It’s Day Whatever. I am managing to carve out a niche of what works for me amid a sea of teachings that make me want to run away screaming. There’s a fine line some days. People make the difference – being able to lend an ear or to hug someone who needs it more than I.
Our discussion group has been banned from our original spot on the dining room roof. Apparently, we are disruptive and “new age-y” as a result of one of our motivational exercises which consisted of placing our hands on each other’s shoulders. It’s just like being back in Grade 8 at Holy Family School when Sr. Jacqueline banned her Grade 9 class from the basement where we heathens were located. Ven Ailsa – our principal teacher – remarked a few weeks ago that Tibetan Buddhism is to Buddhism what Roman Catholicism is to Christianity. My freakin’ luck.
That’s not to say we aren’t having fun though.
. Female student: Why is there a rule against sexual activity in the monastery? Male student: What’s your room number?
. Out for a walk along the ridge overlooking Kathmandu on Day 3. Met a herd of goats. Head-butted by one of them. Asian animals 3, Susan 0.
. Day 8 and we’re encouraged to relax and enjoy ourselves. After all, this is our holiday. Topic of the day: death and the dying process.
. We are studying impermanence and emptiness, concepts at the heart of Buddhism which remind us that all things change and that nothing exists as we see it. A fine example of this is Air Asia’s flight schedule which appears to have been only a suggestion when I booked the Delhi-Goa flight. Breathe.
. Despite the fact that we don’t get fruit often, there are bags of bananas in the dining room. These people have dealers! I need better contacts.
. A-h-h-h. The gardener is trimming trees in front of the dining room. Smells like Christmas!
. I encountered an 80-year-old woman at the top of the steps next to the main gate a few days ago. These steps are steep and even the fittest among us are puffing when we reach the top. It turns out this woman comes to KTM every year from Switzerland to volunteer at a soup kitchen near Boudhanath Stupa. She attributes her good health to staying active and away from seniors’ homes. Note to self.
. Two kinds of instant coffee on offer in the dining room: McCoffee and Timm’s.
