Routine

I'm just going to list more or less what an average day looks like for me here.

Get up 5.30/6am Practice for an hour and a bit.

Breakfast.

Go to eco centre to refill water bottles.

Read/pretend to study Tibetan, avoid scam artists. Troll scam artists.

Lunch.

English teachings which are really me talking to some amazing monk yogis about practice.

Mix in liberal ammounts of me being a dick into all this.

Karmapa

I'm having an amazing time here, but this morning takes the crown by miles. I had an audience with Gyalwa Karmapa.

I had various questions for him regarding some issues and my own practice. He answered everything with clarity and skill, as well as a great sense of humour. The latter expressed when he said I was making good progress in my practice. He explicitly stated that I enjoy practice which despite my lack of effort and diligence I genuinely do. Nothing makes me happier than practice, apart from seeing others genuinely happy.

He was also supportive of me training as a translator and didn't seem at all bothered by retreat being on hold for a few years.

I gave him a copy of the graphic novel "V for Vendetta" which he seemed pleased with. His English is excellent and at one point he almost had a London accent.

But irrespective of what was said, really what I always get from being near Gyalwa Karmapa, and certain other teachers, is a tremendous sense of unlimited non-dual love, which I only have glimpses of myself. The only way today could be better would be if I could share it with everyone. I sincerely hope that anyone who reads this will meet Karmapa face to face in the very near future.

Namo Guru!
Gyalwa Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa incarnate,
please hold all beings in your compassion and protection.
May you remain steadfast like Mahamudra and in the world for aeons.
Sarwa Mangalam!

Back in the Holy land.

So I am back in India, I arrived yesterday, spent the day in Delhi and arrived in McLeod Ganj this morning. Have had a shower and some sleep as well as having caught up with old friends.

I will stay here until I got Nepal, although I might also do some small excursions from here.