Hindu wedding and more

Just returned from the second (evening) episode of a Hindu wedding of the son of our principal Montessori teacher. Yesterday Arjun, Benita, son and I went to the actual ceremony. Very colourful and very symbolic and extremely powerful event as these two are committing for life. It is an atypical arranged marriage. Everyone seems very happy about it. The bride and group are the sweetest couple you could meet. To see them putting garlands around each other's neck, sprinkling petals on the other's heads, the Hindi priest washing both of their feet ....

Meantime we have a nepalese volunteer helping in the library who has been studying in the States! What a boon and arrived just at the right time before exams and I have just a month left to do what I have to do here. So all my six classes today I held in the library and got feed back from the students as to the books they read/ would like to read. Bonnie-Ma in Ottawa has asked me to compile a list of recommended reading materials for the Green Tara School Library. Students were extremely helpful.

I took a two day Reiki Introductory course this past Thursday and Friday. It was good and complementary to the "Ki" massage diploma and experience I have had in the past. It was terrific to spend the two days once again in the Kopan gopan Monastry and to meet up with pals and make new ones. A definite "Sanga" community I feel I have around me! Three of them are coming here to Child Haven tomorrow. One guy, Ivo, is an artist, and is going to show the Grade 10s and 11s how to design Mandalas (important aspect of Buddhism and Hindism and used by many to "facilitate contemplation and meditation") We have a few budding artists in our midst and hopefully we will be able to laminate some and put them up. The other visitor is Henrich from Germany, who is joining us with his camera and some magasines and will confer with the students as to design and layout of photo and have the kids take each other's photo for their own use. That should also be a hit especially since these particular kids will be leaving CH soon to strik out on their own. So a good looking photo will be great to take away. Later on in the day when the younger kids come back from school we will repair to the dining room and do some mandala colouring on the floor and perhaps sing some songs (Ivo's idea!). I am looking forward to this novel afternoon! Our Saturday film show at Dyane Didi's cottage was fun too.

On Tuesday I have to miss teaching and go to Thamel to get my tourist visa renewed for another month. I leave Nepal (dont/ wont believe it) in one month's time.

Thats enough chat for now. There are cries of excitement upstairs as the kids are cheering on England and some other country in the World Cup! I may join them before retiring.

hugs,

Dyane

Movie Night at the Cottage

Saturday night I had my first "movie night" at Dyane Didi's (volunteers) cottage! Grade 10 and 11 kids came and coffee, crackers and peanut butter was served. "Into thin Air" was the DVD shown and everyone was transfixed with the tension as a large group of well to do, relatively well toned and well meaning but unrealistic folks tried to make it to the top of Everest. Certain folks ignored the leaders' climbing rules and did not turn back on time. Weather turned bad, subsequent health conditions and other nail biting incidents. Many died on their way down. Certain lessons to be learned. I made up a form to be filled in by spectators, i.e., name, grade, and comments after watching each movie. Some younger folks joined us to watch "The March of the Penguins", one of the most impressive and moving movies I have ever seen. If you have not seen it yet, go do so.

One more step for me towards integration and a hopeful contribution to the Childhaven Kathmandu community.

Hugs, Dyane

Teaching in Nepal

Around 4:30 today I finished teaching six action and learning packed classes in the June heat of Aari Bari, Nepal. After this yet again rewarding experience in the Green Tara School, and on my return to the Volunteers' Cottage in Child Haven, I heard a strong lazy yet somehow meaningful moooh! and walked past a cow; undeterred she returned to her grazing. Two women and a man, dressed Tibetan style gave me friendly smiles as they passed by. As I walked across the field I listened in a suprised afternoon bliss to the sweet and energetic young voices of young children singing. Now, I have many papers to correct. There is definite tension amongst the teachers at the school, as exams are coming up. It is satisfying and rewarding to discuss the various ways and means to assist every child here at the Green Tara School.

I am in the right place.

Arran, I have not heard from you recntly. I wonder how you are enjoying Montreal.

love, Dyane

Routine at Child Haven, Kathmandu

It is very hot here and exhausting and sweaty after 6 back to back
classes twice a week! I have chosen to move from the Director's big
house across the road to the volunteer's suite in the orphanage and am
enjoying setting it up the way I like it, organizing the kitchen and
living space down stairs. I will use the "volunteers cottage" for
small group classes, like the Didis, or female caregivers and the staff and some slow learners needing some
extra help. Also will have "open house" a couple of times a week for
grade 10s and others who are about to leave the home to be
independent, a very scarey thing for these folk, after years of
(really well organized and happy) life at Child Haven now they have to
think and do totally for themselves. Acturally CH help them with
their living expenses until they are able
to fend for themselves.

Hugs from all of us here at Childhaven, Kathmandu!

Dyane

My Buddhist experience

After spending 'quality time' (understatement) at the 10 day retreat ~ Introduction to Buddhism ~ at Kopan Monastry with other discriminating folks/ participants from around the world I am readjusting to my self inflicted busyness here at Child Haven, Kathmandu...

I try to recall for you now a little of the sense of uncomplicated-ness lightness, gentle acceptance and focus that we experienced at Kopan. Such a culture shock! Mental pictures easily recalled of monks of all ages and nuns who have given up everything as they take on their daily 19-20 hour Buddhist training. They sort of embody and release the agonising history of their story. They appear so calm, peaceful and often even joyous. I spent many moments during those past few days watching the monks at leisure, between their many ceremonies and functions. They walk together, sometimes arm in arm, the young ones skipping along their way or kicking a plastic water bottle for a while. You can see a few moments of competition as they race to have momentary control of the bottle .... a few moments of youthful exhuberence, joy and, dare I say, abandonment? Then there is the young monk (7 or 8 ..) helping another who has tripped and fallen or has dropped his huge maroon scarf...

Kopan Monastry is on top of a hill overlooking Child Haven and the Kathmandu valley. I was immersed for ten days in a beautiful world! quiet paths leading you to another solitude, colourful plants, flowers and grasses. Powerful stupas and statutes adorn certain areas .... the Kite birds fly overhead, gentle birdsong in nearby bushes and trees .... I go on ...

Then I return to Aari Bari, where our CH home is and I once again face the realities of Kathmandu and Nepal. Despite the contrasting sights and sounds I cannot bring myself to define the scene as being in "abject" poverty. I cycle/ walk to the Buddanath square and I see hundreds or thousands of Nepalesse or Tibetan folks in front of their corrugated doorways. They are waiting for customers, 6 days a week, cross legged beside their early morning carefully laid out wares on the mud or flag stoned area. Through the open doors, and beyond these patiently seated families and individuals you see other men and women busy doing .... cutting meat, turning sewing machine wheels, and metal instruments and fires intent on making prayer flags, colourful hangings, clothing, singling bowls, icons .. everywhere you go you see goats, dogs and hens. Oh yes! there is the occasional cow and always those darned emaciated and often wretched looking dogs. They appear dead as they lie there lifeless. But, just wait, when the sun goes down there is a transformation of sound! The air is now filled with dogs barking. Could drive you nuts! I think I have zoned them out ...l


I am bringing visitors to Child Haven so I better stop my musings for now. There is just not enough time and space to give justice to my current experiences here in Nepal.

Reaching out to you with huge hugs,

Dyane

Buddhist Retreat at Kopan, Kathmandu

Hello family and friends who are still following me!

Marlene and Janie asked me for an address to send their donation. Maybe YOU will want to consider donating to Child Haven International? There are many many needs here and anything you donate will be so much appreciated:

Dyane Lynch
Volunteer, Intern
Child Haven International
P.O. Box 9676
Kathmandu Nepal

It is Sunday, June 6 and here I am taking 10 days off from teaching etc. at Child Haven. I will be back in Child Haven on June 13th. Right now I am 'retreating' .. together with fifty or so other aspirants for ten days in the Kopan Buddhist monastry. I have been herefour days already and it is an amazing experience. We are practising meditation (the answer to everything, did you know?!) teachings/ questionings, answerings ... each session led by a pretty evolved and amazing nun and one smiling monk. There is not one wrinkle on the face of any of them. The smiling happy face of the very holy and beloved Dali Lama looks down on us as we ruminate on the ways and means of Buddhism. We are in total silence daily from 10 pm until after lunch, 12:30 noon, each day.

We start our disciplined day at 6 and finish at 9. Each morning, after lunch there are break away discussion groups left to us to chew away at the various topics covered that morning. Monkeys often sit around our group sitting outside on the grass. I 'moderate' or lead one group of pretty vibrant folks from all over the world. The discussions, as you will appreciate, are lively, sometimes divisive, but always satisfying some of our curiousities.

The monastry is situated on top of a hill overlooking Kathmandu. It is a beautiful area, and the grounds are immaculately kept, with stupas and statues here and there. Very tasteful and you will feel such peace as you walk around these gardens. There always seems to be a gentle breeze atop this hill. May and June are very hot and dusty months.

We have delicious food here, hot showers and flushing toilets. Heaven!

The Kopan air is often filled with chanting voices of young men and another group of young boys. At auspicious times you hear the sounds of gongs, bells and horns. I love the sound of the young boys' totally kids group, you hear this thin but powerful and very energetic voice rising above and sligtly ahead of the other kids'. Truly magic!

There are times that the teachings on karma, impermanence, etc. are extraordinarily heavy; I have seen a few tears and many dour faces. But upon reflection and reasoning, along with the wisdom of the monks and nuns, we all realize that you takes wat you wants, wat you needs. You need not take any of this philosophy on board. Having said this, there is a lot of sense in Buddha's teachings. Someone said, and I like, "Buddhism is a gentle way of being".

To take a few words from a Shambhala Sun magasine:

"Buddhist meditation is something to do, not to believe, so the measure of it is always related to what is happening to your mind and your life ..."

Yes, I am learning a lot here. It is a most fulfilling few days.

Enough for now, now, "what is attachment?" and much much more!

hugs, Dyane