Bye Mundgod, Hello Bangalore!

The teachings ended on Tuesday, yesterday was an off day for us. This morning, we attended prayers  at another section of Drepung Monastery. We sat outside with the locals. During teachings, we were served tea twice a day. The morning tea is usually Tibetan butter tea or po cha, a salty milk tea with some butter in it. It is said to be an acquired taste but I love it. Morning tea is accompanied with a huge chunk of bread (our kopitiam style type of bread). Afternoon tea is sweet milk tea. Lunch is also available, served to the masses, usually saffron rice or Tibetan bread with dhall.

I  will head for the town of for Hubli by car, to catch an evening flight to Bangalore. After a night's stay, I will fly back to Kuala Lumpur. I am leaving earlier than the rest of my friends due to work commitments. The end of the year is coming, much work needs to be done in the office. As is usual in many situations, I have some mixed feelings. I can't wait to be back home to see my family but I also treasure this experience. It was definitely an experience out of my normal comfort zone and it is good for me.

It is two totally different worlds, here and in Kuala Lumpur. A simple  life versus a modern and materialistic life. I can understand why some people have left their homelands to spend most of their time here, on spiritual practice. I met two male Westerners during the teachings, a Swiss and a Scotsman. We sat together for 6 days. They have been spending the last 8 to 10 years here in India, attending teachings. When their visa expires, they leave and come back in two months after renewing their visa.  

I don't know what impact this experience will have on my life just yet. I know I want to achieve a  harmonious balance of spiritual, family and work. Every once in awhile, I get derailed but I know I need to get back in balance a bit faster.  I also have to be more focused. To quote Stephen Covey in the 7 Habits of Success, Begin with the End in Mind.

" If you don't make a conscious effort to visualize who you are and what you want in life, then you empower other people and circumstances to shape you and your life by default. It's about connecting again with your own uniqueness and then defining the personal, moral, and ethical guidelines within which you can most happily express and fulfill yourself. Begin with the End in Mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired direction and destination, and then continue by flexing your proactive muscles to make things happen."