In the month I spent volunteering at a Buddhist Monastery in Nepal, one of my most treasured memories was the time I spent with the principle, Khenpo D. Â Khenpo and I sat for at least an hour every day in his room, often over tea or coffee. Â He had just been introduced to the world …
Losar Celebration
Not to be confused with loser, Losar is a celebration of the Tibetan New Year. I had no idea what this was but was very fortunate to find myself at a Buddhist Monastery in Nepal for this occasion. I cannot tell you accurately the history of Losar, or any factual significance of the different traditions, …
Learning About Buddhism – Pujas Galore!
My time in a Buddhist Monastery taught me a lot. Â I learned about the very real struggle of Tibetans and the evils committed by the Chinese government. Â I learned what it feel like to be a vegetarian and eat so much rice it literally felt as though it was coming out of my pores (seriously …
Field Trip – Boudha
If you visit Nepal, visiting Bodhnath Stupa and it's surrounding area is a must.  As one of the major sights to visit in the Kathmandu area, I had already made a trip before starting my time volunteering for a month at Rinchen Parli Monastery.  It is full of tourists but is  a very important pilgrimage …
Lessons with Khenpo
In my daily teachings at Rinchen Parli Monastery, one of my favorite experiences was my time spent with Khenpo Dhondup. Â Khenpo is basically the principle of the monastery, and has become a great friend. Â His has an incredible drive to learn English and we continue to be in touch via Skype all these years later …
A Month Among Monks
Volunteering in a Buddhist Monastery.