The Magic of Cave Meditation

Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” — Saint Francis de Sales

Meditation is like oxygen something I cannot do without. My eight years of meditation experiences help me to know my inner self at least for some hours in a day. My day starts with 45 minutes of meditation early morning and ends with half an hour of meditation in the evening. There are many benefits of meditation. It lowers stress, energizes you, helps us to stay focused. Have a look at the diagram to know more.

Photo credit: Google

The mighty powers of meditation 

Now I have a dream to go to the cave and meditate. If you are a mediator then you will definitely enjoy meditating in a cave.  There are many Lama Gurus, Nuns, and Saints who abide in cave retreat withdrawing the outgoing senses and mind for a long time.   My source of inspiration is Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. She is born in 1943 is a Tibetan Buddhist nun in the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school. She is an author, teacher, and founder of the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Himachal Pradesh, India. She is best known for being one of the very few Western Yoginis trained in the East, having spent twelve years living in a remote cave in the Himalayas, three of those years in strict meditation retreat. Her book “Cave in the snow” is a must-read book for people who are seeking cave retreats.

must read book: “Cave in the Snow”   Photo credit : Google

“I took the vow to attain enlightenment in a female body, no matter how many lifetimes it may take.”

— Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo

Cave where Tenzin Palmo meditated for 12 years, Photo credit: The Dakini Power

There are many caves in Nepal where people experiment with their inner self.  One of the solitary caves is in Pharping,  Nepal.  Pharping is a small village South West of Kathmandu.  Outside of the town on the hillside resides Padmasambhava’s Meditation Caves known as  Asura cave.

Pharping

Prayers Flag

The great master, Padmasambhava, attained the Mahamudra level of enlightenment through the practice of Vishuddha Heruka combined with the sadhana of Vajra Kilaya at the upper cave of Yangleshö, also known as Asura Cave. Asura Cave is also the retreat center for ‘practice’ .

Asura Cave

Butter lamp

The Prayers in Seven Chapters is a proof that Guru Rinpoche meditate in Asura Cave.

inner shrine of another cave nearby Asura cave

Butter Lamps

As it says in chapter five, the prayer requested by Nanam Dorje Dudjom, in ‘The Prayer in Seven Chapters to Padmakara, the Second Buddha’:
“In the rock cave of Yangleshö in Nepal,
You accomplished the practice of Yangdak, ‘Essence of Great Bliss’
Liberating all obstacles and obstructors through Vajrakilaya;
And, in this sacred place you attained the siddhi of mahamudra:
To Dorje Tötreng Tsal, we pray!
To the Lotus-born Guru of Orgyen, we pray!

From “A Great Treasure of Blessings”. In the life story of Guru Rinpoche it says: “Then at Yangleshö, present day Pharping in Nepal, he practised the sadhana of Yangdak Heruka with the consort Shakyadevi, daughter of a king of Nepal. Powerful spirits caused a three-year drought, with famine and disease, and Padmasambhava asked his teachers in India for a teaching to counter them. Two men returned, laden with the tantras and commentaries of Vajrakilaya, and the moment they arrived, the obstacles were pacified. Guru Rinpoche and Shakyadevi both attained the third vidyadhara level, ‘vidyadhara of the great seal, or mahamudra’. Guru Rinpoche recognized that Yangdak is like a merchant engaging in trade-the achievement can be great, but so can the obstacles, whereas Vajrakilaya is like an armed escort; he is needed to guard against obstacles and overcome them. He then composed sadhanas of Yangdak and Vajrakilaya combined, and bound the guardians of Vajrakilaya to protect the teachings.”

another cave on the way to Asura Cave

Bad Karma or fate , asking for money

Few years ago, I visited Asura Cave in Pharping.  Cave is something different for mediator.  Entering such a you  can feel a kind of sensation and positive vibes too. There is solitude in cave and it is so peaceful.  Going on a cave retreat  means you need to be free from everything. Actually, it is only meant for aspirants who have intense feelings of meditation. You need to bear hunger, cold, thirst and lost attractions for the world, sense objects etc.  Once you come back from cave retreat and practice in the daily life than it helps in spiritual growth. Cave is warm in winter and cool in summer.  I am sure I will get chance  to experience  the magic of cave meditation very soon.

Shrine inside cave

There is another sacred cave in the high Himalayan Mountains. Lawudo cave is in Solu Khumbu, eastern region of Nepal. Lawudo (altitude 4,000 m.-13,000 ft.) is situated in the highest area of Solu Khumbu, the northeastern region of Nepal bordering Upper Tsang in Southern Tibet. Nestling in the jade green Himalayan Mountains, amidst the  juniper trees, mountain peaks and floating clouds is the most beautiful hermitage of Lawudo. This extremely beautiful and fascinating region is considered to be a “hidden valley” or beyal, a special country blessed by Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava).In fact, just above Lawudo is a large cliff known as the Dragkarma, or White Cliff, which is said to be the actual entrance to one of the secret valleys of Khumbu. Lama Zopa Rinpoche , the head of foundation of head of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition spent the last 20 years of his previous life in intense retreat in Lawudo.

Lawudo  Gompa Cave, photo credit : Lawudo Gallery

Another Lawudo Gompa cave,  photo credit : Lawudo Gallery

Decoration inside Lawudo Gompa  cave, photo credit : Lawudo  gallery

Yes cave is a pleasant place  to dwell and practice.   Wise Shabkar   beautiful poem is more than enough to explain the meaning of cave.  Shabkar is a model hermit, yogin, and Tibetan Buddhist teacher .

“In wild places where no one lives 

Are pleasant caves to dwell and practice
In wild places where no one lives
One’s consoling friends will be animals and birds.

In wild places where no one lives
One’s nourishment will be roots and berries.

In wild places where no one lives
Is the market where samsara  is traded for nirvana

In wild places where no one lives
Are the conditions favorable for realization

In wild places where no one lives
Is natural beauty delightful to behold

There is no possible way to express
The many virtues of staying in remote and lonely places
Far removed form human habitation

Therefore, heir of the victorious Ones
Go to a secluded place and practice

 

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Pullahari Monastery: An Oasis of Peace

In Pullahari, with its good clean earth,
Its water is so sparkling clean and its clean fresh air;
Here in the solitude of this secluded place,
With its spacious scenery and relaxing view;
To listen and reflect on the Teaching here
In Pullahari, what Lucky Star!    

 Ven. Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso Rinpoche

Visiting a monastery is like having a glimpse of Buddha. It not only strengthens my practice but also refreshes my mind. I can feel the positive vibes of the monastery. There are many monasteries here in Kathmandu. Recently I visited Pullahari Monastery nestled north of Bouddhanath Stupa. This monastery is the abode of faith, peace, and knowledge. It is nearly a one-hour walk from Bouddhanath. There are many pathways to reach there. But if you take a taxi from Bouddha, it will go through Jorpati and you will reach Gokarna. After Gokarna you will enter a beautiful forest (where a park in the name of martyrs is being made ) you can drive along a beautiful forest of Salla (Pinus roxburghii ) trees and finally to Pullahari monastery.

Salla (Pinus roxburghii ) trees

Prayers flag

prayers flag spreading peace

In 1986, the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche accepted the offer of a piece of land by the Third Dilyak Dabzang Rinpoche (1929 – 1992) and agreed to his request to set up a 3-year Mahamudra retreat center. He named the place “Pullahari” after Lord Naropa’s monastery in Bihar, India, where Naropa declared Lotsawa Marpa (1012 – 1097) his Dharma Heir in Tibet. Pullahari Monastery is opened in March 1992.

way to Pullahari Monastery

The monastery itself is rich in wonderful architecture. The treasured images of deities and scripture cover the wall of the monastery. We can feel positive energy everywhere. The atmosphere & surroundings are distinctly serene and picturesque. Having quietly entered the hall I walked closer to the idols, admired the tastefully crafted & painted deities, and took pictures.

Pullahari Monastery

Buddhas and Lama gurus statue  inside  the monastery

Drums hanging inside the monastery

Lama praying

Pullahari Monastery extends into a huge area. Everywhere you can greenery and blossoming flowers of various species. The place is serene spreading harmony at every corner of the monastery.

beautiful flower

posing for a photo shoot 🙂

I was speechless to see a small Stupa cluster in one place which is another major attraction of Pullahari Monastery.

Small Stupas

The rhythmic chanting and the smell of incense fill the air. Inside the monastery, a large congregation of monks was reverentially conducting their prayers for the benefit of beings and ultimate realization Lamas (teachers) and student monks were deeply engrossed in chanting in their booming voices unmindful of the surroundings & activities around them. Their chanting always brings tears to my eyes.

small monks chanting prayers

more monks

We can see monks involved in various social activities. They are aware of environmental pollution too.

separating biodegradable waste from non-biodegradable waste for recycling and disposal.
Updates: Pullahari Photo Blog

Innocent little monks are the manifest of Little Buddha.

I finally left the monastery and promise myself to visit it again. I think a one-time visit didn’t quench my thirst. The rhythmic deep chants continued to resonate in my mind on the way home. The whole experience was out of the world and deeply transformational and I came away with a feeling of belonging and peace. Such is the power of the monastery and the prayer of monks.

First phage of planting

My feeling was, you plant some seeds.  If they grow, great; if they don’t, you don’t take it personally. Not my problem; I just kept planting.  Just like a farmer.Hank Haney

Recently I experiment planting some seed  reusing  of rice sacks, tires, bottles, bucket  and container. To my surprise, they are growing well. Planting is like raising a child. They need food, water and care too. Most amazing thing is to see them growing day by day . Moreover, organic vegetables are best for your health.

I think this is the best way to make reuse of materials and keep environment clean specially in country like Nepal. This is just a beginning. I have planned to do it in a large-scale and I will be updating it in the near future. Here are some pictures I am sharing with you all.

Pumpkin growing in a rice sack

Sponge Guard growing in a rice sack

Chilies and Mint

tomato

mint in curd cup

pumpkin again

tomato in a bucket

Aloevera

Colocassia Leaf

beans

 

Blissful days at Kopan Monastery

I want to dedicate this article to Late Rinpoche Nawang Kochha who died nearly two years ago due to cancer.  See I am on your path…the path of Dharma

With late Rinpochhe Nawang Kochha

This day is a special day, 
It is yours. 
Yesterday slipped away 
It cannot be filled with more meaning. 
About tomorrow nothing is known. 
But this day, today is yours. 
Make use of it. 
Today you can make someone happy. 
Today you can help another. 
This day is a special day, 
It is yours. 

Indian Poem from Lam Rim Book

 Kopan Monastery is a paradise with a beautiful garden, greenery, and a spectacular view of Kathmandu valley.  We can see incredible views from any angle of the monastery.

view from Kopan

Monastery

The peaceful garden with beautiful flowers and splendid stupas adds more serenity.  There is a small hill nearby the garden from where you can see sunrise and sunset too. Likewise, you can begin your day with yoga with fresh air and birds chirping around.  We all are there to stay focused and concentrated so using mobile phones, and laptops and playing music are prohibited. They believe that it will disturb our practice.

garden

stupa in garden

serene water flow

I recently joined the 10 days (April 19-19) Buddhist beginners course.  Altogether there are 115 participants from all over the world. I am the only one from Nepal a Hindu woman searching for the meaning of my existence on this earth.  I love Buddhist philosophy, practices, and prayers.

better to refrain from these things every day in our life

On April 19 our check-in time was till 4pm. At 5pm we gather for an introduction and short meditation.  Ani Caron, a nun from Sweden welcomed us. She is an amazing nun with a soft-spoken voice, charming face, and caring too.

Aani Caron, the best teacher I have ever met

The next day I woke up at 5a.m. before the wake-up bell, which used to ring at 5:45am during the course.  I did yoga for 45minutes and go for tea at 6am. We had breakfast at 7:30am. After that meditation was guided by a lovely monk and teaching till 11.30am followed by lunch at 11:45am.  Every day our class starts with three prostrations before teaching starts. Prostration is done to decrease false pride and the sense of ego and it is not a compulsion at all.  While sitting inside the monastery we need to sit upright, facing the teacher, and not lean. We can change posture during class and stretch the legs but it still had to be done very mindfully. The legs could not be stretched over the dharma books and the soles of the feet could not be pointed toward the altar, the teacher, or the Buddha.

inside monastery

deity inside monastery

After lunch, we sit for discussion divided into different groups.  The discussion mostly focused on the teaching we had in the morning on that particular day.  From 3pm-5pm, we had teachings on Buddhism which focused on different topics like ego, attachment, suffering, etc.  Ghese Sherub charming face, sense of humor, and remarkable teaching charmed everybody. At 5pm we had a tea break, a 7:45 dinner, and meditation till 8:45. We need to maintain silence all day and night.  The vegetarian food at the monastery is awesome. The most fun thing to do is dishwashing after meal.

dining hall

The retreat building is well-built with a clean room.  Early morning our days started with the monks chanting. There are nearly 400 monks aged 5 to oldies. They chant, recite mantras, debate, perform pujas with playing drums, etc.  The debate is the most amazing act in which they used to debate for an hour with shouting and different mudras.

retreat building

Green Tara

Deities

Buddhist teaching is worth listening to. It is more useful in our day-to-day life. Compassion, suffering life, death, rebirth,  disturbing emotions, emptiness, ego, attachment, and liberation. Nonvirtuous of body, stealing, sexual misconduct, and lying and non-virtues of speech, lying, divisive speech, harsh speech, and idle gossip are what it teaches mostly focused on. It explains the teachings of Buddha and Samsara.

Avaloketshvara, Compassion Buddha

Deity

Avalokiteshvara

On the 6^th day, puja was held at gompa. It lasts for 2hours with heart-soothing mantras and chartings. I must say Ghese Sherb voice is unbelievable. He chants mantras and sings in an incredible way. The chanting was so heart-touching that I burst into tears.

monks doing prayers

8 and 9^th days are completely noble silent for 48hours not even looking at each other. We did a meditation walk, which was calming and new experience for me.  On the 9^th day, we had a light offering ceremony. We offer light in complete silence remembering all sentient beings. I love noble silence, which helps you in knowing your inner self.

light offering

walk meditation

deities bath in water flow

Kathmandu covered with dust

seven steps Buddha walked after his birth

Our silent ends after taking breakfast on the 10^th day.  Everybody start to chatter since it was the last day.

Nuns after puja

Lesson learned:

To live a virtuous life

 Generate compassion toward all sentient beings

 Abide in equanimity

Stay free from hatred and attachment,

Generate Bodhichitta,

Try to overcome your ego and seek liberation,

 Create good karma for the next rebirth and much more.

It’s not a matter of religion whether to be Hindu, Christian, or Muslim. It teaches us how to become good human beings and benefits all sentient beings.  My spiritual journey continues. I need to find the answer to my existence and there is a long way to go.