Holy Moly in I'm in Nepal!

Hey all,
Sorry for the lack of posting over the past week. We are in Kathmandu, Nepal!!! We are staying right next to the Boudha Stupa, which is one of the most famous and important sites for Buddhists in the world. It is the famous one with the "Buddha eyes" on it. Unfortunately I don't have my camera with me at the internet cafe so I can't upload pics.... and the connection is slow anyway.

So we have been in Nepal for the past week. Our primary activities have been recieving teachings from a Khenpo from one of the bigger monasteries near Boudha Stupa (there are 41 just right here!). He is teaching about Chapter 6 of Shantideva's Way of the Bodisattva. This chapter has to do with patience, why its important, and how to develop it. In Mahayana Buddhism, a Bodisattva is the ultimate realization, and it is what Buddhists are striving for. A bodisattva is someone has attained enlightenment but who chooses to delay ultimate nirvana and stay in cyclic existence for the benefit of all sentient beings. The ultimate purpose of Buddhism is liberation from samsara, cyclic existence, which is the cycle of birth and rebirth. So a Bodisattva is often considered even higher than a Buddha because they remain on Earth to help everyone. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is believed to be an incarnation of Avalokitesvara, the Bodisattva of Compassion.

So that is what we've been doing, also exploring and continuing with language class. This evening is our last teaching and we are going to have an audience with the abbot of this monastery as well as five others in Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. So he's a big deal!

Kathmandu is an interesting place, it is very very dirty and polluted. Its big, incredibly historic, and has a huge western population. It is the beginning of trekking season right now as well so lots of people are here for that. Theres a gear store on every corner selling fake stuff.

In other news, we're leaving for Tibet on thursday!

In Nepal there continues to be civil unrest. The Maoists are trying to call a special sesion of parliament to abolish the monarchy, but the date keeps getting moved back. A few days ago there was a huge rally in the center of town. We're supposed to stay away from such things because of the recent bombings, we're also not allowed to take public transportation, so we take taxis.

Gotta run, more later...
love Sam