MINDBOOTCAMP

Through random circumstances, one finds the need to make detours. One such example is the information we found in an old India guidebook which we looked at to pass away the time as we waited for our dinner at a small Tibetan restaurant. There I found references to what seem like amazing archeological sites —…

LETTING GO by Ajahn Sumedho The following is a chapter from the publication, Cittaviveka – Teachings From The Silent Mind, by Ajahn Sumedho, copyright Amaravati Publications, 1984. The practice of ‘letting go’ is very effective for minds obsessed by compulsive thinking: you simplify your meditation practice down to just two words – ‘letting go’ –…

I woke up with my left foot hurting even worse. Fortunately, I’ve experienced this before. I took Aleve and Advil. And after standing and walking for a few minutes, it got better. There is still rain in the forecast but there will be clear skies throughout. I decided to go to Dharamkot. Pole, pole —…

I decided to just chill today. For one, rain is in the forecast. And two, I seem to have twisted my left foot and couldn’t walk well. Which will make it hard to hike up to Dharamkot for some pottery making. I went to a coffee shop for breakfast and read some vipassana related materials.…

Mcleod Ganj (what an odd name, the locals affectionately refer to it as McLlo) is a place in Dharamsala which is the seat of the 14th Dalai Lama. It is a place where the background music is not the latest Beyoncé or Billie Eilish, but chants of Om Mani Padme Hum (“Be pure in body…

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.…

Finally out of Delhi and it’s toxic air. Landed in Dharamsala and didn’t realize I would have a majestic view of the Himalayas. Clean, pure air! My taxi driver was a maniac! Man, that was probably some of the scariest minutes of my life. The road to Mcleod Ganj is narrow and he was speeding…

First full day in India. I am concerned about the smog (hazardous air quality!) but decided to do some sightseeing anyway. Took a tuktuk ($3.5 for a very long ride — surprisingly “New” Delhi traffic is not bad) to the main Jain temple with a bird hospital. They take injured pigeons, partridges and other birds,…

Welcome to India!

Today is officially, well not exactly (because I join a monastery only in January 2020), the start of the monkhood experiment. I probably should find a different way to refer to it. Something that’s catchy. [I hear my mind say, there you again, Joel, motivated by getting approval from others]. Ok, fine. This is just…