Although only a short period of time, Rumtek has been the worst and the best part of the trip so far. Arriving in a jeep two days ago, I knew I had a cold. Not the most pleasant way to begin our monastery stay. Somewhere in between that initial......Read More
-By learning how to meditate, I have learned a lot by attending the monastery for a couple of days. At first I was really nervous about going into such a sacred place, but the teachings were very wise, and it introduced me into a way of......Read More
For two and a half days, we were given the opportunity to experience the Rumtek Monastery. We got to learn many aspects of Buddhism from two monks named Khempo and Karma. Being a monk is a huge sacrifice, so I was inspired by each and everyone of......Read More
Indonesia’s motto is Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, or Unity in Diversity, and was intended as a means of unifying an ethnically, linguistically, and religiously diverse archipelago of 17,000 islands (give or take a few depending on who you talk to),......Read More
I am not a Jew. Although I was raised “culturally Jewish,” for the past several years, I have gone from feeling impartial to feeling angry to simply rejecting Judaism from my personal spirituality altogether. And this is not to say that I have a......Read More
Exhausted, after hiking the nine and a half hours from Nagarkot, Hotel at the End of the Universe, to Dhulikhel, where we had had our orientation, I was happily surprised to be greeted by another familiar face, Ellen, who had taught yoga to me and......Read More
Tea. Chiyaa. NOT chai (thanks Dave). Dudh chiyaa, kaalo chiyaa, kagaati chiyaa, ginger tea, masala tea- we encounter these teas whilst travelling virtually everywhere we have traveled in this country. Tea is the constant in our lives. From Day One......Read More
Buddhism is a religion, put simply. Beyond the fact that Buddhism is a religion, however, it can be healing, and a healer. Buddhism is the concept of putting others before oneself, and the idea that everyone is one sentient being. Helping others is......Read More
*This yak is a compilation of writings and research done by the entire student group* Before we all left for this program, Myanmar was at the forefront of global news due to the conflict occurring in the Rakhine State. Prior to departure a lot us......Read More
The Himalayas figured prominently in my decision to come to Nepal. Mountains have been one of the most important things in my life for a long time, but the reason I feel drawn to this type of environment has often escaped me. Recently I’ve......Read More
The darkness just before dawn has a unique quality. The world is still and silent, listening, and awaiting the sun. A thin line of vermilion cloud hangs low and bright on the eastern horizon, mirroring the rise and fall of distant peaks. As......Read More
Pashupatinath is one of the four holiest sites in Hinduism. Every Hindu with the means and physical ability attempts to visit in their lifetime. It is dedicated to Shiva, god of destruction, one of the primary three gods in the expansive Hindu......Read More
Last night, Louis asked me a question I think I’ve been avoiding: “Do you really want to come back from your gap year the same Zoe you were before you left?” The standard answer, of course, is no, because you are supposed to go on......Read More
Over the three weeks we have spent in Nepal thus far we have been able to visit numerous holy sites, both Buddhist and Hindu, including the several holy caves and monasteries near our orientation site in Pharping, and the iconic Boudhanath stupa in......Read More
