Beginning to Serve

Since living in Rewalsar (Tso Pema name in Tibetan) for some time, what naturally arises is the desire to be of some benefit to the community. With the training I have in Traditional Chinese Medicine and various modalities of massage I can’t help but notice when people are suffering and in pain in their bodies. So this is how I’ve come to reach out by offering to ease the pains of people who might not otherwise have the benefit of treatment. Also just up the road my friend Lena is a good example of someone serving this community through her knowledge of the body.(She's lived here about 20 yrs.) Recently when I wasn’t feeling so good I went up and she gifted me with a Chi Nei Tsang treatment which is how I came to find out that many years before she had also studied with Dr. Angela Wu (Chen) and the connection doesn’t stop there. My first week on the job at Spirit Rock she arrived with Lama Wangdor and translated for him. While he was talking I hoped that if I ever made it to India I would accidentally meet them again and as the fates would have it here I’ve landed.

It all started with my dancer friend Meenu who had a broken leg. Then her sister Tara wasn’t feeling well and I knew I could help her. Then I was walking around the lake and I noticed one nun was holding her back as she walked. With my limited Tibetan and the help of a friend I got it across to her that she should come up to my room and I would work with her.

Later that afternoon she arrived with another nun in tow. These sessions were interesting of course since the communication was very limited. But anyone who’s ever had a massage knows that at some point language isn’t necessary…However there are some basic things that it is necessary to get across. Like pointing out when someone needs to breath or when they need to let go of holding their muscles and relax into the ground or table or whatever. I imagine in time I will find the words to express these things but for now it is a practice in patience and trusting that through the process they will come about naturally. Maybe not in the first 3 sessions and maybe not ever (though I doubt that, eventually everyone under my touch relaxes).

In my 2nd session with Ani Tsherin Dikki as we were working together there was one profound moment when clearer than anything I saw/ met/ felt the presence of Medicine Buddha. Now, when I used to find myself at a loss in my work I would call in vain for insight to know what I needed to do next. But here I was just doing what I do and voila, Medicine Buddha appears. He didn’t stick around but just let his presence be known. Now I could only think that it was the great faith of this Ani that brought him so clearly to mind.
That was just last night, after our session Ani la invited me up to her house in Spiti in the Pin Valley which I didn’t visit last time as the road was closed due to a mud slide. (A funny coincidence is that the name of the last village in the Pin Valley is Mud, pronounce mood). So in about 10 days I will journey up there with her and about 4 other nuns. During the time we will be there Dzongsar Khentse Rinpoche (who made the movie The Cup) will be giving some important teaching of Dudjom Rinpoche.
Recently on a visit to Bir I had the chance to attend the last day of a teaching he gave on Boddhicitta. Perhaps it’s better not to go on the last day of a teaching. Even though I got it, that I was missing the 3 previous days I left feeling quite skeptical (which turned out to be really good for practice). So now due to whatever karma, I find myself about to take a very long journey on a road you don’t want to imagine back to a really beautiful place to receive teachings from this very famous, popular guy. What’s not to be skeptical about.

Back to the important issue...

I’d like to find a way to stay in India and offer massage to people in need. The way of life of people in Himachal and Ladakh is incredibly hard on their bodies. Often it’s not a doctor they need but just some good bodywork sessions. These people are poor and hard working farmers who carry everything on their backs. Even if you could afford it you could never use machinery here due to the landscape. The lack of machinery is one of the things that has kept the culture and landscape alive. Most people are incredibly strong and able to handle it but you can see the wear of it on the old people stooped over barely able to walk. Even there is a lack of doctors and though massage isn’t intended to replace medical treatment it can at least assist people who need help in the moment. So, what is it I need. Well, about $250 a month would cover all expenses. So if you know of anybody looking for a project to support please pass this info along. They can contact me here by clicking on the comment button or go to facebook.
p.s. I will probably need help setting up some sort of N.P.O. in order to make this work so if anyone can help with that would be great!