This is love: to fly toward a secret sky,
to cause a hundred veils to fall each
moment.
First let go
of life.
Finally,
to take a step without feet.
-Rumi

Losar

Here are some photos taken at the Buddhist University on the Tibetan New Year!

last night....

last night...
power went out as usual at around 7pm
the streets were dark
i was just walking home, along the dirt road just minutes before my house and saw what looked like a drunk guy up along the side of the road, up against the cement curb. i noticed a mother and child just staring. with my small flashlight, i put the light up against to this person's face and realized it was a friend of mine. Blood was running down his face and he was blacked out. This was all pretty surreal. I called for help, without knowing the number to call. Nepalis gathered, just watching, doing little. In shock. I didnt know if he was dead or alive at this point. Finally another friend came over and we picked him up to take him to the nearest taxi cab. We rushed to the emergency room. The sanitation level was of course questionable but they allowed us in which was all we cared about. At this point, he was gaining consciousness and he turned out to be ok. What happened.. well 5 men attacked him on the streets as was trying to protect an innocent dog from being horribly abused. They were throwing the dog up in the air and letting it fall to the ground. Lesson was quickly learned... never to get involved. This can happen anywhere for sure, but the physical abuse for animals here is hard to witness. Boredom, psychological damage from the civil war, all plays into effect. Anyways, this night unfortunatly tells one to never walk the streets after dark, but that makes for an extreme, old lady life style. All in all, my friend is ok and it is took our heads for a spin.

life of a sadhu

its a wild wild world over here....!

its all perspective

its all perspective.
i flew back into kathmandu from india feeling refreshed, excited
days later, i was hit hard with a stomach bacteria
toilet and bed bound...
its amazing how your outlook can change.. like that
what was beautiful one day, takes a turn
since the retreat, ive been watching my mind
more closely
witnessing the patterns more and more
but when sickness arises its hard to stay positive
you feel self pity and a weight
the city and pollution is draining
the busy streets, daily commutes seem to be that much more tiring
but then i remember i don't have it so bad
it will pass just like our thoughts
if we don't obsess over them
and get lost in them

after retreat...

i spent a few days at the beach, before heading back to the big city!
met such good, good people..

clive's teachings in goa~

memorable magical moments.....

Shiva Ratri

I woke up early this morning to experience Shiva Ratri, where thousands of Hindu Babas pilgrimage to Pashupati temple, one of the holiest shrines in Nepal. Shiva Ratri is the "Night of Shiva." The sadhus (yogis) spend the night lightning sacred fires, singing to the diety. Smeared with ash, away from the everyday concerns of the world. They, naked with no sense of shame, have mastered cold and heat, hunger and sensual desire. These wanderers, thin but powerful, with fierce intelligent eyes, live a life detached, seeking union with Lord Shiva. Photos are coming!

My time in the forest outside Goa was incredible. I spent three weeks with 30 people from around the world and a powerful yogi who shared his teachings on the mind with us. Words can hardly describe. We filled the days enjoying simplicity, meditating, doing asanas, but most importantly being reminded how to stay awake and out of the mind. I left with a sense of lightness. I guess I will keep it at that. It was precious and priceless.