RYI STUDENT BLOG

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...

Congratulations to Morten Ostensen for passing his MA thesis defense on December 11!  The title of his thesis is:  "In the Presence of the Dharmakaya: Dzogchen Practice According to Khangsar Tenpe Wangchug’s Notes on Dza Paltrul’s Extraordinary Teaching of the Wise and Glorious King (mkhas pa shri rgyal po’i khyad chos)".   The thesis supervisor was Dr. Douglas Duckworth and the External Reader was Dr. John Dunne from Emory University, USA.  We are all so proud of you, Mort! So, what's next on your horizon?

Saturday morning, at Buddhanilkantha next to the 5m-long Sleeping Vishnu statue in a pond, under a colorful tent, a traditional Nepali wedding took place between my English friend from the summer course and his Nepali sweetheart. We were so excited that we would be invited to witness a traditional wedding ceremony, and I personally was joyful I was finally wearing my sari, which until then had been waiting two and a half years in my closet to be worn (Putting on a sari is hard work!). The mother of the bride welcomed us and we were seated in front of a smoky fire pit along with much burning of incense. The pit was totally encircled by orange flower garlands, and loads of trays with both small and large items that were part of the rituals…plenty of green leafed bowls, filled with different kinds of substances, colored powders, rice, oils, yogurt, flower petals, etc. were completing the altar scene. In contrast with the weddings in the West, the bride wore a red sari, and was ast...

Speaking from my personal perspective, the academic routine of a third-year student of 'Buddhist Studies with Himalayan Language' here in Kathmandu is greatly influenced by the papers that have to be written for the various courses that one is taking. As every subject is related to a classical Buddhist text, the research that has to be undertaken in order to exhaust the profound meanings of the texts, can completely be done on the basis of original Tibetan sources, like explanatory commentaries. The Institute was recently kindly gifted a digital collection of several thousand classical Tibetan texts by the renowned scholar Gene Smith. Since the texts were scanned and saved on a hard drive, students are now able to conveniently access an overwhelming digital library through an internal network. Time-taking research in several monasteries' libraries can thus be avoided since the new medium includes collections of various Buddhist sects and lineages, all systematically orde...

Devadatta was tapping his report on the computer, when Mahakashyapa leaned over his cubicle. A half-eaten jam doughnut in one hand, and sugar crumbs all over a grey cardigan. Devadatta shook his head and mumbled, “So where’s mine, Malley?” “Aaaw. Aahh. It couldn’t wait to be eaten.” Before Devadatta could reply, his phone rang. “Dave, it’s Nagy. I need you to check out a newbie on the Intertown Express tonight.” Mahakashyapa was still enjoying his jam doughnut as Devadatta rushed past. ------ He was looking blankly at the other passengers as the train sped past each stop. Or rather, his eyes were looking but his mind was elsewhere. To his young daughter waiting at home. And to his wife watching the 6:00 news on their kitchen TV. He wondered what’s for dinner tonight. He wondered what he’ll say to them. And he wondered what he’ll do tomorrow – now that the “9-to-5” routine doesn’t apply to him anymore. They have enough savings to live off for the moment, but they’ll have to be ...

Congratulations to Krishna Gopal Singh for successfully defending his MA thesis on November 5, 2008! Krishna's thesis was entitled:  "The Mind of Awakening - The Foundation of Mahāyāna Buddhism: An Annotated  Translation of the Cittotpāda Chapter of the Bodhisattvabhūmi".