Meditation, Refugee Reception Center, and random stuff

Yesterday we had our first meditation session with our Tibetan monk. His name is Bob and he is from Chicago. He actually did the program in 1995, and after graduating decided he had to come back. He worked in Australia at a monestary there for the last seven years and is now back studying under his original teacher. It was so helpful to have an actual monk who can explain in a different way the underpinnings of Buddhism and yet be able to use examples that make sense to Americans. He has a great feel about him, he exudes calmness and peace, and yet is very relateable. I think often times we think of monks as these beyond beings, something that we as normal people could relate to, but as my experience over and over is showing me, they are just people like the rest of us. In the hour session, we talked for about 50 mins about the larger goals of mediatation and then did the first step, focusing on a single point, for about 5 mins, which definitely feels like eternity. Next session is sat.

Today we went to the Tibetan refugee reception center here to observe what incoming refugees are experiencing when they first arrive. The center is rather small, with a kitchen, male and female hostel (basically a large room with 40 beds for men and boys, and a smaller room with maybe 20 beds for women and girls), an office and a rooftop drawing room. Unfortunately picture taking is not allowed for political reasons, but its too bad, because to see this kids that have just crossed the Himalayas is enough to make you want to change careers to helping them in any way possible. We met 4 boys who have been here for a week, it took them 3 weeks to cross the border from Tibet into Nepal. Their parents paid a guide to take them across so that they could come to dharamsala to go to the tibetan children's village and become tibetan educated, not chinese. It is very typical for kids to come over basically alone, with only the clothes on their backs. These four were lucky in that they only suffered some face wind burns. Some, especially when crossing during the winter months, come across with horrible frostbite, as they walk through feet of snow for days in just jeans and old tennis shoes. The youngest of the 4 was just six. Once they reach Nepal, they are picked up, processed by the refugee center there and then bused to dharamsala. They will spend anywhere from a few days to a month at the center before being transferred to one of the settlements or schools or monestaries. We also met a few monks and a nun who had just arrived 2 days ago. The kids use drawing and art as therapy at the center, and the pictures they draw often represent what they have seen in Tibet. Much of the pictures involve chinese army pointing guns at tibetans. I do have some photos of those, will try to post soon. The trip was a sobering experience, but the kids are proud to be here and the organization does a great job, so though sobering, its so lucky that a place like that exists.

On a much lighter note, a quick review of the happenings of the last few days:
One of the high Karmapa lamas passed away a few days ago, while meditating, and has yet to fall over out of his meditation pose. Weird to think that this man is just sitting there and has been dead for four days. They cant do a sky burial until the last wind leaves him and he falls over. So there is a general sense of waiting. We are also hoping he moves, which it is assumed he will, in order to give a sense of direction on where to look for his reincarnation. That is how the 14th Dalai Lama was actually found, the 13th's head moved from a south facing position to a northeast facing position, the direction search parties set out.
Yesterday, we ran into Pearson from our group who says "dude, i just ran into someone from my college" which we thought was kind of fun, but he was "pissed." Who comes half way across the world to see someone from your school? Its definitely an illustration of the cosmopolitanism of Dharamsala though. This is a place that people all over the world want to come, for spiritual, political and social reasons. I think we see as many foreigners as Indians.
Today is Valentine's day, another great reason for Kashmiri men to talk to young, western women. I got "come to my shop for your heart's desire" and "come into my shop for your wildest pleasures" today, neither of which i even wanted to think about what they actually meant.
We have the day off tomorrow, which is much needed as language and lectures have been long and intense. We are going to hike up to the waterfall and Dal lake tomorrow for much needed exercise and escape. Should be beautiful, ill take lots of pictures.
I think thats about it for now, the days stay about the same. If you have specific questions for me about my experience, please leave them in the comments. When i sit down to write these, a lot often escapes me from the day to day stuff because its already becoming routine. But questions might focus my thoughts better. Sim-jah nahng-go.