Mandarava Cave, on the kora path

We went to Mandarava's cave on the kora path around Tso Pema today (there is more than one, this one is on the downside of the mountain). Enclosed is an aerial view of the lake, the cave is near the monastery.

At some point while Mandarava was meditating there in the cave, the king (her father) came with many guards to drag her away. Her bed was at the foot of a rock surface, and as they tried to drag her away she grabbed the surface of the rock. Her determination was so great that her hand melted the rock away and left hand prints where she grabbed on. Unlike other holy sites, one may place their hand respectfully in the same place where her hand touched thousands of years ago -- finger holes bored deeply into the rock surface, head print between both hand prints where she pressed her head to the rock as she was clinging dearly to her meditation cave.

Tso Pema by any name would be just as sweet

Tso Pema is so alive. It is alive in a way that is very different than Bodhgaya. I am not sure I can describe it but on first pass it seems that there is a lot less tourist energy here, so the alive feeling of being near the lake permeates the entire town. Most people here are locals or lifelong meditators on retreat. They are quiet energetically and for the most part have blessed peaceful demeanors.

There is a very quite undertone of agenda in the vendors, since it is off season and every rupee will help. But it is always a gentle request, and usually in the form of someone handing one or more of us a card (with both hands, the most respect)with name and business. There is not energetic drag or pull at us to come to their shop. It is so sweet and refreshing.

Living in the monastery is another kind of coming home for all of us, even the lay practitioners. While the accommodations are modest, the energy is amazing. And we happen to have a little balcony overlooking the lake where I meditate.

If you come here, you have to stop under the thousands of prayer flags at the far end of the lake and listen to their gentle whisper as they wave prayers onto the wind in every direction, bright colors glinting in the sun, a rainbow of prayers.

Feel connected to the ground here, there is more energy and purer energy than I have felt elsewhere. Yes, it was in many of the holy places, but here I feel it the strongest. It is like lotus petals falling softly from the sky and rainbows everywhere. It is a million times over the double rainbow light at summer retreat the first year at Metok's farm. It is the lightest bubbles, like when Metok laughs her alive kind of laugh.

And so it seems that Tso Pema has also reminded me of Metok, who is wise enough to know that Tso Pema exists inside us as well as outside, and light enough to have demonstrated its qualities long before we came here. May you be fully free dear, and may you have all the good qualities that are alive in this holy place.

Introducing Lhakpa Dolma

Shell received her Dharma name today outside the sacred cave of Padmasambhava and Mandarava in Tsok Pema. It is my pleasure to introduce Lhakpa Dolma, hand of Tara.

If you did not know, Mandarava was thrown into a well by her father in order to punish her and prevent her from being with her Guru, Padmasambhava. She found the well quite homey and stayed there and did Tara practice for twelve years. She persevered through many hardships and eventually meditated in the caves above Tso Pema with Padmasambhava. At some point, the king (her father) found them in the caves and punished Padmasambhava by throwing him off the cliff. Padmasambhava fell to the ground far below, and a lake arose on the spot. In the middle of the lake bloomed a lotus in which sat an 8 year old Padmasambhava. Mandara took him away and trained him and thus began his second incarnation as Padmasambhava. There are many tales of Mandarava which you can read. As you can tell, she had strong determination and perseverance in practicing the Dharma. I am sure that this is a reflection in Lhakpa Dolma's name. May she realize the qualities of her name fully and quickly.

And may I add to that my joy in seeing our vajra sister grow and come into focus as a practitioner and a member of our community.

The first Buddhist prayer I ever learned

Before sharing it, I just want to mention something for those who are not as familiar with Buddhism. The mind of enlightenment, simply put, is synonymous with compassion for all living beings, along with the deep wisdom to see what they need and be able to provide it. It is a deeply transformative experience which heals oneself and simultaneously seeks to heal others. And so, I pray:

The mind of enlightenment is supreme
And most precious
Wherever it has not arisen, may it arise
And where it has, may it only grow stronger and stronger

Amen

Jugney's first post, Tso Pema

Tashi delek all you cyber-bloggers. I am finally making my entrance onto the travel blog, which so many other pilgrims have graced with their words and experiences. We are at Tso Pema right now, in Northwestern India, which has the holy lake where it is said Guru Padmasambhava was born in a lotus as an 8-year old child (Padmasambhava is Sanskrit for "Lotus-born One.") Rinpoche and some of us circumambulated around the lake, and did prostrations alongside Tibetan women singing beautiful heart prayers.

This is the only destination on the pilgrimage where we have had the opportunity to stay in a Tibetan monastery, and it's quite wonderful. You should see how small my room is. I love it! Of course most of the other rooms are normal size, but I tend to like smaller, cozier rooms myself. They work better as a meditation cave =) I must say though, I am just on the shore of the lake and have a breath-taking view, so from a feng shui perspective the space is not small at all.

Because we are directly on the lake, it is windy here. This made me think about Tibetan prayer flags and how the wind that passes through them is said to pass on the intentions of those who hang them and the blessings of the prayers inscribed on them. Since the wind here comes from the lake, I feel the wind flowing through the city is like the blessings of the lake's holy presence. While Padmasambhava, the great teacher, passed away in the conventional sense over 1000 years ago, he still breathes here.