Saturday, May 31, 2008

Where in the World is Ms.Cebulski?


With less than 30 days until my departure, I have officially started to get excited. However, I should note that I don't yet have a single visa. My plan it to get on top of this during the coming week, but that plan has failed the previous three weeks. So cross your fingers for me! I also finally taught myself how to use the digital camera I received for Christmas, and purchased an additional memory card. Now all that is left is to make it through the next 3 weeks of essay writing, exit projects, and regents exams. Maybe you should cross the fingers on your other hand as well!

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Enlightenment

Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water. The moon does not get wet, nor is the water broken. Although its light is wide and great, the moon is reflected even in a puddle an inch wide. The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in dewdrops on the grass, or even in one drop of water.

Enlightenment does not divide you, just as the moon does not break the water. You cannot hinder enlightenment, just as a drop of water does not hinder the moon in the sky.
The depth of the drop is the height of the moon. Each reflection, however long of short its duration, manifests the vastness of the dewdrop, and realizes the limitlessness of the moonlight in the sky.

-Genjo-koan

Monday, May 5, 2008

Tushita Meditation Centre

In addition to the tour, I've also been able to add on a ten day meditation course in McLeod Ganj, India. The timing was just too good to pass up because the course starts the day after my tour ends. I'll have to travel to Delhi (bus or plane?) and then take a 10 hour bus ride north. McLeod Ganj is the home of the Dalai Lama, and the Tushita Meditation Centre hosts a variety of courses on Buddhism. The course requires absolute silence for the majority of the day, and I'm hoping it will give me an opportunity to reflect on my prior travels. 54 days till I leave...can't wait!
http://www.tushita.info/index.html