The Exciting Lives of Tibetan Monks

Today is the last day at the monastery. We just finished our exam and plan to celebrate with a big fat dinner, poker and apples to apples with the monks and then a moonlight dance party on the roof. Too bad the monks can't dance with us--they would get fined. They are only allowed to play certain instruments and soccer only on special occasions, so we are trying to stay within the boundaries but still have fun with them. Some Pac Rimmers even wake up at 5 am to go jogging with them. Tibetan monks have a lot more freedom of choice compared to the monks in other countries, where they usually aren't allowed to talk to girls and have to stay three feet away from them. Tibetan Buddhists are also encouraged to debate with their teachers, whereas in China, Japan or Taiwan this would be considered an insult to elders. Tibetan monks recognize that their are many perspectives and paths to enlightenment, and they are discouraged from telling others they are wrong or propagating their faith in negative, patronizing way.

I took a video of the debates I wanted to show you, but the upload is too slow and the electicity keeps konking out on me. It's too bad because these debates are INTENSE. When they think the opponent has faulty logic, they slap their hands together loudly. If you look at it from a certain perspective, it almost looks like they are beating someone up. When someone takes to long to answer, the whole monestary claps and says something like, "ohh, suk suk suk." It's fun to watch.

One of the monks, Tommy, grew up between Cali and Taipei, but he's been a Tibetan monk for a few years now and is going for the geshe degree, which takes at least ten years to get. I bet he's gonna be the translator for H.H. Dalai Lama someday, his language skills are amazing. He said Tibetan is easy to learn, but I'd have to disagree. I gave up pretty quick. The other day, Tommy's phone rang and it was the uncensored version of Akon's, "I wanna -- you, you already know..." It was hilarious. It's almost as funny hearing the dharma with a so. Cal accent, like when he translates for the other lamas. All the monks are pretty chill, always smiling, holding hands and playing around with each other. You can tell they are all good friends. Most of them walked here all the way from Tibet, a journey that takes around 70 days. We got pretty comfortable here, and we're sad to leave. But all good things must come to an end.

We're off to Jaipur, then Dharmsala to stay with our Tibetan homestay families. We're gonna be there for the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising but we can't participate because tourists aren't allowed to participate in politics or they risk deportation.