with getting to know your mind.  

Like encountering what terrifies you and learning to move through fear into joy.  

During a long session at the conference which I could not understand, because it was in Chinese and that is a language I do not speak, I slipped out for a few hours to explore Taipei.  I heard about a cool glass bottom gondola up the side of an inert volcano.  That was a trip I also wanted to take.  So I bought a ticket and got on board.  

A magical pagoda seen from the air
If I had not gotten brave enough to challenge and conquer
my fear when I was a child, I would have missed this amazing view!

And making some new friends!

 Strangers who became friends in mid-air

A new design of an old word

An artist who now lives on an island off the coast of Maine decided it was time to put a new stamp on LOVE for a stamp.  Literally.  So he designed for the US Postal service.  
Now his stamp and statues of his view on LOVE are world famous.

This little blog is about encouraging each of us to face what we are afraid of and continue to allow ourselves the freedom to explore ways to transcend fear, to move forward into embracing it and transcending it with creative responses that call us out of the fear and into the power of love.   Maybe we can actually make friends with fear by letting it still tag along for the ride on occasion but letting it know that it will not hold us back.


Enjoy.  Be Brave. Go Love.