Mosquito Follow Up

So last night I slept slathered in mosquito creme and surrounded by burning coils of mosquito repellent reminiscent of the old days in Kahuku. But the key word there is SLEPT. I feel a whole lot better, and lots less grouchy today. I did awaken with a black eye though, think a well placed mosquito bite from the other day hit a good vessel or something. Of course there is no mirror, so...I have no idea what it really looks like. But, I will take the word of the Ani.

So just to give an idea of what life is like traveling with the ani. Most rise at 4:30, a little later than at home, make their way to the Big Temple and begin their circumambulations, or Koram. They expect to make 108 complete circles by the time they leave. As it is a rather large complex it takes longer than one might think. The Karmapa Lama arrives about 7:00 and prayers begin shortly thereafter. I usually hang back in the room with a few of the others, take Tibetan tea (water, butter and salt) around 6:30 from a mass food line in the courtyard, along with a piece of bread. Then head up to the Gompa. The prayers last pretty steadily until 11:00 and then they return to the monastery for lunch, unually rice and some sort of curried vegetables, not too spicy, the ani add the spice themselves, and you should see their use of hot red pepper, just looking at it makes me sweat.

After lunch prayers start again around 1:00 and last until 5:30 or so with a short break around 3:00.

Dinner back at the dust bowl around 6:00. Dinner is the worst of the meals, last night I managed to get a couple of ani to go out to dinner with me for momo. Its not hard to get them to go, but the head ani wants them all back at the monastery so we had to get permission. I told them I needed their help and that worked with the big nun, what a pain. There are a lot of fruit sellers around so I am getting some vitamins, oranges and bananas, anything I can peel.

We all get back to the room by 7:30 or so and then it is a talk fest until they go to sleep between 8:00 and 10:00. Its amazing that people who see each other all day still have so much to talk about in the evening. Oh well, good for them.

Today we will go visit with the Karmapa Lama in person, all the Ani, I get to go too. That will be interesting. The Karmapa Lama is the head of another Tibetan Buddhist sect, like the Dalai Lama is head of his sect (and the government in exile). It is very special to be able to meet the Karmapa in person. I am looking forward to it.

Oh and just to clarify...it ain't me doing the prostrations!

And that is all from Bohd Gaya today!