A few days ago my friend Emma asked if I would like to go see a Lama and I responded, "Why would I want to see a llama?" Once we had cleared up that we would be seeing a Buddhist Lama and not the animal I was on board. The Lama we were to visit, along with a bunch of other Tushita people still hanging around, was His Holiness Karmapa who is the 17th reincarnation of the Karmapa Lama. Before leaving and even now I don't really know anything about him except that he is an extremely big deal in Tibetan Buddhism and that my 5 seconds in front of him were amazing.
We were led on our expedition by Ruth, an New Zealander, who randomly walked into a Tushita meditation a few years ago and stayed on for two and a half years. She had been in our Tushita course and she is just amazing to hang out with and tons of fun. She also has a huge New Zealand accent which I like to listen to. Anyway, we took a public bus way down the mountain. It was great to get out of Mcleod and see the actual Dharamshala and the surrounding countryside. The minute we started to descend the mountain the temperature must have risen 10 degrees. After two entertaining bus rides we arrived at the monastery where Karmapa lives when he is not traveling. It was questionable whether I would get to actually see him as I had not been told that I was supposed to bring my passport. Luckily I am very convincing and I have my passport number memorized so I was let in (it was fate). We sat in the beautiful and huge main hall along with hundreds of other devotees waiting to receive a blessing. Most people seemed far more informed that I am about Karmapa and I saw lots of T-shirts celebrating the 900th year of the Karmapa from 2010. I wasn't really expecting anything as I didn't really know who he was and was mostly just interested in getting to see somewhere new. He came in and the process started immediately. You would walk up to a monk who after receiving your white scarf (they have an official name that I don't know) would drape it over your head, then you would have your few seconds in front of His Holiness during which he gave you a red nylon string with a knot in it and you would accept it and bow. It looked like it would be over in mere seconds. First went monks from all over the world, then the men and then women. I was mostly worried that I would do something wrong and it did happen really fast. I tried to really look into his eyes but before I new it I was shuffling out the door. Despite being so brief I, along with everyone else who exited came out beaming with happiness. I just felt some kind of elation and couldn't stop smiling. The happiness was just all consuming and has remained until right this minute! I didn't really think I felt or saw anything when I looked into his eyes but something happened there that was wonderful.
Afterwards we made our way back up to Mcleod in a bus and a jeep this time and then all sat down for a quick tea which turned into a full meal (though mine was just steamed veggies). It has been so wonderful to spend time with other Tushita people. I'm sure everyone feels this way after their course but its just so nice to be able to connect with people and skip the same conversation about where we are from and where we've been and where we're going and actually talk to people about real things. The day was honestly the best that I have had in India and left me with the most wonderful feeling. It was a perfect end to the cleanse and perfect way to say goodbye to Emma and many of the other Tushita people who were leaving in a few days. My last couple of weeks here have just left me with a wonderful feeling and with such excitement for the rest of my travels on my own.
We were led on our expedition by Ruth, an New Zealander, who randomly walked into a Tushita meditation a few years ago and stayed on for two and a half years. She had been in our Tushita course and she is just amazing to hang out with and tons of fun. She also has a huge New Zealand accent which I like to listen to. Anyway, we took a public bus way down the mountain. It was great to get out of Mcleod and see the actual Dharamshala and the surrounding countryside. The minute we started to descend the mountain the temperature must have risen 10 degrees. After two entertaining bus rides we arrived at the monastery where Karmapa lives when he is not traveling. It was questionable whether I would get to actually see him as I had not been told that I was supposed to bring my passport. Luckily I am very convincing and I have my passport number memorized so I was let in (it was fate). We sat in the beautiful and huge main hall along with hundreds of other devotees waiting to receive a blessing. Most people seemed far more informed that I am about Karmapa and I saw lots of T-shirts celebrating the 900th year of the Karmapa from 2010. I wasn't really expecting anything as I didn't really know who he was and was mostly just interested in getting to see somewhere new. He came in and the process started immediately. You would walk up to a monk who after receiving your white scarf (they have an official name that I don't know) would drape it over your head, then you would have your few seconds in front of His Holiness during which he gave you a red nylon string with a knot in it and you would accept it and bow. It looked like it would be over in mere seconds. First went monks from all over the world, then the men and then women. I was mostly worried that I would do something wrong and it did happen really fast. I tried to really look into his eyes but before I new it I was shuffling out the door. Despite being so brief I, along with everyone else who exited came out beaming with happiness. I just felt some kind of elation and couldn't stop smiling. The happiness was just all consuming and has remained until right this minute! I didn't really think I felt or saw anything when I looked into his eyes but something happened there that was wonderful.
Afterwards we made our way back up to Mcleod in a bus and a jeep this time and then all sat down for a quick tea which turned into a full meal (though mine was just steamed veggies). It has been so wonderful to spend time with other Tushita people. I'm sure everyone feels this way after their course but its just so nice to be able to connect with people and skip the same conversation about where we are from and where we've been and where we're going and actually talk to people about real things. The day was honestly the best that I have had in India and left me with the most wonderful feeling. It was a perfect end to the cleanse and perfect way to say goodbye to Emma and many of the other Tushita people who were leaving in a few days. My last couple of weeks here have just left me with a wonderful feeling and with such excitement for the rest of my travels on my own.
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