Written by Kilani and Samantha’s Instructors
At the end a wonderful stay in the village of Chaukati that went by very quickly, the group was sent off with blessings, flower mala, and some tears of love, and opted to hike several hours downhill to a nearby roadhead.
After a well-earned night of rest in Dhulikhel, we will be shifting to the next phase of the course, a retreat at Namo Buddha monastery, an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists perched atop a beautiful forested ridge outside of the Kathmandu Valley. We will stay there for a week, taking a deep dive into the Buddhist teachings and philosophy, as well as following an intensive daily meditation practice with our khenpo, a senior monk and teacher. Namo Buddha also offers us the rare opportunity to participate in aspects of the monks’ lives, including shared meals and prayer ceremonies.