"Live in the Wild and Meditate" -Drakpa Gyaltsen (1147-1216)
"I am of the mountains and my mind is there. Thus do I sing my song." - Milerepa.
Life is busy, fast-paced. We try to maintain peace, acceptance and work with whatever arises. But few realize the toll of modern life on our spirits or the riches of cleaning our internal mirrors, caring for our mind, sharpening our perceptions, discovering our face before we were born in wilderness and in retreat. Come join Thomas L. Kelly and Carroll Dunham on a deeply personal and intimate journey to the heartland of the Himalayas to witness the swirling colors of the Mani Rimdu festival and meet one of the greatest living Vajrayana masters of this century: Trulshig Rinpoche, senior retreat master for the Dalai Lama. Learn more about Buddhism and wilderness, as we retreat even deeper, before retuning to engage more deeply in the world renewed. Meditation and yoga, and the deep joy of walking one's mind clear, these are some of the sweetest trails in all the Himalaya. Exploring the largest traditional hermitage in all the Himalaya, we walk incredible trails to reach Sengye Phuk, a Glacial Lake where Trulshig Rinpoche was in retreat over 40 years ago and where he sends monks and nuns for chod-wilderness practice. Long life sacred waters curl in this blessed wilderness, a place to rest more deeply in ourselves. (October 10-30, 2008)
Daily Itinerary:
Day Depart from USA
Day 2. (Fri, Oct-31) Arrive Kathmandu. Stay at Hyatt Hotel, within view of Boudhnath Stuppa. After a rest, Orientation with Thomas and Carroll.
Day 3. (Sat, Nov-1)
Early morning visit to Boudhanath Stuppa, to join the hundreds of Budhist pilgrims circumambulating the stuppa. Hang prayer flags followed by a visit to Serchen Monastery- morning meditation alongside praying monks followed by a talk by Rimpoche and a visit to Lama Wang du, a living treasure of compassion. Aftrenoon visit to the Kingdom of Patan, home to some of the most beautiful Hindu Pagoda temples in the world and world class bronze reposse casters and Thanghka painters.
Day 4. (Sun, Nov-2) Early morning guided tour by Thomas to Pashuaptinath, a Shiva temple complex filled with Himalayan yogis and where the last death rites are performed by Brahman Priests alongside the funeral ghats. Visit Bhaktapur, the medieval Kingdom to 150,000 traditional farmer followed by a lunch with Goetz Hagmauller, world renouwn Architect, 30 years living in Nepal.
Day 5. (Mon, Nov-3) 10:00 a.m. Flight to Phalpu, Solo Khumbhu. Stay at Dr. Mingma's house. Tour by Dr.Mingma through his hospital, visit traditional Sherpa friends to learn about the traditional Sherpa culture.
Day 6. (Tue, Nov-4) Early morning Darjeeling tea wake -up call and walk three hours through Rhodedendron forests to Ratna Gir in hopes of viewing Chomolongmo, Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nupste and the extending Himalayan Himals. Bfast and morning meditation. Return to Phalpu. Relax, journal writing, poetry reading, followed by a visit to Christopher Giercke's Hotel Sherpa for a delicious diiner and viewing of the film, Lord of the Dance, to understand the Mani Rimdu festival.
Day 7. (Wed, Nov-5) Depart Phalpu, and walk 4 hours to Jumbesi, home to the heart of traditional Sherpa culture. Jumbesi is the seat of traditional Sherpa architecture. Overnite at traditional Sherpa Inn. Lecture about traditional archietecture in the region. .
Day 8. (Thur, Nov-6) Visit meditation retreat of Lama Tenzing overlooking the Jumbesi valley. For interested minds, pick up the book: Rhythms of a Himalayan Village by Huge Downs-best book about this region, including what you will witness at Mani Rimdu.
Day 9. (Fri, Oct-7) 19th. Walk two hrs. to Thupten Cholingo visit w/ 85 year-old Trulsghik Rinpoche, the Dalai Lama's senior meditation teacher, considered the reincarnation of Ananda, Buddha's disciple, performs the Mani Rimdu Overnite at Monestary guest house.
Day 10. (Sat, Nov-8) Depart Thupten Choling- walk 4 hours to Sengye Phuk "Lion's Cave" where Trulshig Rinpoche went into retreat after his harrowing escape from Tibet in 1959. Overnite at Sengye Phuk.
Day 11. (Sun, Nov-9) Morninng meditaion at Sengye Puk, Fire puja. Rest day at Sengye Puk
Day 12. (Mon, Nov-10) Trek towards Dhud Khund.
Day 13. (Tue, Nov-11) Arrive Dhud Khud. (Yogini power place. Camp)
Day 14. (Wed, Nov-12) Descend towards Chiwong Gompa, Mani Mindu Monastery. Lonh walk.
Day 15. (Thur, Nov-13) Descend towards Chiwong Gompa, Mani Mindu Monastery. Long walk.
Day 16. (Fri, Nov-14) Audience with Trulshig Rimpoche. Festival dances.
Day 17. (Sat, Nov-15) Fire Puja at Chiwang Monastery.
Day 18. (Sun, Nov-16) Return to Phaplu
Day 19. (Mon, Nov-17) Fly to Kathmandu.
Day 20. (Tue, Nov-18) Shopping in Kathmandu.
Day 21. (Wed, Nov-19) Homeward bound.
Details: @ 20 Days in-country, Oct 31st to Nov 19th
Trip cost:
US$ 205/day x 20 days='s US$ 4100. Children under 12, US$100 (outside of Kathmandu). Excluding International Airfare. Includes Hotel's all meals, overland travel, Flight Ktm-Phalpu-Ktm, entrance fee to museums, single tent occupancy, US$ 500 deposit, sign-up deadline, Sept. 1st . Limited to 12 pax.
Price does not include:
Alcohol, and tips to Sherpas.
Cancellation Policy.
Final payment is due Sept 1st. In the event of cancellation within 31-70 days prior to departure date, there will be a refund of 75% of the land portion of the trip fee. In the event of cancellation within 40 days prior to the departure date, there will be a refund of 50% of the land portion of the trip fee.
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