RYI STUDENT BLOG

I had been studying and living in Bodhanath (Kathmandu) for the last 5 years, benefiting from a unique environment to study and practice Buddhism.  A  couple of months ago, as my classes were finished and my family was waiting for  me in Europe, I had to leave half of my heart in this incredible place and move  back to old familiar Europe.  As I was preparing for this transition, I was so  touched by the warmth of the Rangjung Yeshe Institute community – my  professors, fellow students and close friends. It is extraordinary to have shared  these years with so many brilliant and warm-hearted scholars and practitioners  of all origins and ages. In this little neighborhood, it is impossible to walk home  without meeting a few friends on the way. In this holy place of Bodhanath, we  are constantly suffused with the blessings of the gigantic stupa and the  numerous authentic monastic institutions that have developed...

Here in Nepal, there are perhaps less entertainment options than in the West. But quality entertainment can be found in Nepal, sometimes free, especially for those curious and appreciative of the realities of a culture different than one’s own. I am not Nepali, nor am I Tibetan, but it is possible and a healthy endeavor to feel curiosity for other cultures and systems of thought, despite modern culture in general might consider them as inferior. These days, only economic development seems to be the mark of progress, a way of thinking which unfortunately is also propagating to non-westerners. As traditional cultures become absorbed into the global economy, it is a luxury to still have access to wonderful concerts of Indian music, ragas, in a traditional setting, free to all. This happens here in Kathmandu, in one of the temples at Pashupatinath. At which date and at what time? On full moon days, when the sun sets, where the sky is still both clock and calendar. Getting there ...