Happy New Year 2012
The first week of 2012 has disappeared already. Two days of rain and two days of drizzle turned the dust into mud but hopefully the sun will stay out now because the laundry needs to dry.  For all yi Dharma folks you know the routine at teachings in India and for those that don’t, well it goes something like this. First things first, the hassle and negotiations over getting your place to sit, then getting there real early the first of teachings day to stake your claim. The endless security lines with security guards who pat you down and check your bags for camera and cell phones. The ever changing schedule only ever circulated in Tibetan, the radios that crackle and the transmission of the translator cutting out at random, (usually at the time when you are not taking a nap). The monks that step all over you and your stuff as they try to pour hot butter tea into cups for morning break, your neighbour who speaks another language gossiping to their friend over your head just as you are beginning to understand what His Holiness is talking about. The toilets,,, well! you have to roll up your trousers legs cover your nose and mouth, squat while you hold the door closed and get in and out as quick as possible. Your cushion that goes missing, the rip in the tent that lets the rain in just where you are sitting and if this is the case then there will be umbrellas that you cannot see over. Hours of sitting where you are packed in so tight you can hardly move your legs. Then there is the crush of people skuffling there way out of the grounds at the end of the day trying to pour themselves through the same small entrances we can in at one by one.

 In so many ways I must be mad to be here and it is hilarious (actually caught myself laughing as I was writing this) what we go through for teachings but in a weird way it is really enjoyable. I have laughed so much this week because there is also so much good stuff about being at teaching in India that you just do not seem to get in the west. Like sharing the blessed biscuits and kapsay, loaning each other others radios, ear buds, cups, shawls, food, water, cushions, toilet paper, asprin and books, recommending medicines and cold remedies to hotels, places to visit and restaurants to avoid. Talking about the latest Dharma events and news, catching up and joking with people you have not seen in years, snatching a glimpse of Richard Gere is always fun. Seeing all the lamas in one place at one time is amazing because you never know which lama you may literally bump into walking around the stupa. Then of course the best part is receiving teaching from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in such a holy place is fantastic and makes all the daily irritations disappear.  

We just finished three days of teachings today on “Hymn to Buddha the World Transcendent” by Najrajuna, “the 2^nd Volume of the stages of Meditation” by Kamilashila, “Eight verses of Mind Training” by Geshie Langri Thangpa, “Thirty Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva” by Gyalsey Thokmay Sangpo and “Jewel Lamp: a Praise of Bodhichitta” by Kunu Lama Rinpoche. All very inspiring texts which make me realize I have a lot of work to do on this mind.