Almost did not go to the Dalai Lama teaching. But mindfulness has saved me again and I am glad I did. Got to temple at 6am. Line was still short especially for men. However, when they checked stuff, it turns out phones are not allowed and I had to find a way to hide it. [I am not proud of this but I had to do it because there was nowhere to leave it.]. Found a good spot but the entire time it was a bit stressful because I felt I was in the wrong place. I was with a couple from Ladakh and a couple of Koreans I think and then two white girls came. We were all usurpers. All around us were monks in their robes.

As it turns out, HH was passing close to the space I sat. I teared up quite a bit. It was very spontaneous. Like that sob at Spirit Rock during a New Year’s retreat. I guess I really am able to bring my heart wide open. It must have been the love emanating from so many. It was really weird and wonderful.

His Holiness talked about the Heart Sutra which I first learned at Upaya during the sesshin in April 2019. In fact I was able to follow its chanting in Japanese. “Form is emptiness. Emptiness is form.”

I decided to walk up to Dharamkot. Good, challenging uphill climb. I think I will like Dharamkot. It has that tranquil, bohemian feel to it. Monkeys all around on the way up.

Passed by Tushita. Tranquil place. This that I am doing is really against everything that the modern world seems to consider as worth doing.

I stopped by Common Ground coffee shop — it’s a cross between a hipster coffeeshop and Tibetan food place. I like. Jampel confirmed I can hold kindness event at The Other Space. I just need to decide if I want to continue with it. My concern is how to get people to join. I can buy them all coffee/tea. Maybe Common Grounds is a better space because it is closer to town.

In the Middle East, so many stray cats. Here it’s dogs (and of course cows and monkeys).