This is Padmal Singh. Last week, I mentioned Padmal Singh during my introduction of Mann Badhu (the resident at the elder care home in Pharping whose brothers had him declared legally dead while he was living in India) and said that he’d become friends with Padmal Singh. This friendship gives Padmal’s wife, Sahrda Tamral Kar,…
This is Mann Badhu. He is one of the residents here at the elder care home in Pharping, Nepal. He lived and worked in India for 40 years, and was married to a Nepali woman whom he’d met in India. They had a son and a daughter. Shortly after he and his wife moved back…
As promised, we’re taking a more peaceful journey today. Today, we’ll take a trip up to Asura Cave, one of the many sites in Nepal revered by Buddhists from around the world. When Buddha’s first great student, Padmasambhava, wanted to become enlightened, he didn’t try to follow in Buddha’s footsteps. Instead, he struck out on…
Dakshinkali Temple: Home to Kali, The Black One Greetings from Pharping, where I’m staying at the elder care home on the grounds of the Shesh Narayan Temple and the Buddhist monastery! It’s wonderful to be back. This is my family and I’m incredibly comfortable here in Pharping — anywhere in the valley, really — and…
Welcome to Swayambhunath Atop a hill in Kathmandu sits the sprawling temple grounds inhabited by monkeys. (I had originally toyed with the subject line, “Me and my monkey,” but since I don’t have a selfie of me with a monkey, I thought that might be a bit of a letdown for you.) My plans for…
In Buddhism, we believe our enemies are our greatest teachers. This morning, I met one of my greatest teachers. I’m in Nepal, preparing to launch our Sustainable Food Program. These last two weeks have been filled with travel, health issues, hiccups (figurative, not literal), and the pain of coordinating schedules. The restaurant in the hotel…
When all you have left is each other, your worlds become fully entwined. Back in February, Little Anastasia was staying at the shelter in Port Townsend with her mom. I noticed her right away as she romped around the dining room (who wouldn’t notice this little thing?). My first thought was, “Oh, the poor thing…
“ There’s nothing more noble in the history of humanity than to help people who are not as well-off as you are. By “you” I mean people in general. One of the tenents of sobriety that AA taught me is, when I can, to throw myself into helping someone who needs it. A week ago…
Please meet Madre Vilma, the Mother Superior in Esquipulas. Here is her story of how she came to dedicate her life to serving elders. The elderly are living stories, older people of experiences, young of heart. My beloved congregation has taught me that to see an old man, a child, a needy young…
Dignity, compassion, and a good death. Please meet Isabel Gonzalez, the psychiatrist who works with the Congregation of Martha and Mary, in Esquipulas. As I translated her responses to my questions, I found myself moved to near-tears. These are truly amazing and heroic women. Here is what Isabel sees when she looks at these…