Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche, day 1

Saturday: Milarepa Center, Barnet VT. Last night, I was sleeping. My eyes flew open and a face a foot or two from mine said, "Could you sleep not on your back, so you'll stop snoring?" I said, in a surprisingly lucid tone (given I'd been asleep a moment before), "Uh sure. Thanks." Slightly fitful sleep, checking that I was still sleeping on my side. Woke slightly after 6:30. Not quite sure how the morning would go, I wandered over to the main house (I was sleeping in the barn). Took a shower and so on.

Walked up the hill and set up my tent. Same spot as last time I was here. About 3/4 of morning practices in the tent. Then down to breakfast. Had a bowl of Muselix, talking to Wendy and Jn Lc (who I almost gave a ride to). I was recounting the nocturnal demand placed on me, when the fellow standing next to me in the breakfast line said "That was me." He said I was quiet the rest of the night, so that was nice.

Over to the large tent where the teachings were going to take place. Showed Bb how to run the MP3 recorder, and use the video camera. Around 9 the first teaching session began. The lama is a very small and cute elderly Tibetan, with sparkly eyes and an infectious smile. An interesting overview of the history of Buddhism. Then into a commentary on one of Tsongkapa's shortest texts. I was a bit sleepy. Interesting how when the teaching catches my attention, the sleepiness evaporates.

Carried a plastic chair up the hill to my tent and continued with some practices. The weather is amazing. Clear blue sky. They very kindly mowed the meadow, making it nicer for us to walk out to our tents.

Headed down for lunch a bit after noon. Rice, veggies and tofu with ginger tahini sauce. Salad. Sat with Wnd and a woman who live not far from Montpelier. Several people I've met here are relatively new to Buddhism. We talked about carpentry and psychology. Back up to the tent. Almost took a nap, but just lay on my back for a while. Too hot.

Back down for the next teaching block around 1:45. We're washing dishes "commune style" where everyone washes their own. (In fact we each were assigned a set of dishes when we arrived, and a cubby to park them in. How's that for organization.) I had been lobbying for a sterilizing rinse as part of the dish-washing line. I said, in a not soft voice, to one of the organizers "What if someone here had hepatitis?" She blanched and said "Sssshhh.. that's how rumors get started." But, next meal, there was a sterilizing rinse. Teaching continued. I was pretty sleepy. He gave an interesting discussion about some of the ways that Buddhism is unique among religions, and as a result more compatible with a science based world-view. Wrapped up after some Q&A around, 4:30. Up to my tent, and some more practices, sweating in my own private sauna.

Dinner was a bit late. Standing around with Wnd and others. One fellow here has been exploring several other paths of self realization, some of which I'm pretty leery. I think there's a danger in relying too heavily on external means. Listening to hypnotic tapes for example. I think there's a certain stupefaction that occurs, when meditation is being done to you, rather than by you. Sat with Nick and Wnd. Nick had gone swimming in a river up here (not the CT river, but joins up with it.)

Nick ran a discussion group. Quite a lively and informative discussion. I threw a couple of interesting, but not necessarily burning, questions into the mix. Afterwards, took a walk down to the stupa with Debra, Wnd and Sn. Met Damchoe and Geshe Ngawang. We talked about building a stupa at KKC. Back up to my tent for a last few practices of the day. The evening sky... so lovely, the contrast with the blackness of the trees in shadow, far more distinct than you will ever see in the city, the stars and planets slowly being revealed.

Now, having cut my nails and brushed my teeth, sitting in the main house, listening to Wendy talk about yoga. 10:36 PM.