Live Lessons from my Spiritual Friend (5)

October 11-14

We travelled by train from Aurangabad to New Delhi, the journey, plus changing another train in between, we probably spent about 24 hours to reach the destination. In between, the train stopped at a destination, up to now, i vividly remember this boy who came in front of me with some food (one piece of bread and some biscuits) holding with one hand, the other hand streching towards me as other local people seemingly 'immune' to this scene. He looked very skinny, and hungry.  i asked Ani if i could give the 2 pieces of breads, she nodded, and i gave him with the plastic covering it as originally packed.  At that time, Kunde Rinpoche left to the train station, walking around. Later he came back and asked if we could give this pack of food to someone, he said there was a boy eating hungrily with 2 pieces of bread in the station area, thus we passed the pack of food which was supposed to be dinner to one of us through the window to Tulku.  Later he came back and said there were 2 Hindu monks bringing rice and curry for those people sitting at the station, and praising their kindness...

For the next few days, we spent in the Tibetan community.  We travel to the town a couple of times for various reasons. If the journey was within a few Kilometer, Tulku would ride with the cyclist - He cheekily playing with them such as pulling their bicycle when they tried to move etc.. and they would laugh together - I was seeing simple joy in their faces, and i felt their happiness being connected. Initially, i asked Tulku why did he choose to ride bicycle and i thought riding the mini motorcar was safer and looks less dangerous - the answer was the same - save money, no waste. If we have travel further which could only ride by mini motorcar, I had to catch up my Spiritual Friend who was walking and walking along the road until a driver agreed to the normal charge of the journey.

After i returned from the trip, as i contemplating on the experience of the joyful moments Kunde Rinpoche had with the cyclist who ride us, i felt moved by His compassion - my Spiritual Friend was making connection with simple folks in the streets! - i regretted for my worldly judgement of kept suggesting it was safer to travel by motor engine vehicle! I felt that we complaint too much within a comfortable life provided with all basic needs, unnecessary needs...etc...etc....

Live Lessons from my Spiritual Friend (4)

October 6-11, 2011

On Oct.6, 2011 evening, we travelled by a public bus from Dharamsala to New Delhi.  We missed the bus, together with a Tibetan lady & her daughter.  We asked the bus ticket counter at different timing on the arrival of the bus which we had booked tickets 2 hours ago and awaiting since then.  At the end, we had to hire a cab (taxi) to chase after the bus! Personally, i had fear riding on vehicle which driver speed - i described it as like 'Ferrari style'.  The driver put a price tag of rs500 to 'chase' the bus, four of us seated. During his 'crazy' drive of speeding and weaving with other vehicles, i was grumbling inside the car, Tulku had apologized a few times after he knew the bus was gone without any information for this incident. i was behaving like a fearful person as the driver was speeding, including narrating a car accident i heard of a colleague and his husband colliding into a tree at night, only the driver survived! - I even forgot my favourite Guru Rinpoche Mantra chant! Later i was surprised three other passengers, including Tulku were such calm during the 'horror' ride! At the end, the driver managed to stop the bus, exceeding the venue he expected to meet it, thus demanding extra cash of rs50. We paid and ride the bus for about 12 hours! Now writing in retrospection, i believe myself have some kind of deep psychological fear over car accidents as i had experienced 2 serious car accidents. Strangely after returning from this trip, the fearful feeling driving among reckless drivers on the road seems have been 'disminishing' or does not arouse panic emotion unnecessarily! Thank you very much to Tulku's compassion throughout that 'dangerous' ride!

The next 5 days, Tulku, Ani Tsering and myself travelled to Ellora, Ajanta caves at Aurangabad. We spent about 3 hours at Ellora. i apologize for not having a decent camera with me, after i knew the camera given by Tulku's friend was spoilt recently. i believe any reader interested in these historical caves could search the internet and retrieves loaded information and images travellers had posted. Buddhist Caves of Ellora dated back to 500-700A.D. we enjoy the natural hillside panoramic views surrounding the caves, but salluting to the master pieces of Buddhist scuptures that remained, erected after many centuries, surviving from human destructions!!!!! - personally, i see the vital importance of preservation and conservation of human culture, artistic creation, and history, irrespective of one's creed, race and system of beliefs in what we termed 'Human Civilization'. Below is a photograph to share:

[Water Fall between the Buddhist Caves at Ellora, caves 1 -12, southern series. Image photographed by sonam yeshi, all rights reserved, 2011]

The next day we are supposed to travel to Ajanta Caves. That night i had a dream of yeye, the grandpa of Tulku. The next day morning i thought i had made wishes in my Buddhist prayers and puja that this respected, compassionate Lama would return to human realm for his Bodhisattva vow. Interestingly, in the morning before we depart to Ajanta Cave, Tulku shared that he dreamt of yeye - (late) Lopon Pema Dechen and received message from one of his Dharma Protectors last night!  it was indeed auspicious coincidence!  Tulku and Ani had thought to do a short Buddhist Puja at one of the Temple Hall in Ajanta before we travelled. We did manage to do a Puja, venerating to the historical Buddha Sakyamuni images, artistics stone carvings etc.  - happily experiencing the historical spiritual caves and beautiful architectures... We met a group of university students from India, they were Architecture studies and English studies undergraduates, leading by 2 lecturers. They enthusiastically requesting Tulku (and kindly invited us also) to have pictures taken in groups with them. Not to disappoint readers here, below is a picture photograph at one of the caves:

[a Buddhist Cave in Ajanta. Image photographed by sonam yeshi, all rights reserved, 2011]