Female Yogis Are Amongst Us

Have you ever dreamed of leaving the comforts of the Western teaching room to go to the East in search of a true spiritual master in their element?  Or wished you could have more one to one time instead of just listening to what seems like a dot on the stage of the auditorium?  Coming to India this time I had a dream… I wanted to find a female master of Tibetan Buddhism that I could learn from and have direct communication with.  My reasons for this were a deep desire within to get the female perspective on this Buddhist philosophy that I was growing more and more fascinated with by the day.  Having attended many teachings and read many books I was keen to have the burning question answered…as a women do we need to be approaching the teachings of Buddhism in a slightly different way?

I really didn’t know what would come of this dream so as I was running my most recent spiritual tour in Dharamasala, India to attend teachings by the Dalai Lama, I put it on the back-burner of my mind.  Then of course India being the magical land that she is, effortlessly provided me with a possible contender as I’m sitting there on my meditation retreat with my group.  Towards the end of our ten day retreat we were shown a video of a teaching given by Jetsumma Tenzin Palmo, a Buddhist nun originally from the East end of London who spent 12 years meditating in a cave.  A reincarnation of a previous Tibetan master, she found herself in the unique and at times very difficult position of not only being the only Westerner in a Tibetan monastery in India but the only woman as well.  Being treated as an outsider by the general consensus, she was excluded from necessary teachings and important Buddhist ceremonies known as ‘pujas’.  

As time past her grasp of the Tibetan language, which was necessary to learn from the sacred texts increased, but also did her impatience with the sexual discrimination that was keeping her from realising her spiritual goal – to become the first enlightened female Bodhisattva.  A Bodhisattva is a person who has vowed that upon attaining enlightenment they will keep returning life after life to work until all sentient beings are liberated from suffering or ‘samsara’.  So in other words for Jetsumma Tenzin Palmo there was much work to be done.  After finally reaching breaking point she packed her bags to leave the monastery in search of the teachings she needed. Only then did her heart guru and teacher finally take her difficulties seriously and he instructed her to go into long term retreat.  She was ready for this massive commitment that no Western woman had done, despite all the hinderances she experienced.

Over a period of 12 years she lived in a cave in total isolation high up in the mountaneous ranges of India where she faced brutal weather conditions, encounters with all sorts of wildlife and a curious nomad who hindered more than he helped.  In short what Jetsumma Tenzin Palmo achieved has resulted in her being highly revered by both Tibetans & Westerners alike.  And I’m happy to include both men and women in that.  Having discovered this wonderful woman I devoured the book written about her life ‘Cave In The Snow’ in about two days.  Then after doing a bit of investigation I was delighted to discover she would be teaching about two hours drive away from Dharamsala in a place called Bir.  I booked myself in and off I went.  What struck me the most about Jetsumma was her ability to cut to the chase in a way that incorporates the East & the West, and for once in my experiences of Buddhist teaching the masculine and the feminine.  Keen to get my questions answered I requested a private audience and was told I could book in a whole hour with her at her nunnery so without hesitation I did so the following Monday!

The nunnery she has created is yet another amazing feat.  When China invaded Tibet it unfortunately brought about the disappearance of the Tibetan female yogis called the Togdenmas, only their male counterparts the Togdens remained in India.  Whilst living in the harsh conditions of the male dominated monastery, the Togdens were the only men at that time that truly saw Jetsumma and treated her with the respect she deserved.  Living a much stricter lifestyle than the average monk, these great masters have incredible abilities and therefore much to teach.  Jetsumma has created the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery with the goal of reviving the female Togdema tradition.  She has built it down the road from where the male Togdens reside today, so they can easily teach the lucky nuns who have found themselves in this unique position.

Whilst I was there for my audience the first nuns in this decade long training had just come out of their first three year, three month, three week & three day retreat.  Their hair was beautiful and long as they don’t cut it whist on retreat but what really struck me was their presence.  Sitting waiting for Jetsumma I ended up across from them as we curiously eyed each other up, offering something fresh and new from our respective norms.  I noticed how other wordly the look was in their eyes and how they couldn’t seem or want to hold a conversation for too long as they quickly went back to clicking their malas.  These women have made a commitment to do a 12 year retreat in total and I had come across them during a small break before they go back in to do another three year, three month, three week and three day retreat in total isolation.

As if that wasn’t enough excitment for a wannabe such as myself, I had the privilege of being taken on a tour of the nunnery by my friend Aileen who is the nun acting as secretary to Jetsumma who also happens to be from my homeland Ireland.  We walked into the shrine room and I was mesmerised.  Every single statue and painting was in the female form.  It was so inspirational and an absolute first for me.  In fact during my interview with Jetsumma I asked her is that the norm for nunneries to have such an open reverence towards the enlightened feminine form and her reply was “Well I haven’t seen it anywhere.”  She then went on to explain that if she wants her girls to truly believe that they can realise nirvana or enlightenment then they need to have authentic female rolemodels to follow.  The artist that created the paintings and statutes spent a long time going back into the history of Tibetan Buddhism to pull out these seemingly long forgotten figures of the feminine.

Now I don’t want to paint Jetsumma in an extreme feminist light, in fact during my time with her I found words of wisdom that sought only a balance.  Having been taught herself by men she has nothing but the deepest gratitude for all she has learnt which is demonstrated by the pictures of her male teachers all around her nunnery.  Finally finding myself in a position where I felt the answers to my questions would have equal representation from both sides, I asked Jetsumma what is the best path for a woman in a system dominated by the patriarchal where we are believed to be a lesser rebirth.  Her response was that even in a group of women some things that work for one, don’t necessarily work for another.  That there are no specific methods that suit just the feminine or the masculine and it is my job to check what works for me as an individual in everything that I am taught.

Those words brought me great peace. Yes the world needs to come more into balance and when I sit on retreat after retreat looking at the consistent female dominating percentage I know it is happening.  However every teaching has that pearl of wisdom in it and whether we are male or female, I believe it is still our choice to swallow or not.  What do you think?

Tashi delek from Dharamsala

Lisa

If you wish to go see Jetsumma Tenzin Palmo or make a donation to her incredible vision the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery please visit her website at www.tenzinpalmo.com.

www.spiritualbackpackersindia.com

Skype: Spiritualbackpackersindia

Mobile: +44 78 726 24603

Twitter: Retreatsindia 

Are we truly suffering or blindly blessed?

Are you feeling like the world is going a bit crazy these days? Have you had some recent first hand experiences of an upsetting globally renowned event?  This article will hopefully make you feel better as it gives you access to the bravery others have shown in the face of similar or indeed much worse adversity.

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Having recently sat through the London riots in the safety of my south London flat I gave thanks for the fact I was not above any commercial shops which seemed to be the main target.  As upsetting as it was I must admit it was a major reality check.  We all at times feel like we are in a bubble of safety here in the West and looking around that bubble is becoming more and more like the impermanent dream that it actually is.  Major shifts are happening as we move forward into 2012, the year predicted by the Mayan people as a powerful yet possibly terrifying time for humanity as we are forced to either take responsibility and step up or cash in our ‘karmic debt’.

So as we move forward into such uncertainty what can we do to make ourselves deal with it better?  One suggestion I would like to make is to look back and learn from our brothers and sisters who have already felt the harsh blow of fate and lived to not only tell the tale, but also have worked hard to share it in their writing.   Palden Gyatso is one such person who wrote the book ‘Fire Under The Snow’. In it he tells us how he was imprisoned for thirty-three years by Chinese forces in Tibet for the supposed ‘crime’ of wanting to be free to live his life as a Tibetan monk.  Upon his long awaited release he courageously fled across the Himalayan range to India smuggling with him the instruments of his repeated torture.  Determined to tell the world of the atrocities he experienced under the hands of the Chinese after their invasion of Tibet in 1950, Palden Gyatso was the first Tibetan to give evidence at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva on the realities of Tibetan life under Chinese rule.  The response to which by the Chinese was that his story was “untrue”.

His book is a heart breaking yet at the same time entrancing account of all he endured.  Yes it is difficult to read about the brutality that went on and is still going on in Tibet.  But the reward for facing that reality as a reader is the lesson we learn that ultimately we are blessed and can draw upon the strength of people like Palden.  We may have difficulties ten fold, but if we still have the freedom to walk outside when we choose to, drink water when we are thirsty and speak openly to the people around us then are we truly suffering or blindly blessed?  Once we can see our reality through reading testimonies such as that in ‘Fire Under The Snow’ we can begin to relax.  Once we relax we are more equipped to make better decisions.  Once we start to make better decisions we are one individual creating a better world for all.   And together we can perhaps begin to slowly rebuild the wall of good karma that seems to have been left demolished for far too long here in the spiritual poverty of the West.  As many people travel to the Dalai Lama in India from all corners of the globe on spiritual retreats they don’t realise people like Palden Gyatso are also there in Dharamsala with their door open to visitors from far and wide as they courageously continue to share their incredible story…

Om mani padme hum

Tashi delek

Lisa & Lama Buga

Untitled

Are you feeling like the world is going a bit crazy these days? Have you had some recent first hand experiences of an upsetting globally renowned event?  This article will hopefully make you feel better as it gives you access to the bravery others have shown in the face of similar or indeed much worse adversity.

Having recently sat through the London riots in the safety of my south London flat I gave thanks for the fact I was not above any commercial shops which seemed to be the main target.  As upsetting as it was I must admit it was a major reality check.  We all at times feel like we are in a bubble of safety here in the West and looking around that bubble is becoming more and more like the impermanent dream that it actually is.  Major shifts are happening as we move forward into 2012, the year predicted by the Mayan people as a powerful yet possibly terrifying time for humanity as we are forced to either take responsibility and step up or cash in our ‘karmic debt’.

So as we move forward into such uncertainty what can we do to make ourselves deal with it better?  One suggestion I would like to make is to look back and learn from our brothers and sisters who have already felt the harsh blow of fate and lived to not only tell the tale, but also have worked hard to share it in their writing.   Palden Gyatso is one such person who wrote the book ‘Fire Under The Snow’. In it he tells us how he was imprisoned for thirty-three years by Chinese forces in Tibet for the supposed ‘crime’ of wanting to be free to live his life as a Tibetan monk.  Upon his long awaited release he courageously fled across the Himalayan range to India smuggling with him the instruments of his repeated torture.  Determined to tell the world of the atrocities he experienced under the hands of the Chinese after their invasion of Tibet in 1950, Palden Gyatso was the first Tibetan to give evidence at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva on the realities of Tibetan life under Chinese rule.  The response to which by the Chinese was that his story was “untrue”.

His book is a heart breaking yet at the same time entrancing account of all he endured.  Yes it is difficult to read about the brutality that went on and is still going on in Tibet.  But the reward for facing that reality as a reader is the lesson we learn that ultimately we are blessed and can draw upon the strength of people like Palden.  We may have difficulties ten fold, but if we still have the freedom to walk outside when we choose to, drink water when we are thirsty and speak openly to the people around us then are we truly suffering or blindly blessed?  Once we can see our reality through reading testimonies such as that in ‘Fire Under The Snow’ we can begin to relax.  Once we relax we are more equipped to make better decisions.  Once we start to make better decisions we are one individual creating a better world for all.   And together we can perhaps begin to slowly rebuild the wall of good karma that seems to have been left demolished for far too long here in the spiritual poverty of the West.  As many people travel to the Dalai Lama in India from all corners of the globe on spiritual retreats they don’t realise people like Palden Gyatso are also there in Dharamsala with their door open to visitors from far and wide as they courageously continue to share their incredible story…

Om mani padme hum

Tashi delek

Lisa & Lama Buga

A magical Indian town that is dripping in Tibetan culture…

Do you feel like you could do with a bit of magic in your life right now?  Have you had enough of recent struggles and just want to escape it all to far off lands on a spiritual retreat? Well read on dear friends because I might have just the place for you…McLeod Ganj, India! 

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Tucked away in between Himalayan peaks and troughs is this bustling town with a difference.  Taking a stroll down the local bazaar you will be greeted by the maroon clad monks and nuns of the ever growing Tibetan community that is so widespread this town has become known as ‘Little Lhasa’.

Apart from being home to His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama, this special place offers a variety of different things to do to help you while away your time.  It is not unknown for a traveller to have spent a busy month in this great place and still not be quite sure what they actually did all that time.  And I have to be honest and say I am one such traveller.  Upon arrival in McLeod Ganj I found my head turning in surprise in the back of the taxi as I spotted a Tibetan monk strolling down the road with headphones on listening to his personal stereo.   And that set the scene completely.  So much that was totally new to me that I quickly started to explore and see what else I could find.

A medley of different pursuits are on offer from yoga to learning how to cook Tibetan momo’s, from teaching English to refugees to learning how to work with healing crystals.  Should you fancy it you can go down to the local Library of Tibetan Works and attend Buddhist philosophy classes pretty much every day.  One of the most fascinating aspects for me around the Tibetan culture is fact that the government have a ‘state oracle’ whom they consult when making decisions.  How great would it be if all governments did that? And that particular lama also resides down near the library if you are feeling brave!

I came here specifically to visit the Dalai Lama in India which was an incredible heart warming experience.  As a result I was keen to learn ways that I could somehow bring the magic of this place back to my friends and families back home I did a course in Tibetan massage.  This is a wonderful technique that was developed by the nomads of the Tibetan plains.  It has the physical aspect of helping the body unwind and regenerate, yet also focuses on the energy body including chakra alignment and clearing.  Learning something like that from someone who had it passed to them from one Tibetan nomadic generation to the next was a real privilege and true to form of this enriching town.

However if all you want to do while you are here is kick back and have a decent cup of chai McLeod Ganj has numerous coffee shops and restaurants scattered about the place.  One of my favourites has to be Shangri-La Restaurant.  This unique spot is run by Tibetan lamas from Gyumed Monastery and regardless of whether you are travelling alone or with a friend you are guaranteed to make friends.  But I must be honest and say most of McLeod Ganj is like that as looking back I can see the best souvenir I left with was friendships that continue to cross language barriers, oceans and time.

Fancy some of that for yourself? Check out our next spiritual tour in India.

Tashi delek

Lisa & Lama Buga

A magical Indian town that is dripping in Tibetan culture…

Do you feel like you could do with a bit of magic in your life right now?  Have you had enough of recent struggles and just want to escape it all to far off lands on a spiritual retreat? Well read on dear friends because I might have just the place for you…McLeod Ganj, India! 

Tucked away in between Himalayan peaks and troughs is this bustling town with a difference.  Taking a stroll down the local bazaar you will be greeted by the maroon clad monks and nuns of the ever growing Tibetan community that is so widespread this town has become known as ‘Little Lhasa’.

Apart from being home to His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama, this special place offers a variety of different things to do to help you while away your time.  It is not unknown for a traveller to have spent a busy month in this great place and still not be quite sure what they actually did all that time.  And I have to be honest and say I am one such traveller.  Upon arrival in McLeod Ganj I found my head turning in surprise in the back of the taxi as I spotted a Tibetan monk strolling down the road with headphones on listening to his personal stereo.   And that set the scene completely.  So much that was totally new to me that I quickly started to explore and see what else I could find.

A medley of different pursuits are on offer from yoga to learning how to cook Tibetan momo’s, from teaching English to refugees to learning how to work with healing crystals.  Should you fancy it you can go down to the local Library of Tibetan Works and attend Buddhist philosophy classes pretty much every day.  One of the most fascinating aspects for me around the Tibetan culture is fact that the government have a ‘state oracle’ whom they consult when making decisions.  How great would it be if all governments did that? And that particular lama also resides down near the library if you are feeling brave!

I came here specifically to visit the Dalai Lama in India which was an incredible heart warming experience.  As a result I was keen to learn ways that I could somehow bring the magic of this place back to my friends and families back home I did a course in Tibetan massage.  This is a wonderful technique that was developed by the nomads of the Tibetan plains.  It has the physical aspect of helping the body unwind and regenerate, yet also focuses on the energy body including chakra alignment and clearing.  Learning something like that from someone who had it passed to them from one Tibetan nomadic generation to the next was a real privilege and true to form of this enriching town.

However if all you want to do while you are here is kick back and have a decent cup of chai McLeod Ganj has numerous coffee shops and restaurants scattered about the place.  One of my favourites has to be Shangri-La Restaurant.  This unique spot is run by Tibetan lamas from Gyumed Monastery and regardless of whether you are travelling alone or with a friend you are guaranteed to make friends.  But I must be honest and say most of McLeod Ganj is like that as looking back I can see the best souvenir I left with was friendships that continue to cross language barriers, oceans and time.

Fancy some of that for yourself? Check out our next spiritual tour in India.

Tashi delek

Lisa & Lama Buga

What's it like to attend teaching by the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India?

High up in Northern India is a bustling town McLeod Ganj, which is home to the world’s most famous refugee, his Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama.  Since the Cultural Revolution in Tibet in the 80’s thousands of Tibetans have put their lives in danger and courageously walked across the Himalayas to reach this now sacred place.  So strong is the Tibetan culture in this town that it has fondly become known as ‘Little Lhasa’.  As China continues to morph the Tibetan landscape and strip it bare of its diverse and rich way of life, tourists are now flocking to McLeod Ganj for an authentic experience of Tibetan Buddhism and all it entails.  

 A myriad of different spiritual pursuits are on offer which at times can seem a bit overwhelming but the number one thing that is guaranteed to draw global crowds in their thousands is the public teachings by the Dalai Lama.  The immense faith is so high in this great spiritual leader that it knows no borders or language barriers.  For example at the teachings you will find people listening to their personal radios to hear the translations of the teachings into their own global language.  But one of the most striking things has to be the sight of people from all walks of life going into deep states of meditation simply by being in the heartfelt presence of this wonderful man who refers to himself as ‘a simple monk’.   

On the mere sight of him people are reduced to tears as he blows hearts wide open.  I had no idea this was a common thing until I experienced it first hand myself.  Initially I was pleasantly surprised to discover he would be walking right by me to leave the teaching, however as he passed I was even more surprised to find myself quickly reduced to my knees with tears streaming down my face.  My mind clambered to make sense of such a profound and unexpected experience.  Out of the blue came the words “I have made it back home” and I am not even Tibetan…well in this lifetime anyway!  And from that this idea of ‘Spiritual Backpackers India’ was born where we run group tours to afford people the opportunity to experience the wisdom and beauty of his teachings first hand, and learn meditation from the monks and nuns of the Dalai Lama’s lineage.  We feel if ever there was a time for the wonder of this man’s love and the power of meditation to be more accessible to the world it has to be now! Is this what your heart has been crying out for?  Are you ready to join us for the next teachings in October?

If so visit our website

http://www.spiritualbackpackersindia.com/Home.html

Tashi delek

Lisa & Lama Buga

 

What's it like to attend teaching by the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India?

High up in Northern India is a bustling town McLeod Ganj, which is home to the world’s most famous refugee, his Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama.  Since the Cultural Revolution in Tibet in the 80’s thousands of Tibetans have put their lives in danger and courageously walked across the Himalayas to reach this now sacred place.  So strong is the Tibetan culture in this town that it has fondly become known as ‘Little Lhasa’.  As China continues to morph the Tibetan landscape and strip it bare of its diverse and rich way of life, tourists are now flocking to McLeod Ganj for an authentic experience of Tibetan Buddhism and all it entails.  

 A myriad of different spiritual pursuits are on offer which at times can seem a bit overwhelming but the number one thing that is guaranteed to draw global crowds in their thousands is the public teachings by the Dalai Lama.  The immense faith is so high in this great spiritual leader that it knows no borders or language barriers.  For example at the teachings you will find people listening to their personal radios to hear the translations of the teachings into their own global language.  But one of the most striking things has to be the sight of people from all walks of life going into deep states of meditation simply by being in the heartfelt presence of this wonderful man who refers to himself as ‘a simple monk’.   

On the mere sight of him people are reduced to tears as he blows hearts wide open.  I had no idea this was a common thing until I experienced it first hand myself.  Initially I was pleasantly surprised to discover he would be walking right by me to leave the teaching, however as he passed I was even more surprised to find myself quickly reduced to my knees with tears streaming down my face.  My mind clambered to make sense of such a profound and unexpected experience.  Out of the blue came the words “I have made it back home” and I am not even Tibetan…well in this lifetime anyway!  And from that this idea of ‘Spiritual Backpackers India’ was born where we run group tours to afford people the opportunity to experience the wisdom and beauty of his teachings first hand, and learn meditation from the monks and nuns of the Dalai Lama’s lineage.  We feel if ever there was a time for the wonder of this man’s love and the power of meditation to be more accessible to the world it has to be now! Is this what your heart has been crying out for?  Are you ready to join us for the next teachings in October?

If so visit our website

http://www.spiritualbackpackersindia.com/Home.html

Tashi delek

Lisa & Lama Buga

 

The raw power of Mother Gaia...

McLeod Ganj is a bustling little town nestled high up in northern India at the foothills of the Himalayas.  Despite wide belief that the hometown of His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama is Dharamsala, it is actually this wonderful little town that is his home in exile.  Since the Cultural Revolution in Tibet thousands of Tibetans have taken the perilous trip over the Himalayas for the safe sanctuary that this town provides.  The Tibetan culture is so strong here that it now has the nickname ‘Little Lhasa’.  I flew into Gaggal airport which is a short taxi ride away from McLeod Ganj where you are instantly greeted by the peaks and troughs of the majestic Himalayan range.  Straight away a yearning was born to get higher up to see the full beauty of what was on offer from this incredible landscape.   A few days into the trip I learned of a trek that could be done in one day that affords you a wonderful up close and personal view of the snowy peaks I had seen in the distance.   

Armed with water, snacks and many layers of clothing we set off a week later to climb up to this place which is commonly known by the locals as ‘Triund’.  Straight away our band of two became a band of seven as five local dogs decided to accompany us all the way to the top.  Something told us that this was their way of ensuring a daily meal or two from many unsuspecting tourists who were easily smitten by how cute they were.  And their endearing ways had us pulled right in there with the best of them!  Two hours into the climb we stopped some local people to ask them was it much further.  The glint in their eyes accompanied by scoffs of laughter confirmed we were nowhere near where we wanted to be and had to toughen up if we wanted to get to the view we had heard so much about.

The day got hotter and hotter, the climb got steeper and more perilous as we found ourselves weaving around and up the edge of the mountain with nothing but a seemingly infinite drop to our right to make sure we kept our focus.  At one point we turned a corner and could see the path winding and winding its way upward and beyond, which at the point in time made our feet ache that little bit more.  Three quarters way up to the top, although we didn’t know it at the time, we came across a little house with a shop selling food, drink and beautiful raw crystals cut straight from the mountain.  It was there we got chatting to other climbers who were Nepalese and did this climb regularly.  Their advice was ‘slowly slowly’.   Armed with more water, extra biscuits for the dogs and fantastic crystals for friends and family we set off once again.

About an hour and a half later, we were so high that snowflakes gently falling all around had replaced the blistering sun and we thought we must be near!  Another quick check in with some locals passing by in the opposite direction confirmed we had guessed right.  Inching our way up the last winding pass we came out into a view that can only be described as incredulous!  Snowy peaks towered over us in the nearby distance bringing about genuine humility at the true power and beauty of our dear Mother Gaia.  It was one of those times in life where you are totally present to the mercy we humans are at when it comes to her leniency towards us and all the harm that we do to her.  The mighty strength coming from those mountains was so intense that one could only feel respect.  And as I looked out over the Himalayan range I knew in my heart mess with Mother Gaia and there would be only one winner...so why as humans do we not see this? When will we learn?

With love

Lisa

P.S. As for the dogs well they followed us all the way back down and at the end of our journey ran back into their respective houses! 

www.spiritualbackpackersindia.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spiritual-Backpackers-India/169789129745613

The raw power of Mother Gaia...

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McLeod Ganj is a bustling little town nestled high up in northern India at the foothills of the Himalayas.  Despite wide belief that the hometown of His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama is Dharamsala, it is actually this wonderful little town that is his home in exile.  Since the Cultural Revolution in Tibet thousands of Tibetans have taken the perilous trip over the Himalayas for the safe sanctuary that this town provides.  The Tibetan culture is so strong here that it now has the nickname ‘Little Lhasa’.  I flew into Gaggal airport which is a short taxi ride away from McLeod Ganj where you are instantly greeted by the peaks and troughs of the majestic Himalayan range.  Straight away a yearning was born to get higher up to see the full beauty of what was on offer from this incredible landscape.   A few days into the trip I learned of a trek that could be done in one day that affords you a wonderful up close and personal view of the snowy peaks I had seen in the distance.   

Armed with water, snacks and many layers of clothing we set off a week later to climb up to this place which is commonly known by the locals as ‘Triund’.  Straight away our band of two became a band of seven as five local dogs decided to accompany us all the way to the top.  Something told us that this was their way of ensuring a daily meal or two from many unsuspecting tourists who were easily smitten by how cute they were.  And their endearing ways had us pulled right in there with the best of them!  Two hours into the climb we stopped some local people to ask them was it much further.  The glint in their eyes accompanied by scoffs of laughter confirmed we were nowhere near where we wanted to be and had to toughen up if we wanted to get to the view we had heard so much about.

The day got hotter and hotter, the climb got steeper and more perilous as we found ourselves weaving around and up the edge of the mountain with nothing but a seemingly infinite drop to our right to make sure we kept our focus.  At one point we turned a corner and could see the path winding and winding its way upward and beyond, which at the point in time made our feet ache that little bit more.  Three quarters way up to the top, although we didn’t know it at the time, we came across a little house with a shop selling food, drink and beautiful raw crystals cut straight from the mountain.  It was there we got chatting to other climbers who were Nepalese and did this climb regularly.  Their advice was ‘slowly slowly’.   Armed with more water, extra biscuits for the dogs and fantastic crystals for friends and family we set off once again.

About an hour and a half later, we were so high that snowflakes gently falling all around had replaced the blistering sun and we knew we were almost there.  Another quick check in with some locals passing by in the opposite direction confirmed we were almost there.  Inching our way up the last winding pass we came out into a view that can only be described as incredulous!  Snowy peaks towered over us in the nearby distance bringing about genuine humility at the true power and beauty of our dear Mother Gaia.  It was one of those times in life where you are totally present to the mercy we humans are at when it comes to here leniency towards us and all the harm that we do to her.  The mighty strength coming from those mountains was so intense that one could only feel respect.  Mess with those mountains and there would be only one winner...

As for the dogs well they followed us all the way back down and at the end of our journey ran back into their respective houses!  

To be or not to be…a lone female ranger during these times of great change?

As a thirty something female on a journey of self-discovery I have found myself in a position that I would call the 'lone female ranger’.  I live alone, mostly work alone, reside in a different country to all of my family members and I am single.  Now for some women that would be their worst nightmare and that is fair enough but for others it is not. So is this a new modern independent woman phenomenon or has this been happening overtime? 

 I came across a wonderful book called ‘Women Of Wisdom’ by Tsultrim Allione.  The author of this book was the first Westerner to be ordained a Buddhist nun, granted by the 16^th Karmapa himself no less.  She left monastic life eventually to get married and have a family.  The beauty of that is we now have a woman who is still committed to her path of spiritual growth and self-discovery who now has first hand experience of the daily challenges a family life brings to living out those deep yearnings.  This journey inspired her to write this book for all the women in the West facing similar difficulties and triumphs.  It contains stories of Tibetan female mystics who all achieved enlightenment and became great leaders despite cultural prejudices and other problems that male practitioners simply don’t have to contend with.

This book makes a fascinating read for any women out there struggling with any natural instincts to go against the societal expectancies.  The author draws many similarities between our lives today and these ancient mystics.  For example the majority of these women were single.  Those who were forced to get married either died at the hands of their husbands who didn’t like their wives shifting and changing as they grew more into themselves or they found a way to get out of the marriage.   The next trend was they found it difficult to practice freely and to their full abilities within the constraints of a patriarchal monastic environment, so they tended to be nomadic practitioners travelling over great distances using their feminine intuition to guide them.  Opting to leave their families and friends behind they would spend decades of their lives in isolated retreats in mountainous caves.  If we swing those trends back around to the ‘lone female ranger’ we can perhaps spot some similarities according to the author Tsultrim.  She takes it a step further when she mentions modern women who have just come out of a crisis in their lives sometimes choose to live alone as though entering into a type of retreat.  When I was at a teaching by the Dalai Lama last year one of the first things he mentioned was for effective spiritual growth we must leave the distractions of our family behind by moving elsewhere.  Tsultrim also made an interesting case when she likened modern women seeking the guidance of a psychotherapist to help them ease their troubles with the teachers of these Tibetan women helping them reach a state of full illumination through mastering the mind.   To be clear these women were not nuns, in fact most of them had consorts who they practiced with to deepen their spirituality through sacred sexual union.  So has the time of the lone female ranger naturally evolved once again for some women to free up a bit of space for their feminine selves? 

My intention for sharing these findings is to bring solace to the solo ladies and insight to the gentlemen out there during these times of great global change.  Where a balancing of the matriarchal with the patriarchal seems to be afoot and my feelings are it is for the sake of all sentient beings.  What do you think?

 OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA

 

With love

 

Lisa

www.spiritualbackpackersindia.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spiritual-Backpackers-India/169789129745613

 

 

To meditate or not to meditate...in a noisy city?

As a keen mediator I have always struggled with the distraction of noise.  It is the  one thing that can pull me out of the most beautiful spaces a bit like a jack in the box.  Whilst in McLeod Ganj, India the Dalai Lama was in town and meditating just 10 minutes down the road from my hotel in his monastery.  The energy was incredible but being located right by the main road so was the noise.  I had to crank up the soft lilting music in my iPhone to drown out the car horns so I could take in the serenity of if His Holiness.  Sounds a bit like trying to be in two places at once right?  Well India being India, and since I was hanging out in the part of her that has a profound Tibetan heart I had a wonderful synchronicity. One day as I was concentrating hard on both avoiding the onslaught of traffic and the open drains than conveniently run along the full length of the road where pedestrians have no other choice but to walk, I came across a random poster on a lamp post.  On it was advertised the opportunity to learn how to meditate using sound as an anchor to deepen mediation practice.  I couldn’t believe my eyes nor my luck as, I may add, a cow calmly rubbed by me swishing her tail not seeming to be too bothered one way or the other about the traffic or the risk of plunging south into the relaxed and open local infrastructure!

I looked a bit more closely and I noticed the workshop dates and I had missed it. It was the end of the season, it was cold and there is no heating in that town so in the wisdom of their ways most of the meditation teachers go South.  But there was the name of a book ‘The Joy Of Living’ by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche that these teachings were based upon.  In this book this Buddhist master and teacher weaves together the principles of Tibetan Buddhism and science and it makes a fascinating read.  Finding links between these different paths that demonstrates these apples of knowledge and wisdom haven’t fallen too far from one another, one however just may have ripened a long time before the other.   

Whilst reading this book I came across the chapter about meditating on sound many months later after my experience in McLeod Ganj and to be honest I had totally forgotten about this concept.  Living in London I feel really plagued by noise so I was intrigued to try out the technique and I loved it.  I had found a way to turn my number one irritant into an effective relaxant.  Another benefit of using sound as the anchor in meditation is that it gradually teaches us to detach from assigning meaning to the various sounds we hear.  This reduces any emotional responses we may have whilst listening to someone shouting at us for example.  Bringing about a much more relaxed and balanced attitude no matter what noise is happening around us.  Hands up who could do with a bit of that in their lives? I thought so.  ‘The Joy Of Living’ is a great read written by a great teacher.  Jump online and buy it, you won’t be disappointed.  

All the best

Lisa

www.spiritualbackpackersindia.com

Should we be building a financial portfolio or a detachment portfolio?

Whilst living with tantric Lamas in India I found myself in prime position to experience them walk their talk.  If you have read anything at all on Tibetan Buddhism you will know we are consistently reminded that one of their key principles for finding happiness is through detachment.  So I had the opportunity to be a ‘samasaric fly’ on a monastic wall to observe this incredibly difficult principle being put in action.   Many things happened to this effect in the duration of my stay but one situation in particular stands out the most for me.  On a deliciously lazy Sunday afternoon I was sitting in the midday sun out on the balcony with my dear friend Lama Tashi and a sweet Tibetan school kid called Tenzin.   This balcony was situated at the back of a restaurant and underneath us was the kitchen.  Lama Tashi was the monk in charge of running the restaurant and hotel at this particular time.  As we gazed out over the rolling Himalayan  foothills of Dharamsala, with prayer flags flapping in the wind sending their auspicious intentions skywards, a big black stream of smoke ominously comes out from the kitchen windows below.  My initial reaction was one of panic, as true to form my highly trained Western sympathetic nervous system jumps straight into ‘flight or flight’ mode.  Both my Tibetan counterparts on the other hand had a totally different reaction, a gutful of hearty laughter directly proceeded by ‘Haha kitchen, kitchen!’  Now language barriers did get in the way from time to time during my stay but in that moment I had found a universal language that helped me understand this principle of detachment with no need for translation, it was the universal language of laughter.  Now to continue on with the story, I then waited perched on the edge of my seat, to see what we would do next.  Well we carried on as normal of course and let the lads in the kitchen deal with their own creation.   Neither  Lama Tashi nor Tenzin felt any need to get involved so what gave me the right to even assume I needed to?  This simple act of instant detachment, all done so effortlessly was one of my biggest learning's.   It has left me with such a deep longing for this kind of authentic freedom that it is fuelling my intentions to go back and study with these monks so this ‘samsaric fly’ can master the most detachment she possibly can in this brief lifetime. 

So why am I telling you all of this? This morning I was asked the question “Lisa what are your plans for when you are an older woman?”.  At first I didn’t know what to say for two reasons.  The first was because I honestly don’t plan that far ahead as I like to keep the pages of my story unwritten and secondly because I could sense the question came from a material place with perhaps a flavour of childbearing pressures in there.  It was one of those moments when someone asks you the biggest question they have for themselves.  After a few minutes, once I had made a concerted effort to mentally swim through all the societal expectancies that this question was laden with, I got to a place of  wonderful clarity.   I replied “My plans for when I am an older woman are to be happy”.  And what happened after that was an instantaneous connecting of the dots, for I saw that my intention to go to India and learn precious Tibetan mind tricks would play a big part in me achieving that.   So I no longer saw it as ‘the thing that I will do next’, but instead saw it as an investment in my future well-being and happiness.  We all spend so much of our time running around worrying about things like our careers, our mortgages, our bank accounts, our pensions and at times rightly so.  But the question I want to ask all of you now is what investments are you making today for your happiness pension of tomorrow? What are you doing to ensure that no matter what happens in the future you will find and maintain inner peace, freedom and happiness despite the dramas of everyday samsaric life?  

And I look forward to reading your answers! 

With love 

Lisa 

www.spiritualbackpackersindia.com