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