Dharmsala at-last!

I have at last made it to Dharmsala after 3.5 years in India. Is that too long?

I have have had wonderful weather for this visit. And my legs are getting a real workout from all the walking.

That mind and life conference is going on at this time.

New Tasks

For some reason this blog can not be viewed from where I am here in India. I have checked that others can view it and that is what really matters. The most amusing thing is that I can update and change the site but I can’t seem to view the final product.

As for myself I have a few new tasks heading for me. In a few weeks or so I should be teaching basic computer skills to a small group of Tibetan Buddhist monks and then maybe publishing a photo book.

The idea of teaching is good. The difficulty is teaching something that seems so basic. Teaching someone how to: use mouse, right click, left click. Then realize you have to teach what ‘click’ means. It is a bit of a mind bender when you have to think of teaching computer basics. Using a computer is like breathing…..you just use it and figure everything else out as you go. That is not exactly the professional response now is it?

The other task heading my way is to get some of my photos published. I might have to face down the task of making a book. A task I have not yet done. I have worked on the magazine for the monastery for the past 2 years. So I know that Indian printers can never live up to the order you place with them and they take 10 times longer then expected to do anything. All and all making a book would still be a fun experience….it just may never get printed.

This book is a bit of a long shot since the people it would benefit don’t see any value in it. By the time they do see the value the window of opportunity will have passed. This is always a sad thing for me to watch. Since it happens so many times, I wish I could naturally be un-effected.

So that is what is on my platter.

Greetings from Mumbi

Greetings from Mumbi. That really big city in India which no one I know who lives in India seems to visit. When I asked around they would recount coming here to pick someone up and then leave, and that was about 2 to 3 years ago. So no help. The travel books are nice but the maps are too limited. So now it a sink or swim kind of visit. So far so good.

It is not all that strange that no one knows about Mumbi. I might be like some one form Phoenix, AZ not knowing anything about Los Angles, CA. I just assumed that they would know some one ( ie friend, relative) some connections. I guess this major city is outside of network of people I know.

Ironically there will be someone here I have some connection to when I return to Mumbi. They are going to be working here in the American diplomatic corps.

So things are good. Independent travel is becoming more enjoyable. So reader, do you like to travel in a group or on your own? Why is your choice best for you?

Better Planning is needed.

So now I can say that I choose poorly. I was thinking of going some where which was close by and cheap. I thought, 'just hop up to Nepal for a visit.' I passed up going to some place like Thailand thinking that it would take more time and cost more money. Nope. The amount of time and cost of travel seems to be about the same.

I passed up good food and warm climate of Thailand for freezing cold nights and country dealing with major civil unrest of Nepal. To put things mildly.

So my hat is off to you people of the Nepal Tourist industry. You have a quite a task ahead of you to woo back customers. Maybe they could use it as a couple counseling and/or weight loss program. "The 24 hour curfew allows our visiting couple time to work out their differences....mostly since there is not much else they are allowed to do. While being surrounded by wonderful visas of Himalayan mountains and heavily armed military in blue fatigues."


In the end this visit will stay in my memories for much longer then if I had one of those perfect wonderful vacations. As far as vivid memories go...I will come out ahead on this vacation.

Going Responsible in 2006

There is no escaping human nature. The only thing I can do is face it. This is everywhere...in all humans. No exceptions. Some may deal with it better then others but it is always there.

I have come to find this in my daily life. I can only set myself up for disappointment thinking that there is a place a sanctuary form it.

So what is the up side in this? That I am responsible for myself. I can better deal with my humam nature. Without this life is hopeless. With the responsibility comes my chance to change and improve myself. That can be a great source of inspiration.

The 3rd year is the charm?

The main question is it time to move on or do one more year. Enjoyment of where I am is not in question. Is what I am doing with my time here that gives me reason for pause.

Most of the things I do are normal average everyday office work and documentary photography. There is not much time spent for personal development. This a key thing since I am working here on a volunteer basis. Having time to do some spiritual, educational development is my only real compensation.

I have tried in the past to arrange classes for such topics of study like Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan language. The result is that the class only works out for a few weeks until either the teacher is too busy or my work gets in the way. Thus putting me back a square one....which is just doing mundane work which has no end.

The work is not the problem the balance of work and personal stuffs is the problem. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. If I am just going to work the entire time then I should be back in the USA so I can get paid for the work I do. Then I can use the money to have fun in my free time and saving some for that 'old and gray' part of the life cycle.

So for now I am thinking that if things do not wish to change then one more year to finish up the projects I started so they can be passed on to the next person. Then head back to the 'first-world' country to join the work-a-day world of,

sleep-work, work-work, sleep-work -> PayDay

Change for the better

Wandering the world does not change what is inside your mind. You many have new perspectives and some opinions may be changed. Mostly the experience can show you many good reasons for self-change. However, overcoming the tough personal challenges can only be by our own effort. By having the courage to face our problems and deal with them.

Wondering what-could-have-been or wishing and hoping for an easier way out, does nothing to help us reach our goal of being happy. After we have spent a large amount of time and energy, ignoring what we wish to change in the end only gives us a loss of precious resource of life and our feet are still firmly on the starting line.

We are driven to change because we don't enjoy the feeling of weight on our shoulders from goals left until tomorrow. The unfinished business we have within ourselves is something, which will not go away.

Deep down we instinctively know that by working to be a better person has a lasting reward of peace of mind. Peaceful feelings that stay with us and helps us to give us balance in chaotic ups and downs of our daily life. The fear of facing our own problems can be so overwhelming that we lose sight of the happy conclusion.

This fear comes out of our idea that we have staked so much in who we are now that our identity seems bonded to it. That we will stay as we are right now, forever. The idea of change is thus associated with the loss of our self, as we know it.

To make these necessary changes from within we must let go of thinking of our self as a solid unchanging being. Remind ourselves that life is dynamic. It is changing all the time. That change is what gives this life beauty and hope.