Shanti Stupa Leh

View over Leh

Emma Martha & me with crazy monk in the background

Leh
 Leh has grown a lot since my first visit here in 1997. Full of tourist coffee shops, restaurant taxis and all kind os shops selling what every tourist needs. I was shopping the other day for a gift when I bumped into a friend whom I had not seen in 15 years . She is from Tibet. Small world these days and it was great to catch up with her.
Leh is great for walking and the best walk in town is up to the Shanti Stupa. It is beautifully and so peaceful especially at 5am, well that is what Neil tells me. I have only made it up there at sunset and what a sunset it was.     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanti_Stupa

His Hoiness gave 4 days of teaching on Atisha's Lamp to the Pathhttp://www.lamrim.com/hhdl/atishaslamp.html
and Tsongkapa's Praise of  Dependant Origination  http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/sutra/level2_lamrim/advanced_scope/voidness_emptyness/introduction_praise_dependent_arisi.html

HHDL making sure the foreigners are all listening

Two calssic text and again the foundation of the Buddhist path. Instead of the intimate environment we had in Zanskar the teaching ground was packed and must have held about 10,000 people. In true Indian style the toiltes were open air by the river ( cover your nose) and no vender's selling bottle water or food  so take a picnic. But what great atmosphere. It rained the first day and we had good cloud cover for most of the teaching. Only a few time did we bake in the sun. So overall it went really well and His Holiness was in good health and good spirits. On the last day it was hot and some of the monks in the front row fell asleep, well HHDL was not so happy about this and like a good teacher he reprimanded those monk and they were escorted out of the teaching ground. What an embarrassment. HHDL  then turned around to the foreigners section and said in English " no point to come here if your not paying attention; isn't it." This was a reprimand to all of us who were also dozing in the sun, not listening or too busy taking photos. I think we all sat up straight after that, well I know me and Karen did.

salad anyone?

peace man

A few of us got together for picnic lunch in the volunteer tent. Each one of us produced some food item and like the fish and the bread story we had a feast which consisted of ; yak cheese bread, tomatoes, cucumber melted chocolate, nuts, cookies, apricots and figs. So spontaneous and so nice. Thanks you guys!