We endured a 12+ hour bus ride to Dhalamsala. It was quite a ride and more than a bit scary in a few places. Picture a large bus working its way up a step mountain in a torrential downpour on roads that were far too narrow for the bus to begin with, and were made smaller by the several mudslides that narrowed the road even more. It's the start of the rainy season here in Dhalamsala!!
After a tibetan vegetarian breakfast we set out exploring the town. The first thing I notice is that we are in India but for the most part the people here are all Tibetan. I suppose this is to be expected considering the history of the area, but something that was not entirely obvious to me :)
The second thing I notice is the energy here. Everyone seems to be on a great quest. The cafes are filled with people (both foreigners and locals) discussing the teachings of the Dalai Lama while sipping warm Tibetan teas. The ginger and several derivations on that seem to be favorites in this cafe. The collective buzz of enlightenment is both exciting and scary at the same time. Conversations are reminiscent of a first year law class with lively debate and deep learning happening at every table. "Don't get attached to material things...kindness and compassion toward everyone are key to achieving inner peace...meditation is essential" I think to myself how obvious some of these teachings are, but I can think of countless examples of when compassion and kindness were in short supply, and for what? It is clear that patience is going to be important in this endeavor and not something I've always been good at.
Apart from many other places I've traveled recently with so many foreigners, there are no party hostels or discotheques that are obvious and certainly no beach or PADI dive shop around. People are clearly here sharing and educating as they are on the collective mission to discover something about themselves that would give more meaning and perhaps peace to this existence. I suppose that is precisely why I am here.
And so it goes. All of us united in one common goal. People have come from all around the world to soak up this peace...to find something...
It's about one hour before we will make our way from the cafe to the meditation center and I must admit I have a healthy level of trepidation for several reasons. I have never had to be still for such a long time, what if I go nuts? Further, what is going to happen to me?!? What am I going to discover? Will it help bring me peace or will it just raise more questions? What will these moments of clarity reveal? I guess I am about to find out.
After a tibetan vegetarian breakfast we set out exploring the town. The first thing I notice is that we are in India but for the most part the people here are all Tibetan. I suppose this is to be expected considering the history of the area, but something that was not entirely obvious to me :)
The second thing I notice is the energy here. Everyone seems to be on a great quest. The cafes are filled with people (both foreigners and locals) discussing the teachings of the Dalai Lama while sipping warm Tibetan teas. The ginger and several derivations on that seem to be favorites in this cafe. The collective buzz of enlightenment is both exciting and scary at the same time. Conversations are reminiscent of a first year law class with lively debate and deep learning happening at every table. "Don't get attached to material things...kindness and compassion toward everyone are key to achieving inner peace...meditation is essential" I think to myself how obvious some of these teachings are, but I can think of countless examples of when compassion and kindness were in short supply, and for what? It is clear that patience is going to be important in this endeavor and not something I've always been good at.
Apart from many other places I've traveled recently with so many foreigners, there are no party hostels or discotheques that are obvious and certainly no beach or PADI dive shop around. People are clearly here sharing and educating as they are on the collective mission to discover something about themselves that would give more meaning and perhaps peace to this existence. I suppose that is precisely why I am here.
And so it goes. All of us united in one common goal. People have come from all around the world to soak up this peace...to find something...
It's about one hour before we will make our way from the cafe to the meditation center and I must admit I have a healthy level of trepidation for several reasons. I have never had to be still for such a long time, what if I go nuts? Further, what is going to happen to me?!? What am I going to discover? Will it help bring me peace or will it just raise more questions? What will these moments of clarity reveal? I guess I am about to find out.
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