That equals three days left in this cozy Tibetan town. Things I’ll miss the most:
1. Mountains, mountains everywhere - misty, snowy, sunny, dark and fore-boding, massive, towering, imposing, rocky, green, brown, beautiful mountains.
2. The students (see photo)
3. Local friends
4. Multi-lingual language environment.
5. A full-fledged monastery only a 3 minute walk from my apartment.
When’s the last time you prayed?
Last night was the anniversary of the death of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Geluk sect of Tibetan Buddhism. A couple of my students invited me to do the “monastery crawl,” praying and circumambulating the various temples at the nearby Rongwo Monastery. Firstly, it was freezing cold. Secondly, there were a lot of people despite the cold. I suppose faith will keep you warm. The traditional way that Tibetans visit a monastery is to first prostrate three times in front of the temple (large golden images of various buddhas and many thangkhas lining the inner walls) and then walking around the main Buddha images, stopping to touch one’s head to the sacred images, thereby receiving blessings.
So I prayed in this way. It’s been so long since I last prayed. I prayed from my family, my friends, for all those who are suffering in this world. I prayed to find my way onto the spiritual path once again, something I’ve felt even more distant from since I started working. Although most Tibetans do these religious practices merely out of blind faith and custom, it was still inspiring to see them gather by the hundreds in the freezing cold. There was a part of me that marveled at the influence of one man who lived 2500 years ago - that his teachings could totally transform an alien culture (which Tibet was 1000 years ago) into what I saw before me. Each thangkha reminded me of that potential in all of us to become fully human, compassionate, and wise - to live without illusion or delusion, fear or anger.
Northwest Nationalities University
So just a quick update, things are getting busier and busier by the day. Only 12 days left in Rebgong! I went to Northwest Nationalities University in Lanzhou, Gansu and successfully procured a student residence card which lasts for 9 months, all for a measly $50 US. Whether or not I’ll go there as a student (or even possibly as a English teacher) is still up in the air, although I like the campus with its high stone buildings with traditional Chinese roofs. It almost felt like Columbia as it’s also in close proximity to downtown Lanzhou. So for now, visa troubles solved.
