We gathered to farewell two of Tushitas long term favourites last Sunday. Ani Rita, teacher and Nigan, Co-Director were showered with cake, coke, party hats and those long balloons that you make animals out of (but nobody knew how).
Ani Rita - leaving India to teach the Dharma in other parts of the world including Israel, Tahiti and Europe.
Nigan - leaving India to start a momo cafe in Australia!
This is Gelek, Drolkar (Director of Tushita) and Nigan.
Venerable Namgel helps Venerable Namdrol get into the party mood...
Geshe Tsering (left) was the life of the party - trying to get someone to sing and/ or dance. Next to him sits Old Lama Gyupa.
Geshe-la warns Ani Rita to take care of her money... and tells of the merits of teaching the Dharma!
The local crew (almost). Next to Rob is Sekgundar. He is not local but is from Bodhgaya, Bihar. Next to him is Tinku, Tushitas electrician (believe me, the monkeys ensure he is always needed), then Anil the local chai shop owner and Shiver, Tushitas carpenter. Behind them is Geshe-las attendant, Mr Singh (gardner) and Chunno (chef).
This is Sonam singing Aku Pema - about His Holiness Dalai Lama. It is the same song as at the end of this blog.
I couldn't leave out the puppies, Kalu, Dawa and Chogu!
This is everyone gathered around the laptop watching the pictures and movies that Sonam complied as a farewell present for Ani Rita and Nigan. Nigan (right) is clearly touched by it all...
How can a blog be complete without a picture of a baby monkey!!! They're just so cute!!
At Tushita even the monkies are meditating! Cute!!! This one was sitting outside my room for ages. It looks like a female but she didn't have any young with her. I was wondering whether she had lost her baby because she was sitting alone for a long time and the females usually travel in groups........
This is a zoomed out picture of the same monkey. Just sitting there peacefully......
These two cheeky juveniles were playing on the roof of our new room. They are so playful, jumping around trying to chase each other and pulling down any washing or prayer flags or ANYTHING you have left outside!
These monkeys are grazing on the lawn area.
The mothers have really tiny, cute babies at the moment. They look so confused and curious about the world around them and cling onto their mothers (usually hanging on the underbelly).
I want to pick them up and play with them!!!! So cute but I think there would be a fierce battle with mum, she's pretty serious....
Check out my cute monkey video.
This is the pathway to Robs Hindi class in Dharmkot. It's a rural village with an amazing backdrop of mountains.
The blue/ green house in the back is where Sunil, Rob's Hindi teacher, lives and gives lessons.
This path leads from Dharmkot to the next village along, Bagsu. Both are popular hang outs for Israeli travelers. Apparently the rave parties have been banned recently so there are less Israeli party goers around at the moment. Not good for local business but at least its not as noisy and crowded.
Many of the houses have a small court yard where they keep their animals at night.
Me on the path to Bagsu.
Its such a quaint path down into the valley of Bagsu. A dog checks out the view from a rock.
This is the chai shop just outside the Tushita driveway. The guys are really friendly here. We buy snacks and curd here all the time and is a meeting place for locals. Many people meet here and go for treks in the surrounding mountains. There is a great view from here and is a nice place to sit and sip a chai. The man to the right is Mr Singh. He works at Tushita and has lived in the area all his life. He has nine or so kids...
These little babies were nesting on top of a mask in the doorway of a restaurant. This is a cute baby blog, huh!
Below is a picture of an excited Corey. We found a place that makes the best dessert. Belgium waffles!!! He is so excited!!
The Maitreya Gompa (meditation hall) is all set up waiting for a new course to begin. Maitreya is the name of the next Buddha that is predicted to come to the earth. The statue on the left is an image of Maitreya (and in the pic below). The Buddhas that are in the cabinet are the eight Medicine Buddhas.
The monks below came up from McLeod Ganj to do a wealth vase puja for Tushita. The puja is basically a bunch of prayers, offerings and ceremonies (that do have meaning - but too much to explain here) to create wealth for the centre so it can stay open for people to learn about Buddhism and do retreat here.
These monks are originally from Tibet but they escaped and are now residents of Gyume monastery in Southern India. Every year nine, fully trained monks, are sent to McLeod Ganj and one of these is sent to Tushita. The one at Tushita is called Venerable Sopa (second on the left).
This cupboard is filled with things that we wish for at Tushita. Clean water, food, money etc.
These are the offerings made. The triangle thingys are called torma's. They are made of tsampa (a Tibetan flour) and butter.
These monks have amazing voices:
Sakadawa destroying a brush. She always so happy and tries to lick my face in the morning when we are doing yoga.
This is Chogu sitting outside the gompa waiting for Sabine. She follows Sabine everywhere!
