I am one week into a month of studies at a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in the hills overlooking the Kathmandu valley.
Built in 1971 by Lama Yeshe Rinpoche and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan Monastery is home to 360 monks and now myself and 250 other students for the next 5 weeks.
While my seated meditation practice isn’t very consistent, I found myself drawn to the Lam Rim course (The Graduated Path to Enlightenment) in order to deepen my meditation practice and learn more about Tibetan Buddhism.
Some of the students have already departed, perhaps finding that the path to enlightenment may require more mettle than they thought. Or perhaps the 4:30/5am wakeup, cold showers, and 9 days of precepts was not their idea of a ‘holiday’.
I personally relish the opportunity that these types of teachings offer –especially when I find myself feeling frustrated or resistant. I like to call it “sitting at my edge” and welcome the challenges that will give me deeper insight into my practice and how I can continue to breath meaning and authenticity into my life.
Om,
Dani
www.thatgirldani.com
