RYI STUDENT BLOG

What is called Dasain in Nepal, is one of the biggest and longest Hindu festivals celebrated all across the country and by all casts in Nepal. It is a two-week long celebration that symbolizes the triumph of virtue over evil or victory of god over the devil. This festival derives from the Hindu mythology where According to Hindu scriptures, goddess Durga slew the ferocious demon Mahisasura (Mahis + Asura), a demon in the form of a water buffalo, which terrorized people on different parts of the Earth. The almighty Durga in her various manifestations, names and forms is widely celebrated with pujas or worships for freeing mankind from the terror. Various kinds of activities take place at the household during the Dasain period. A predominant activity that marks Dasain usually is the 8 th day of the Maha Astami, the day of great sacrifice. Each family sacrifices a goat at a Durga temple, but chickens and ducks are slaughtered as well. The reason is that the ani...

My first visit to Nepal was for a pilgrimage to the Great Stupa of Boudhanath. I like to travel, and spending leisure time exploring all the facets of Nepal was a great experience. This time however, it is different. This time I have met a challenge. I have begun studying at the Rangjung Yeshe Institute. It happened somewhat spontaneously to me. I was interested in learning Tibetan language, but I didn’t know where and how. I didn’t know much about the shedra my fist time in Kathmandu, but had heard about it in Russia . When I first arrived I didn’t know what to expect about the education system in Nepal . But after studying just one month of classical Tibetan we were translating Tibetan texts. I was very surprised! The method of teaching here is very fast and it takes a lot of studying and effort, but the results have been amazing. Besides language classes we take philosophy classes taught by khenpos in the traditional Tibetan style. ...

The 2008-2009 R.Y.I. Student Society utilized $140 from their yearly budget to sponsor Washna Phelwar in Grade School, Class I. The sponsorship will cover her school fees, uniform, books, and other school supplies for one year. Washna lives in the beggar village south of Boudha and this is the first time she has ever been able to attend school. James Hopkins, the creator of the Quilts for Kids project that made sponsoring Washna possible, says she is very excited to begin school. Washna’s little brother is now very curious about school and would like to attend as well.  If you know anyone who would like to sponsor him or another child from the Boudha begging village, please email either StudentServices@shedra.org or James Hopkins at lookingforjames@yahoo.com.

Tuesday April 7, witnessed the fourth in an ongoing series of poetry gatherings in Kathmandu . Long-term Shedra associate and poet James Hopkins, author of several books of original poetry (most recently A Sleeping Tiger Dreams of Manhattan ) teamed with Shedra student/poet Zack Beer and friend Matteo Pistono to share their love for this endangered art-form at a café in Thamel.  This time, they combined forces with a visiting singer and banjo extraordinaire, Olivia Varela, and a local sarangi player, Shyam Nepal , in an experiment in blending melody and spoken word that also sparked the entrance of a Mexican guitarrista and a German trombone player. The poets read pieces inspired by their experiences in Asia and by mice. This is the fourth time the haphazard team has assembled since 2005. Past events have included readings of poetry in translation from the Tibetan by Erik Pema Kunzang, as well as original poetry by Wayne Amtzis. They have been held in a...

Many people might think that studying when one has children is not an easy feat; that it is a life filled with lots of difficulty and stress. Add to that the complication of studying in a third-world country and the challenges that this presents, and it almost seems like an impossible dream. However, for some who have a family and yet wish to continue their studies, Nepal is a dream destination. Life in Nepal can be very relaxing and set a different pace for the family, and with a little bit of planning, bringing one’s family over can be hassle-free. In many ways, Nepal offers something different that is not always present in other developed countries. The openness of people’s hearts and the way they interact, integrate and care for children in everyday life is very uncomplicated and relaxed. Boudha, in particular, seems like its own little village, with its own customs and rhythm, though it is also not too far from the city. Here, everybody knows each other, which gives one a sens...