Picnics, Buddhist art, new apartment and hiding from hail

After four wonderful months at Tushita, Rob and I have moved on to a student lifestyle again. We go to a few Buddhist Philosophy classes in the morning and then spend the rest of the afternoon hanging out! It's great.

We had a small picnic on Sabine's beautiful lawn (the best I've seen in India) to mark the occasion.

Ollie, Rob, Sabine, Maya, Fred, me and Pieta


Sabine, Maya and Fred


Rob, Chogu, Sabine, Kalu and Maya


Me, Pieta, Tashi and Venerable Sopa

This is the foundation of the new building. Except for the cement mixer, this building has thus far all been done using muscle and sweat!!!

Rob and I visited Norbulingka with our own personal tour guide, Corey (fellow Aussie and lover of all thing elven), who used to work there. Norbulingka is set in beautiful gardens and aims to preserve Tibetan culture such as statue making, thanka painting etc.

The statue making area is a little bit away from the rest of Norbulingka and we would have completely missed it if it wasn't for our fearless guide.

I wonder if this head will belong to the body below.....? Two physical features of a Buddha include long ear lobes and right turning hairs. These physical features represent internal attainments, which I can't quite remember...... I think the long ear lobes represent the Buddha listening to all being without exception and the hair represents the Buddhas complete control over his mind..... Maybe.... Check out HH Dalai Lamas ears next time you see him....

It's hard to do full lotus when you're wooden.


The big statue near Rob will be sent to Tibet. It seems that this place, here in India, is preserving Tibetan culture better then in Tibet???

There are paintings of all the Dalai Lama's throughout history on the upper walls of the main gompa. Unusually the 13th and 14th (current) Dalai Lama's have been painted with the actual faces. These painters are so talented that they can paint traditional Tibetan style or life like.

Another great part about having our tour guide was that we got to see inside HH Dalai Lamas room. He has a room here, always ready, even though he has only visited once. The grounds are set out like his summer palace back in Tibet.

Below are a few pics of our cute, small, very green little place (please don't mistake this room for HHDL!).





Rob, Tiiram (Free's little bro) and I were stuck in a restaurant as a hail storm past over. Below is the view out of the window of the resturant. There is a little vegie stall right there.

They were pretty happy to be stuck inside. More time to eat cake!