Vajrakilaya Sand Mandala Puja

Puja is the name given to the worship service. (I have heard it used by Hindu's also.)This week there is an 11 day Puja to the deity Vajrakilaya (Sanskrit name). He shows his wrathful face to us to destroy our own evil behavior and he also removes the obstacles and bad omens of life. His face is 3 sided, blue for extreme power, white sided for peace and red is a mixture therefore all reflecting the human condition.
But deep within he is kind and compassionate - a Buddha. Phurpa is his Tibetan name.

The puja also is the biggest exam for students who are learning the entire text of prayers. Each day there is a different leader.
The daily puja goes from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM with only one hour break for lunch.

Cymbals, 2 Types - Rolmo and Sil Nyen

and Drums Abound

Dungchen Trumpets

Our Dearest Dkakpa Gyatso with Rolmo

Footbridge

“2011 OCT 22, KATHMANDU. Two  persons were killed and 13 others injured when a suspension bridge, over the Trishuli River, collapsed at Fisling, Chitwan on Saturday. Three persons are thought to be missing in the river.”

http://www.demotix.com/news/891312/suspension-bridge-collapses-nepal 

Just a quarter mile down the road from the monastery is a footbridge across the Seti River. It really is a lovely walk.

 It sways and the swaying increases with the addition of more weight. We were passed by locals going back and forth. From the other side, the prayer flags wave and the monastery sits high upon the hill.

On the banks are extremely modest homes with families going about their daily business.  Machapuchare, sacred mountain to the Hindu god Shiva, watches over all.

Moving Crew

Every afternoon I am treated to the delightful exuberance of and endless team support from Class III. Because I choose to make my classroom outside with light and air, rather than in the cell like rooms that reverberate and echo with every sound, I have a moving crew. The first monk arrives calling “Ms. Foster-la.” I open my door and see many small bodies running across the openness to my room. They climb over the railing handing off their pencil boxes and clipboards to another and extend their arms for my numerous teaching supplies including white board, chair and box of clipboards. 

  

Outside we are seriously at work listening, questioning, reading, writing and drawing about the Amazon Rainforest.

 

 On one special afternoon, Kunga Namgyal picked up my supply bag, swung it up onto his shoulder and announced:"Ms. Foster-la'", indicating that he was now the new Ms. Foster-la.

The New Ms. Foster-la

Monks' Robes

Monks are not faced with many wardrobe decisions, but watching the little ones manage the monks' robes is often a joy and delight.

Jampa Lodroe, about 9 years old, from class III was on his way out my door, (we had class in my room as there was more natural light and it was warmer), when he grabbed his Ngolin. He was experiencing a falling Ngolin.

So he begins again. First he takes the Ngolin, a one piece skirt extra wide with enough fabric to pleat, or not, if you are young, and begins the wrap.

Following that he takes the Kera, a cumberbund like belt with very long ties and places the widest part in the front. He then wraps around to the back and then again to the front. Finally he ties it in the front.

Up, over and off to class.

Girls' Night Out

Tihar is one of the MANY Hindu festivals celebrated in Nepal. (Even the cab driver was comparing our lack of, to their surplus of holidays) So after doubling up on our teaching schedule, because the HINDU TEACHERS were off for 5 days, five westerners headed out to Lakeside for dinner – the tourist area of Pokhara. First to walk down the hill to the road and then wait for a bus or passing taxi... strolling along a bus pulled up and on board we went, some on the roof, some inside, all for the price of 10 rupees. About a mile down the road we were stopped by the police and the toppers were told to get down. They scrambled to get inside the already overcrowded bus and we continued to Harichowk. From there we hired a taxi with 4 in the back and 2 in the front, also illegal, but we got through with no problem, probably because we were Westerners.

 Familiar with Lakeside we decided to stop for Espresso.

After ordering I asked for the "toilet" and received an assent from a very young boy who indicated that I should follow him. I did. Out the door, down the street, into the alley, turn to the right, next direct left, under the clothes line and to the voila, nearly.

Actually a fairly clean, neighborhood squat, albeit when I closed the unlock-able door, there was not a thread of light. Thankfully there was a reward after all this.

On to picking up supplies, a little shopping and then meeting for dinner at Moon Dance Restaurant with a flair for serving western food...

...the pharmacy as everyone has been fighting a cold, except for me as I believe I developed some immunities from my last trip when I was very sick.

Ordered an embroidered hat from a lovely man at a tiny shop. Checked out his manual machine. Chatted some as his English was quite good, I paid for the hat and embroidery fixing the return time for after 6:00 PM.

Many dancing groups were in town for the celebration of Tihar, performing on the sidewalks.

 Happily, Moon Dance also has a flair for western loos.

We devoured Greek Salads with Feta, Bruschetta, Hot Lemon, Tandoori Chicken and for dessert some had Crepes with Bananas and Chocolate, while others had  Ice Cream made from powered milk according to one set of taste buds.

Penguin Sunday or Panty, Panty, Panty!

Sunday dawned bright and beautiful and the monks were being treated to a day of swimming at Penguin Swimming Pool by volunteers from Canada, Misses Elizabeth and Emily. After lunch the roundup began and the walk down the hill commenced.

The Progression

The Only Penguins in Nepal

Arriving at the pool the boys disappeared into the changing rooms and they all came out to sit-wait upon the steps for the “whistle”. One little one appeared who had removed all his garments and was in the natural state of dress. The pool manager began to yell, “Panty, panty,panty!” Everyone looked around and for a few moments no one did anything. A brother monk from class IV came forward and tugging at my arm indicating that he had underwear and trunks on and that he would go in and give one pair of bottoms to the other monk. Dilemma averted, no walk up the long hill to retrieve underwear or trunks.

The Whistle Blows

Like the proverbial ducks to water the monks swam, dove, ducked, caroused and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon. The water was cold and the little ones would come out for a while and stand still in the very strong sun, regaining their body warmth and return for more going down the water slide.

Class IV Student Jampa Tenzin

Kunga Sangpo with Jamyang Gyaltsen

Misses Emily and Elizabeth on Catching Jampa Sangpo

Monk Monkey#1 - Kunga Sherab

Monk Monkey 2, Kunga Tenzin

Kunga Tenpa and Kunga Gyaltsen

Monks with Andrea, an Artist from Spain

Resting with Dhaks

A Perfect Day

Saturday Spick-et Special

Saturday begins like every other day with assembly and then classes, but only for a half day. The afternoon is busy with cleaning: your room, your monastery, your clothes, and your body. The little ones visit the outside spick-et with guaranteed cold running water; they strip, soap, rinse and mostly run dry.

This is the pull back view of the spick-et. It is on the edge of the property. Heading for class yesterday I snapped this older monk cleaning up. It is Pemsi Lundrup.

(Spik-et also know as Spigot)