A friend sent me this video of Dharamsala (My old home in North India) and it also has a great interview with His Holiness about his last book. It realy captures the feeling of His Holiness’s home in India.

Passage to India—and the Dalai Lama

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304743704577384030541169376.html

All is well…prayers.

Tharpa

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To reply: please compose a fresh email and send to me at: Tharpa@tibet2009.com 

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Hello Friends and family,

Sorry that I’m a little late on April’s blog posting, I’ve been really digging into my studies these days.

Well the big new news is!…

Well…after almost 2 year alone here at Gyudmed…I’m no longer the only westerner. With the Arrival of “May Tok” a young lady from France who speaks beautiful Tibetan, and Thomas a scientist from Switzerland staying here for one year as part of a new program His Holiness the Dalai Lama started to bring westerner science classes into Tibetan monasteries. We now have three westerners at Gyudmed. We are all studying language and Buddhism together and both are very nice.

May Tok

Thomas

Other big news!

I have started my formal classes in Buddhist philosophy and debate about 8 months ahead of schedule. Though I’m defiantly not the brightest student in class I do have a capacity for diligence that seems to please my teachers. In Tibetan culture they have always prized diligence over intelligence, though of course both are essential and prized in Buddhism. These classes are taught in only Tibetan.

Many of you may not know about debate. It’s similar to debate in the west, but much more animated. After studying your daily philosophy lesson all monks go to the debate grounds where the whole monastery takes place in debate. Monks are pared off and heated exchanges on Buddhist philosophy and science ensue, it’s incredible. The energy, the subjects and the competition make it truly electrifying. One monk stands and delivers a hypothesis the other monk sitting, answers and defends his position…a very unique style of study in the world, and the young monks love it! They jump around and get to expel all their young energy all the while studying their lessons.

Youtube…monks debating:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhhOHHx5Lf8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgpU460d5wE&feature=related

Other thoughts,

I was sick last week for about 5 days…nothing serious, just the same old Indian stomach bugs. Took some meds and I’m back at study once again.  

Our hot season is over…not so hot this year. We are entering monsoon season which is equally mild at Gyudmed. I’m feeling really energetic in my studies and love it!

Next month will be two year for me staying at Gyudmed, and I’m O.K

BUT…what a challenge!

I hope you're all well. I miss you all very much.

Prayers,

Tharpa

Hello all,

I had a few minutes and wanted to say hi.

Sorry I don’t blog very much these days. My access to the internet has been a bit limited these days.

So how am I?

I’m doing pretty good these days. We’re currently in the beginning of South India’s hot season here at Gyudmed. Which is really not as bad as you might think. Even though we are just a few hundred miles from the equator, Gyudmed sits at a higher altitude and our  weather is temperate and pleasant with no humidity at all. The afternoon sun without a doubt is “hot” but only if you’re out in it, If you find some shade life’s good. Mornings and evening can actual still be chilly…the best weather of anywhere I’ve lived.  

The good news…

I think it is safe to say I can “Officially” speak Tibetan.

I’m not fluent yet but I can speak it form morning to night and be understood.

This has brought a new and wonderful joy to my life, At the time I didn’t realize just how worried I was about returning to school and/or possible failing at my classes and goals.

So know I have a revived hope in my goals and future. And not just my Tibetan, my Hindi and Karnataka languages have improved very much lately. I hope to start my philosophy studies (Only taught in the Tibetan language) next year…boy that’s going to be tough.

Also I’m finding that as my language studies improve, so too does my depth of friendships around the monastery. My healthy is good, I continue to shed a few extra pounds and walk every morning. Most of India is dirty and polluted but here at Gyudmed we live in rural India, in a Tibetan farming settlement were its quiet, not over populated. We live next to India’s second largest forest/jungle and nature preserve, so lots of clean air and just a few tigers, wild elephants, cobras and hand sized scorpions…LOL.

Me and my Hindi Language teacher siting at his tailor shop

Prayers to all…and yes…I still love you all very much.

Tharpa

Hello All,

I wanted to recommend The Dalai Lama’s new book to everyone.

A great deal of His Holiness’s books are transcribed from teachings, only for a few did he deem important enough to take the time to sit down and write them himself. He has dozens of books to his name but has only sat down to write 6, and this is the latest one. 

This book is for anyone who wants to improve the quality of their life and the lives of those they love but don't have the ability or time to make a big commitment.

This is a book for everyone, Religious, atheist, agnostic or secular minded.

I believe it will become a very important book.

Prayers to all,

Tharpa

 ________________________________________________

Remember you cannot reply to these blog posts, I will not get your message.

To reply: please compose a fresh email and send to me at: Tharpa@tibet2009.com 

_______________________________________________________

Prayers,

Tharpa