Tibet: Let the Voices of Oppression Be Heard

Posted on July 22, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”

Living in a place with so many Tibetan refugees, reading the Dalai Lama‘s auto biography “Freedom in Exile,” and then hearing him speak during the famous and important kalachakra practice here in Ladakh has prompted me to do some research into the fascinating country of Tibet and it’s devastating and unfortunately ongoing downfall.

Spirit Possession: Entering Into the Land of Mystics

Posted on July 21, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“Belief? What do I believe in? I believe in sun. In rock. In the dogma of the sun and the doctrine of the rock. I believe in blood, fire, woman, rivers, eagles, storm, drums, flutes, banjos, and broom-tailed horses…”

I’m the last person on earth to believe in the supernatural, especially when it comes to religious phenomenons such as spirit possession. Hell, I don’t even believe in God, so how could I believe that a person can be inhabited by a spirit, a piece of God, who acts as a portal between our world and the spiritual one. That’s why what I witnessed, two spirit possessions during Kalachakra, was so incredibly confusing and astounding to me.

Kalachakra: A Tibetan Buddhist Tantric Initiation

Posted on July 20, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“If you have the power to make someone happy, do it. The world needs more of that.”

Imagine the tingling feeling of awe you get when you stand, with 200,000 other people, to greet the Dalai Lama as he walks to his throne. Kalachakra, a complex and esoteric ten day tantric initiation took place in Leh, Ladakh, when Kevin and I were visiting. Kalachakra, which is a Sanskrit name which translates to “time-wheel” is the most advanced form of Vajrayana (a type or Buddhism) practice, and though most people receive the initiation simply as a blessing, there are a few given devotees who use this practice to advance their path to enlightenment.

The Old, the High, and the Cyclists

Posted on July 19, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“My religion is to live and die without regret.”

As we are sitting on the floor with the owner of our guest house stuffing and folding momos for dinner, we ease drop on the conversations up above on the patio through the vent. The intoxicated travelers above are talking loudly over the music they are blaring. These are the same people who came back at five am. this morning so drunk and high off of whatever drug they had managed to get ahold of that everyone, including the owners, poked their heads outside to check out the commotion.

Rush Hour

Posted on July 17, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“A wise person knows there is something to be learned from everybody.”

As we were driving towards Leh we hit rush hour and I made a mental note not to drive on country roads after six p.m. It’s definitely not the type of rush hour you are thinking about though, remember this is a road that only sees a handful of cars everyday. Instead of cars, this rush hour involves lots of sheep, goats, cows, and the occasional yak.

Travel Solo vs Travel as Two

Posted on July 16, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“You know how people buy drinks for girls in bars? Why can’t people do that in book stores? Like if I’m looking at a novel in Barnes and Noble and some person walks up to me and strikes up a conversation and offers to buy the book for me there is a lot better chance of that working out in their favor.”

“…But what happens when you meet your partner and you begin to travel as two instead of one? Travel as a couple is supposed to be perfect, right? Visiting romantic, exotic places together, sharing new dishes at sunset, and visiting the world’s tallest peaks or most serene lakes hand in hand. It’s impossible not to romanticize. After traveling alone for nearly two years, I have recently begun traveling with my partner, and though I wouldn’t exchange the experience for the world, I have realized that each type of travel – traveling as a couple and traveling alone – has its perks and disadvantages….”

Travel Solo vs Travel as Two

Or here to read about why this transition was so difficult.

Advice To Your Twenty-Year Old Self

Posted on July 15, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“He never realized that people are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.”

Besides inspiring people of all ages to travel, dream, and live their life to the fullest, this trip had made me especially intent on getting other youngsters to begin living the life they imagine for themselves now, rather than simply following the steps they feel society had laid out for them while pushing their dreams from later to never. After receiving countless emails from people of all ages telling me how lucky I am to have followed my passions at such a young age rather than in my thirties, fifties, or even never, I feel it’s my duty to help other young adults pursue the life they dream of as I have pursued mine.

Greetings From The Dalai Lama: His Holiness in Zanskar

Posted on July 14, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it…”

This morning I watched the Dalai Lama arrive in a helicopter surrounded by hundreds of traditionally dressed villagers waiting to greet him. During our trek through Zanskar we had been told that the Dalai Lama was set to make an appearance in the region, and sure enough, just a few days after we arrived he began three days of teachings.

Living In A Monastery: Trekking Through Zanskar

Posted on July 13, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“Sometimes, you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, and sometimes, in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself.”

We had only arrived halfway up the impressively steep path which wound up the monastery in our last village in the Zanskar valley before being ushered into a small house by a monk with a wonderful curly hat. He quickly made us ample tea and fed us biscuits while explaining that trekkers in the region need food since there are no shops or restaurants. While talking with him we discovered that he had lived in this seventy monk monastery for forty years, making him sixty years old now. He shared his small “house” with four young boys (age seven to fourteen) who lived upstairs, and seemed to be a bit of a grandpa to them. We later found out that every house has an older monk with a few youngsters who all live together in a multigenerational community.

How to Become A Nun

Posted on July 12, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.”

During our last homestay with a family in Zanskar I was able to question a nun, the daughter of the couple I was staying with, who was visiting her family for a few weeks. Though she now lives in Dharamsala, and has for over a decade, she was born in a small village in the Zanskar valley. She told me that when she was ten years old she became a nun and lived for six years at a nunnery an hour or two away from her house. I asked her how, at such a young age, did she decide to become a nun, and here was her answer which explains why many children in the region “choose” this lifestyle.