Sangha Member Kim Abbey visits the Phodrang

    We were all so happy That Kim could add a side trip to The Phodrang on her way to Nepal

 We had lots of fun visiting  local places like the Tibetan colony, Majnu Ka tilla, Qutab Minar which is a huge minaret in the city And of course Dilli Haat- great shopping for crafts around India But most of all we had fun hanging out together.
Kim also was very kind to have purchased 50 or so pairs of croc like shoes for all the monks and teachers.  They were so happy, these are the monks favorite warm weather shoes.

Shoe shopping Team

Me, Thinlay, and Jamyangla and of course Kim (taking the picture)

Colin's Education Continued

   Colin has his ups and downs living here. When he thinks about missing Christmas, friends, family and our two cats,  things like that, he really misses home but generally he is having a good time.
       He plays with the monks almost constantly when he and they are out of class. He attends one Tibetan writing class with the monks and then our homeschool curriculum we brought from Seattle. We will be studying Indian history starting this coming week and he is doing great learning Hindi with the Rosetta Stone program.  Coming here for Colin will be an experience he will appreciate and never forget I am sure. He is building lasting friendships with the young monks here And he is comfortable around others speaking a different language then his own and being in a culture different from his own. This I believe is so important. One less barrier between himself and others. 
   I think this is also a very good exchange for the young monks as well.
Colin may not know or appreciate all this yet but he will,  we are pretty sure : )
Well, we are all looking forward to doing some sightseeing when my leg gets better. So that will be lots of fun too.  Maybe we will even get to the Taj Mahal? maybe, not sure.

Colin's Education

In the Classroom

Home studies

PE- Physical Education

Music

 The new roof top dinning area for the Guest house

              

              On top of the new SHS office

Saga of a Slip and Fall

Okay so most of you know I broke my leg but here is the whole story in all it's gorey details,  maybe you don't want to go on from here ...... hehehe
  Just kidding not so dramatic, well kind of.
  Basically wet spot of pavement meets not so sure footed, flip flop clad, overweight woman.  and Gravity..... never a good friend of mine,  does the rest. Overweight women loses battle with concrete and  So there she sits on the wet ground surrounded a group of hungry young monks. ( they were lined up for lunch) in fact the last thought I had before going down was uh oh it's Bitter Gourd for lunch! While going down I heard the snap of my bones. Then came the long bumpy ride to the hospital. When we arrived I was so fortunate that Dr Kosi Kurien, An Orthepedic Surgeon was there. He originally was supposed to be in the U.S. but cancelled his trip because of the big storm. He is a very good doctor and I am very happy with the care I am receiving.
       I'm still not sure what the monks were thinking but when they  saw me using a walker the had this look of fear on their faces, I did too,  I aged about 30 years as soon as I put my hands on it. When when I was able to get crutches they were more at ease. They have seen crutches before. From then on every time I see the older monks they ask "YOU ARE FINE?" YOU ARE FINE?  they are all so very helpful.
        Occasionally Larry will help me out of the building and go off and do someting leaving me outside somewhere for a few minutes someone will always come by  and check to see if I have  been abandoned and need some help. Most times Larry comes back for me : )
      So now I have had several checkups and everything is great,  bones are in place I should have a smaller fiberglass cast in about 3 weeks so I can put weight on my leg and bend my knee yipee. then by early January I should be a two legged person again.

Satisfying the Pickiest eater

                           In the newly stocked Guest house kitchen making Deviled eggs for Colin
                                                                   ( The Pickiest Eater)

See this is how the Guest rooms really look before you get the three of us staying in one

Where We Live

       Yes, it definitely has that lived in look in the next post you can see how the guest rooms really look : )

Hello Everyone,
We hope all is well in Seattle, we miss everyone, I was looking at pictures From the monastery and got really homesick. We wanted to check in with sangha members and friends, we realize we didn't really talk to many of you about what we are doing here in India,  and  have talked to very few of you since we left. So if your interested keep reading : )
          It was our wish,  ever since we arrived here for the first time 2 years ago that we could somehow come back here to Dehli and be of service to this wonderful organization, Sakya Heritage Society.
    Now with the blessing of His Holiness Dagchen Rinpoche and Her Eminence Dagmo Kushola, and under the direction of Dhungsey Mati Rinpoche and Dhungsey Zaya Rinpoche  we, on behalf of the Sakya Heritage Foundation have been able to come back and work  here in Delhi. We have been here for one and a half months now and have never been happier. Even with a broken leg !
 When we first arrived here we were met by many of the monks who were here the first time we came as well as 20 or so new faces.   We were also so happy to see our very good friend Jamyang Gyaltsen  who has been Managing the Phuntsok Phodrang (SHS) for many years now, our friend Thinlay Gyatlsen who has been at Jamyangla's side for all of this time, and a new friend Tashi Wangchuk who is the new office manager. Together  we are a team here in Dehli , all of us working together with our Sakya Heritage Foundation  Board and Members in Seattle and Asia to help  bring H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche's  great vision for the dharma to fruition.
What Are We Doing Here Specifically?
     Our job coming here to the Phunshok Phodrang was to be of assistance to Jamyang Gyaltsen  helping with communication and paperwork issues in order to establish a non-profit status here in India,   which we are very close to getting,  to help gain an understanding of the needs of the monks and staff living here, and  relaying this information to the Sakya Heritage Foundation board in Seattle
    We have set up the guest house getting ready for guests for His Holiness' visit this year and for next October when we hope…… incoming visitors will come from Sakya Monastery and other places as well ; )    
    Larry will be managing  several new projects, a new septic system project when funding is available, restoring this beautiful building by repairing windows, powerwashing and painting. building some cabinetry.
    Since, for those who don't know I slipped on wet pavement and broke both bones in my lower leg and fractured my ankle- when I do something I really give it my all : ).    Anyway I will be doing mostly computer work, and keeping up this blog. So that everyone who is interested can see what a wonderful place this is and all the things that happen here. By January I should be on both legs again!
       It is my hope that this blog will encourage people to take a look at what Sakya Heritage is all about and maybe even be a part of  Sakya Heritage Foundation  either in Seattle, or by  coming to visit us here in Dehli, and,  in the not too distant future, Jiagon.- Jiagon is the 13 acres of property acquired by SHS on the border of India and Bhutan where A Sakya Monastery in the Sutrayana tradition, a school that will benefit both the monks and the local Indian community, guest quarters for visitors. a medical clinic and nursing home for senior Tibetans will be built.  Many wonderful things will be happening there. High level Buddhist studies and teachings, cultural exchange programs you name it.
    I will also be researching, with Jamyangla's help, costs and accommodations for places of pilgrimage and tourist places so that we may offer visitors to SHS in  Dehli  our help and a less expensive, safe way of traveling around India.
Please see following link for more information on His Holiness Dagchen Rinpoche's Vision for SHS
http://www.sakyaheritage.org/