Moving on

Hi All,

We've completed our stint teaching English and our time in Dharamsala. We didn't really relax as much as planned because what started as a simple 1 hour class everyday then turned into 2 more 1 hour conversation classes plus tutoring sessions plus extra help we provided after class. I'm not complaining it was nice to be busy and helping out. In fact it was a privelage not only to teach English but to also get to know all the people. Plus our students were very grateful for whatever time we put in. In Buddhism teachers are second after parents in terms of the respect chain and we were always treated accordingly.

Thoughts on teaching
I have even gained even more awe for the work that regular teachers put in. It was hard enough planning what we were going to teach for our 1 hour class let alone having to plan for multiple classes. Gay and I also tried to give a test to our students which was a pretty funny experience. As much as we wanted them to not use their notebook for help and to not help their fellow classmates, they just couldn't help themselves. We even had a nun in the class, a very quite women of about 40, at one point I looked over and she was stealthy taking peaks at her notebook for answers. I couldn't believe it! a nun cheating! it was great. I called her name and she got very red in the face. Some of the younger monks were cheating too but they're notorious jokesters.

Dalia Lama teachings
The Dalia Lama is in town this week and has done 3 days of teachings here before going to Spain. We only went to a couple of the teachings and I could only understand a couple of the things he was saying. But we have been immersed in enough Mayahana Buddhism throughout our trip to understand some of the major points and even a joke about one of the deities being born in a lotus.

One thing is for sure, even if you don't understand all what is being said, you feel something special when you see him. So it's no surprise so many faithful followers have followed him out of Tibet and dangerously crossed the border into India to just be in the same place he is.

Next...
Today we leave this area and head out to Agra where we'll check out the Taj Mahal and then head further south and cruise around there for awhile. I think our batteries are recharged after staying in one place for a month. But I guess we'll see.

Jon