loved ones-

Please forgive any lack of flow on this email. Ten days of semi-silence and meditation can make the brain go numb... but a good numb of course :)

So, just finished the Tushita Meditation Course in Mcleod Ganj, India. Intense and possibly one of the best things I could have done for myself! Every day included 4 hours of buddhist philosphy and teachings by buddhist monks or nuns, 3 1/2 hours of analytical meditations applying what we learned that day, and one hour of group study discussion... thank Gawd! Because learning such mind blowing things I found myself just dying to talk about it all with someone. :) One specific highlight was having the honorable monk, Geshe Dorji Damdul (Dalai Lama's English translator) come and teach two of our sessions.

In total there were 55 students, from 24 countries... the oldest pupil being a 76 year German to the youngest being an 18 year old Taiwanese. Average age about 39. The course was amazing... I just figure you have to be brilliant to be a hard core buddhist philosopher. I loved discussing the science and philosphy of it all..topics such as impermanence and death, nature of the mind and reality, karma, emptiness or shunyata....the more I learned the more I just learned how much more there is to learn! and then beyond that, well... I think Albert Einstein summed it up best by saying "Where science and philosophy stop, spirituality begins."

The monks were amazing... I think Tibetan monks are reincarnated dolphins because they have that permanent smile on their faces like dolphins and they are so full of love :) and truly, I see where the character yoda from star wars was created.... Just such a sweet, wise energy from them all and it was so lovely to hear them praying and chanting everywhere. And just when i was totally enamored, I'd see a monk whip out their cell phone, put on their generic ug boots or hack up a very loud phlegm ball. OH the duality :) But nontheless, what I am really so impressed with is their relentless, sincere patience and faith in beginning students. They were so patient with all the questions, debating, doubting, confusion, multiple explanations etc... and truly encouraging us to not accept anything just because... that we had to truly question EVERYTHING they taught. Oh, and the faith they had in us... they have more faith in me than i have in myself!

So all in all I left the tushita meditation center with a huge appreciation for Buddhism, my head shaved and I'm scheduled to be sworn in to the Mahayana Buddhist nunnery next month. Mom, aren't you excited for me? Just teasing..... :)

I was really hoping I would have some monkey stories to tell you all, well... just be careful what you wish for... i have so many monkey stories I don't even know where to begin. At the retreat center there is a big group of wild monkeys living all in the pine trees. One afternoon there were about at least 30 of them all on the grass area and wow, was it a show. Monkeys everywhere! Mammas, pappas and babies all eating, napping, wrestling, biting, sunbathing, leaping, flying in the air, hanging, sitting, grooming, and of course making monkey love. The whole scene reminded me of that page from the Dr Suess book "Go Dog Go".... where all the dogs are having a party on top of the tree... total chaos. (Thanks Professor for bringing that book back into our lives at burningman!)

Another time a monkey and a monk's dog got into a verbal altercation... the monkey had ran into the kitchen while i was doing dishes, lifted the lid off the composte bin and was eating food right out of the bin! the dog spotted it, and the intensity began....dog barking at the monkey... monkey hissing and howling, showing fangs not budging from the food scraps... finally the dog won and the monkey left but not without taking a couple steps towards the door and then abruptly lifting up its bright red shiny ugly ass in a very showy offensive manuever.. it was hilarious.. so human! i think it was basically the equivalent of giving the finger or something rude. Take that!

So all in all I've been having an awesome time in India... Highlights have included: the meditation practices, the gorgeous Himalayan mountain views, meeting awesome fellow travelers from so many countries, experiencing Tibetan culture, tasty food . Some not so highlights have included: stepping in monkey poop barefoot, biting into a staple while eating indian food in a restaurant, being woken up by dog fights or monkey fights in the middle of the night, and public Indian toilets.

My plan for the next two and half weeks is to stay in McLeod Ganj and explore this cute charming Tibetan/Indian mountain town. There is so much to do here! tons of volunteer opportunities, classes in subjects such as buddhism, cooking, languages, wholistic therapies etc... many things to see, monasteries, museums, temples and lots of hiking opportunities in the Himalyan mountains....

I am also very eager to learn more about this whole Tibet/China thing. I feel so ignorant on it all.

Much love and blessings and here's to not stepping in cow poop on the streets!-

Thank you for being in my life!

-Sari Barbie