Sunday, December 28, 2008
Back in India.
Varanasi really is a holy city. There is something very magical about this place.
We visited the Burning Ghat (Ghats are steps leading into the Ganges), where bodies are taken to be creamated. They say a dip in the Holy Ganges will liberate you from rebirth.
Only men carry the bodies because the women cry. The corpses are covered with bright orange and red cloth, the color and other garments varying according to caste. Every few minutes, a new body would come and there was a line of about five, waiting to be burned. It takes about three hours to be fully cremated, and only the immediate family waits around.
No pictures aloud.
It was very ordinary. Very human. Directly next to the burning ghat on either side there are people bathing, women washing clothes, and children playing. We westerners would get very sick from this water, but there is a beach-like atmosphere, and many residents of the city spend time by the ghats.
On the other bank, it is miles of empty, sandy floodplanes that are filled during the monsoon.
Our hotel is underneath a music school and I can sometimes hear people practicing tabla.
Cows and cow shit everywhere.
Varanasi really is a holy city. There is something very magical about this place.
We visited the Burning Ghat (Ghats are steps leading into the Ganges), where bodies are taken to be creamated. They say a dip in the Holy Ganges will liberate you from rebirth.
Only men carry the bodies because the women cry. The corpses are covered with bright orange and red cloth, the color and other garments varying according to caste. Every few minutes, a new body would come and there was a line of about five, waiting to be burned. It takes about three hours to be fully cremated, and only the immediate family waits around.
No pictures aloud.
It was very ordinary. Very human. Directly next to the burning ghat on either side there are people bathing, women washing clothes, and children playing. We westerners would get very sick from this water, but there is a beach-like atmosphere, and many residents of the city spend time by the ghats.
On the other bank, it is miles of empty, sandy floodplanes that are filled during the monsoon.
Our hotel is underneath a music school and I can sometimes hear people practicing tabla.
Cows and cow shit everywhere.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Xmas
Nothing is convenient here.
The power goes out for most of the daytime because there isnt enough, but people dont seem to mind.
I fly back to India on Saturday to spend 2 days in Varanasi, then the Monlam. Lots and lots of monks. And karmapa.
The power goes out for most of the daytime because there isnt enough, but people dont seem to mind.
I fly back to India on Saturday to spend 2 days in Varanasi, then the Monlam. Lots and lots of monks. And karmapa.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Chirstmas in Nepal.
Quick impressions:
Visited a Vajrayogini Temple. Ancient. Caves where Marpa, Naropa, and Tilopa practiced. Power spot. Monkeys. Dirty little room the monk took us to.
Looking at pictures of the Dalai Lama on Jamgon Kongtrul's ibook in the stupa room.
Cold nights.
Still green here, even though it's getting cold.
Possible parisite, fixed by antibiotics, the use of which criticized by the germans.
Loud puja-- Mahakala
Getting ready for bodhgaya
How did so much time go past?
Quick impressions:
Visited a Vajrayogini Temple. Ancient. Caves where Marpa, Naropa, and Tilopa practiced. Power spot. Monkeys. Dirty little room the monk took us to.
Looking at pictures of the Dalai Lama on Jamgon Kongtrul's ibook in the stupa room.
Cold nights.
Still green here, even though it's getting cold.
Possible parisite, fixed by antibiotics, the use of which criticized by the germans.
Loud puja-- Mahakala
Getting ready for bodhgaya
How did so much time go past?
Friday, December 19, 2008
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