“Just as a white summer cloud, in harmony with heaven and earth freely floats in the blue sky from horizon to horizon following the breath of the atmosphere—in the same way the pilgrim abandons himself to the breath of the greater life that leads him beyond the farthest horizons to an aim which is already present within him, though yet hidden from his sight.”
-LAMA GOVINDA
“The Way of the White Clouds”
Friends and travelers I spoke before my trip to India tried to pin me down. What was the reason I was set to go to India? Where was I going? What did I want to do?
They probed me for answers in order to best direct their knowledge in helpful ways—but I couldn’t quite explain my motivations and goals. I knew I’d fully step into both when I arrived.
I had some assumptions—broaden my yoga education—learn more about Vedantic philosophy—do this year’s 10-day meditation retreat—burn some incense—fall in love?—buy a cool shirt, etc.
Ultimately, I came to India because the thought of not coming was a troubling—turning 33 anywhere else made my heart feel like a day-old fig smashed on concrete.
As the time to book my flight approached, I narrowed in on Dharamsala where the exiled Tibetan government operates—memories of a deep resonance with Tibetan Buddhism upon seeing Seven Years in Tibet in middle school reverberated again.
Have I really only been here week here? I can’t believe how synchronicities and cosmic symmetry has led to such a fullness of chance meetings and an emerging purpose to put my time here to service something greater smallish personal desires (though I am going to buy a cool shirt!).
I’ve befriended Tibetan monks who are happy to meet me casually for tea and lunch. I’m learning so much from these friends—they embody such compassion and forgiveness—their journeys of fleeing Chinese oppression and climbing the Himalayas are insanely wow!
I’ve been talking to some Tibetan translators about the strong tradition of poetry within Tibetan Buddhism. We might collaborate on getting some of Milerepa’s work more poetically accessible in English. Of all the branches of Buddhism, the Tibetan branch has as the most room for education, study, and the arts.
I’ve connected with some wonderful human beings. and shared some inspired conversations and space with them. On Monday a small group of us—two Indian and an Kiwi—enjoyed some of the Guatemalan cacao I carry (I always roll a kilo deep) This turned into an open-sharing men’s circle—the best kind—not the sort a flyer directs you to and costs money, but one that emerges organically. Men, we need more of this in our lives—a space for us to open to each other about our struggles, strengths, and resolves.
On Monday, I’ll start a week of one-on-one training in an esoteric branch of the yoga tree — Tibetan Yoga in the Dorjee Lineage. That this week-long training costs less than a day at your average Western-staffed Yoga retreat makes it feel like I’ve stumbled into some of the real stuff Yoga keeps quietly in the back room. . .
A few days ago, I lunched a café near my guest house and felt a heart pull towards the ubiquitous stack of left-behind books. There was something here for me. I pulled out a thin volume of poetry, “Sweat Butter Tea.”
The author was a young Tibetan poet with a powerful story. Ten Phun writes in his introduction, “ I wish that this, my small book of heartfelt poems might touch you and serve you in some way, perhaps even momentarily soothing that complex place in us all which seems to be seeking a cure.”
I read the tome from beginning to end—there’s such heart, so much sincere honesty within. I knew I needed to meet the author. I had this idea that maybe i could offer a small hand in helping him take his talent and art wherever he hopes it to go. That suddenly seemed purpose enough for this trip—maybe I might help a few of these beautiful Tibetan voices be heard by a few more ears.
I found Ten Phun on Facebook and last night he invited me to his artist’s residency abode for a gathering of of Tibetan/Indian/expat artists, writers, anthropologists, translators, philanthropists—I learned so much from so many happy to share their lives and passions.
So I’ve fallen into some cool things and two months seems so short an amount of time to carry each unique opportunity to its conclusion. Perhaps this is just a preview of further steps of future not yet visible to me.
So I’m busy as usual. I’m trying not to overwhelm myself as I have a history of doing. In the early mornings, I’m quietly putting finishes touches on a volume of poetry from some unexpected verses that came through last year—working title is “All the Beloved Known Things” — this will be out Oct.—
…of course I’m also sampling some fine Hindi yoga classes, picking up some new tools for my practice … I’m working on three-piece series on western permaculture mixing with local culture in Tzununa, Guatemala that comes out with Mother Earth News beginning July 15. I am taking notes for a 20-page academic journal piece due in Sept for Northern Plains Ethics Review and am allowing my thesis to slowly emerge from all I’m learning here. Working title is “The Philosophy of Forgiveness: How Tibetan Ethics Passed the Ultimate Test.”
So my time away from Jerry and our successful April push for the Integral Heart education center have given me some space to fill my time things. I’m free in other ways—from chronic neck pain… I’ve finished with the two books I was ghost writing for clients these past two years… more time to invest in these new things. I’m not in Guatemala for a minute, so remotely my pals Matt, Paul and I are supervising our property development project in Guate…so everyday there’s people to talk to, bread and butter work to do—as much as changes when I travel, a whole lot remains routine.
I plan to stay in Dharamsala 3-4 more weeks—I do want some time to see other parts of India—but I feel grounded in purpose and self-development here—so I’ll stay in these parts as long as it feels I should.
Before I head West (or East depending on the plane ✈) I hope I can get 2-4 weeks in Nepal… I have aspirations to go to Sri Lanka and Laos too—but my self-speak says, “Luke, to be reasonable — save these destinations until the world has gone around the sun a few more times — you’ve found purpose here, keep following that.”
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