My thirteenth of May 2011
The alarm clock woke me up at 5 am and there were some birds singing a song. stepped towards the bathroom to brush my teeth and to wash my face. I knocked on other monks doors to wake them as usually Tsutrim Namgyal and I do, because we both are ‘tsotrimba’(head monks) for this year.The gong was rung for morning prayer, and twenty eight monks who are studing above class three, were gathered. After Tara Puja (morning prayer) and breakfast, at about 8 am, I listened to from LoponYeshey Phuntsok. It took over almost two hours. The next one and a half hours passed memorizing the root verse we had just studied of The Way of the Bodhisatwa. Having Nepali food for my lunch at 11:30 am I rest a few minutes. Then it was time for self study; I studied the same text that teacher taught on that morning, and had discussion class at 3 pm with seven of my class mates.
The blue sky could be seen as the reflection of the sea, without clouds. So the day was beautiful, warm sunshine and cool breeze. It was almost 4pm and the sun was about to say goodbye to me. The gong welcomed for evening prayer. I stepped down to the prayer hall with a text and mala in my hand. We began to do the evening prayer after prostrating three times to the three jewels(Buddha, Dharma and Sangha). After prayer I was at clinic, learning English with Dr. Joe. Suddenly the meditation bell rang at 6pm. Saying goodbye to Dr. Joe, I went back to my class and began to do a single pointed meditative concentration without a concept as usual. It was not bad as before because I was able to see how my monkey mind is playing with me.
An hour quickly passed and it was time for dinner. With plate, spoon and little bowl in my hand I went down to the dining room and sat near to Pema Lodoe Rabsel who is my younger brother. After chanting an offering prayer with all the monks, sitting crossed legs on the small round woven straw mats, we enjoyed potato soup and Tibetan momos. After dinner and dedication prayer I listened to CRI to learn Chinese. That kept me busy for more than fifteen minutes. The next two hours passed reading, thinking and clearing some doubts about The Way of the Bodhisatva. This a Mahayana text written by Santi Deva during the eighth century, in which the way of living with true love and kindness are explaned.
It was almost 10pm and time for me to sleep. A group of mosquitoes enter the room and asked to suck my blood before I go to sleep. I am too attached to my body and scared to give them my blood. So, I put the mosquito net on the bed. I slept but the mosquitos cried!
Ratna Magalam
