Shimla: my 3-day Tibetan Buddhist monastery of Dorje Drak with Younten Shimla (Himachal Pradesh)
Journey to Shimla from Delhi went great: night train from Delhi to Kalka (near Chandigarh), arrival at 4:50 in the morning as planned despite starting almost ertarde 2 hours, but in fact the delay must be included in the haoraire ad! A
Kalka, my train is expected at 6am, it is already there, so I sit in the company of a charming family of Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) who comes to spend a few vacation days and then Manali Shimla ... They
3: 2 parents aged 55 or 60 years, and their daughter Rajani, 30 years approximately. They are refrigerated the poor, temperatures in southern India has nothing to do with those of northern India, let alone this first Himalayan region .. So, they took the coats and wool caps, it's too cute!
They offer me chai at each step of the journey (you can count, we stopped near a little 5 or 6 times ...!), course I refuse to pay, and Rajani shares his chocolate bars each time .. So officially confirms my diet "become fat like a samosa in 20 Days" has begun!
I wear a yellow orange Punjabi, and suddenly the father of Rajani think I was a Hare Krishna sect of! They are Hindu and vegetarian .. Yep, we said the train!
At the station of Shimla, is the Younten and waiting for almost 2 hours, because obviously we left on time but we have fallen behind on ...
After 20 minutes drive, we arrive at momastere, which is located below the east of Shimla, has Pantaghati, after Chota Shimla.
I am happy to find this peaceful place was safe from Indian agitation ... The rest will be beneficial to me after this July profesionnally difficult.
Younten my room was prepared with love as always .. I think I Chambles the most luxurious of all the monastery, with private bathroom, hot water ... He apporet fruits and 2 bottles of mineral water ...
It is he who will cook for us 2 for 3 days, morning, noon and night. This is an excellent cook, a time for cooking but also Indian Tibetan. I took some pictures which I will try to post these days.
Life in the monastery varies somewhat depending on the day. In summer the monks get up at 4am, 6am in winter. At 4:20, it is the puja in the morning until 5:30 am. Then breakfast until 6am (it's the cook of the monastery who has pepare eat for everyone, at least for the younger ages as the most Younten can breakfast in their room, or by preparing themselves, is bringing something prepared in the kitchen).
Then from 6am to 8, study of sacred texts for younger and meditation and ritual for most ages.
From 8am to 10am, hold various activities such as cleaning, maintenance ...
Who said that the monastery is a peaceful and quiet place for contemplation? AC chirping all odds, the youngest bicker, are racing down the stairs, crying ... It's really alive, and I love to stay in the yard and watch them laugh and fight together ...
Classes resume at 10.30 am in the classroom. Younger s'entrainet to read, write and recite the sacred texts of Tibetan Buddhism. Younten tells me that the method of learning desired by Rimpoche remained very traditional, there are no computers for example, while technically and would financially possible.
Learning is faithful to the tradition, and is happening here as it was happening in Tibet.
The monastery has around 140 monks of all ages, the youngest are 6 or 7 years. They come from all the lands of the Tibetan people Laddakh, Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal and Tibet of course. Younten tells me that most young monks today Viennet Sikkhim Nepal and Tibet and more so, because attitudes are changing and parents unwilling to send their children to the monastery as before ...
We spend long hours chatting with a Younten, any ... We're talking little finalememt Buddhism as such, but basically everything is connected to the spiritual by way in which we see ...
I know now worse than Indian mom: A Tibetan monk! Younten stuff myself as a goose, and prepare several different dishes at each meal, always delicious! He is so happy to share his meals with me, and me with him ... The sense of sharing takes on its meaning, and I really feel deeply with him ca ...
We spend the day Wednesday's we stroll in Shimla, and we conclude with a visit to the nearby monastery Sanjauli.
In return, we will have a mini crisis as only Indians know how to create: one road leads to the monastery, and through several villages. The road is narrow and in places it is difficult to cross. At a time, a large 4x4 passge the strength, and finds himself obviously stuck, blocking all traffic on 2 sides! Common sense would have wanted him back, to start up other vehicles, but such an affront that is not possible! So nobody moves, and everyone looks tiled dog for quite a quarter of an hour!
Our taxi driver then took things in hand, and the situation is Thawed little by little .. The funny thing is that it Younten himself who made the traffic! Incredible India!
Wednesday evening we share our dinner with two Tibetan encampment nearby, who came to bring drugs to a young monk sick. The Tibetans are very supportive of them, and recreate lost family links between people from different families. Younten tells me that blood ties are sacred, but for him, the ties of friendship are the real links, as we share with our friends more often than with our family. This is especially vfrai for him who leaves the seinne there twenty years, when he was a young boy ... For
Younten I'm his sister, and not a word in the air with his hand, I am far every time we see, in Delhi or Shimla ...
It is already time to leave, following a trip awaits me .. I plan to return
probably a short week next May for the annual festival of Cham dances and songs coronations. And
Younten on the platform of the station of Shimla, said he will certainly come to Delhi in 15 days to say goodbye before I leave India ...
Younten Incredible ... So delicate, thoughtful, deep ... I really enjoyed those few days at his side, I refocused on my path of life ... Thank Younten ...
