Refuge Renewal

We're in a kind of nether region, a bardo if you like, between being here and now anticipating leaving. This happens each time we come here. A sadness is part of the emotional mix now. While it took longer than usual for both of us to feel "arrived", causing some discomfort, some doubt, we did arrive at last and were able to enter the realm of sacred Sherabling again. Now, with Tai Situ's teachings on the very near horizon, our departure time is just beyond that, also on the nearer horizon, and of course there's that deep part of both of us that doesn't want to leave a heart home. We will leave, and we know we need to leave. The "real" world awaits. Ahh. Also, the theme of the broken heart, the continuing pain related to the specific current horrors in Israel as well as the  madness possessing the American political and social milieu is part of this mix. Divisiveness, hatred, hostility, violence, trauma, seem to be gripping the world at large in rene...

Thru villages of Sandral, Suja and Upper Suja Nancy and I did finally do this walk last week, and I was happily surprised to discover that the walk I remembered from previous years has been simplified considerably. A sort of "high road" has emerged which saves some exertion and delivered us more simply from the beautiful village farmlands to the one road through Bir.  Nancy's attending Mingyur Rinpoche's teachings all day today so I decided to treat myself to another Bir walk. At the moment I'm sitting at the June 16 Cafe enjoying a Sunrise smoothie, considering whether to walk back or take a taxi. 1 1/2 hours each way, but it would be almost all down hill going back, and probably less than that. It's such a lovely country walk that I'm leaning in that direction. And it's a most glorious day to boot, perfect for just this.   Well, it was a no brainer after all. Fortified by cappuccino, chocolate cream cake and papaya banana smoo...

" Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights with its variations also celebrated in other Indian religions.  It symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance".  "The celebrations generally last five or six days.  Diwali is connected to various religious events, deities and personalities, such as being the day Rama returned to his kingdom in Ayodhya with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana after defeating the demon king Ravana.  It is also widely associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity ( and much else , my comment) and Ganesha, the god of wisdom and the remover of obstacles." All this compliments of Wikipedia. Lakshmi The 16 year old daughter, Priyanka Devi, of our hosts last night, Bihari Lal and his wife Pammi in the local Bhattu village down the hill from Stupa Guest House, mentioned the "return of Lord Ram" aspect of it all, and Bihari Lal pointed out that the courtyard floor ...

This illustrated somewhat by the haiku profusion. Today I'm feeling the simplicity quite nicely. Maybe finally having arrived at that familiar place of refuge renewal. Ahhh. Slow breath. Deep, easy breath. Also the aftermath of Mingyur Rinpoche's five day teaching on Moonbeams of Mahamudra, this title a translation, Nancy tells me, of a 15th century text. 200 devotee students, one dead Russian, Sasha, on the spot, 3 yelps and falling heart attack gone, virtually at the feet of his Guru, shock resounding throughout, prayers in the moment, Powa practice in the liminal death space, teachings carrying on. What blessed karma, to die like that. Ahhh. Last breath in shrine room Guru present with prayers Death comes any time Prayers, poems, compassionate devotion, luminous nature of mind, impermanence, non grasping, all encompassing awareness, suchness.  Maybe Westerners mostly (?) needing more time, processing, to come back to ground/body in wake of Sasha's sudden demi...

This morning I read Rabbi Zach's latest weekly message, Disparities In A Frozen Heart. In it he reveals, unwittingly, that he's torturing himself with daily doses of video warfare, seeing again and again the burned, crushed, dead bodies of children in the arms of their fathers. He invites those who think this course of action is the right one to expose themselves also to these video horrors, so that at the least, they can see the human cost of their position. I was deeply moved, touched, by the pain he is inflicting upon himself every day, in order, I suppose, to insure that he not lose his compassion, his empathy, his sensitivity? He is among the apparently somewhat unpopular voices, among certain Jewish leaders, in calling for a cease fire. A voice in the wilderness, lost largely in the cacophony of shouts of Antisemitism. Somehow a cease fire equates with hatred of Jews. "I'm a second generation Holocaust survivor, people hate Jews, what's happening needs to hap...

I haven't shared much in the way of videos so far, so I thought I'd post some all together. Please enjoy a moving....ahem....look at some of our ordinary days' experiences.                                             Nearby village of Sansal, through the trees at the top of my morning walk Goat/sheep flock and shepherd possessing the road back from Bir Small local wedding at Stupa Guest House Evening paragliders over Palpung Institute Lama Dancers in training Cows and monkeys on the lawn local landscape from Kala's taxi, returning from Baijnath monkeys eating pine nuts along the road Hope you enjoy. Big Hugs.