By Jana Robicheau:

On Friday, The Mandala Dance of the 21 Praises of Tara was offered at Sherabling Monastery, seat of His Eminence the 14th Tai Situ Rinpoche. As our busses arrived, the road was lined with the smiling faces of his young monks, welcoming us. Rinpoche told us that our visit was a truly auspicious event because it coincided with a closing celebration for a youth peace camp. Also in attendance was a high delegation of Bharat Tibet Maitri Sangh, comprising prominent
national leaders from various political parties, defence experts, social workers, intellectual leaders from various fields, and the press, who had come to hold a conference to discuss world peace and the current situation of the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje. After performances by the children, we danced in the courtyard of Sherabling under a clear sky, Tara flowing effortlessly, carried us
in her spacious heart into the pure realm. After a delicious lunch served to us in a magnificent white and pink tent under crystal chandeliers, we were invited by His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche for a group interview. Rinpoche granted us the Tara Lung, a scriptural reading of the Tara text for the empowerment we had received from His Holiness the Karmapa two short days ago.

Then he invited us to stay and attend the peace conference. Many of the Indian dignitaries spoke their concerns about the war in Afghanistan and the Kashmiri issue. Then Anand Kumar, general secretary of the Bharat Tibet Maritri Sargh, spoke at length about the current restrictions imposed upon His Holiness the 17th Karmapa as being unwarranted and a serious infringement of his religious duties. He said that the delegation had written letters to the Indian Prime Minister and Defense minister requesting them to lift all restrictions on the freedom of movement of the Karmapa. They felt that the stand of the Indian government was contradictory as the Karmapa was allowed to visit Varanasi and Jadakh but not Sherabling and his main teacher Tai Situ Rinpoche. Mr. Kumer reported that the
government officials of Sikkim have acknowleged that His Holiness Ogyen Trinly Dorje was in fact the true Karmapa and that they wanted him to take up his Seat at Runtek as Head of the Karma Kagyu Lineage.

His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche then spoke at length about the current world situation. He said that the Buddha taught us that this world is full of suffering, and said until all of the world's people attained first level Bodhisattvahood that suffering and wars would continue. He said that wars and hostility and suffering would always be with us until we develop a kind and peaceful heart.

After the formal speakers, there was an informal discussion between the members of the conference. Mr. Kumer told us that the delegation planned to hold a demonstration in Gangtok on November 18 to focus the need for an early dialogue between the Dalai Lama and China and to press the Indian Government to be proactive on the issue of freedom for His Holiness the 17th Karmapa.

On Saturday, a small group went back to the monastery of His Holiness the Karmapa for a public teaching. After showing our passports we were searched and not allowed to bring any bags into the shrine room. His Holiness gave a teaching on the correct view, correct action and correct meditation. He told us that the view to be cultivated was emptiness, that all phenomenon, although appearing
to be real, solid, and permanent, as science confirms in examining the atomic structure, is mostly just space. He said as long as we believe that things are real, solid, permanent, we will suffer from attachment and aversion. When we recognize the inherent emptiness of phenomena we will have the correct view.

He told us that we must cultivate the correct actions and that we must strive to develop Bodhicitta. The recognition that all beings have been our mothers and fathers, that we are all a family. He told us that until we could develop a kind and loving heart toward all beings that our actions could not be of benefit, but when we developed the ability to truly love one another, our friends, our families, and our enemies, then our actions would always be correct and beneficial. He told us that correct meditation was the ability to quiet the mind, to lessen the endless thoughts that arise. He said there were many good techniques and methods, but unless we
applied them, our minds would not become still. He told us that through correct meditation, wisdom would arise. He encouraged us to be diligent.

By Anela Lauren:

We arrived at Tenzin Palmo's nunnery, Tashi Jong, after a short bus ride from Sherab Ling. We were tired after our day with Tai Situ Rinpoche, but excited to meet the western-born woman who had inspired so many of us with her book, "Cave in the Snow." With very little introduction we proceeded to share some Dances of Universal Peace in their courtyard. Tenzin Palmo and her nuns were very welcoming but because of the youth of the nuns and the strictness of their vows, they did not dance with us.

Very shortly, it grew dark, and Tenzin Palmo invited us to visit their shrine room. Little did we know what she had in store for us. No sooner had the nuns filed in and sat down than they began to chant. Beautiful, flowing, ethereal chanting that sounded like a chorus of angels. Every so often, they would break into a crashing
of drums, cymbals and bells. To my untrained mind, it seemed to drive away fears and demons, leaving the mind pure. The chanting went on for quite a while, allowing us to meditate. Afterwards, when asked, Tenzin Palmo told us it was a traditional Tibetan Tara Puja.

She then spoke to us about her project and explained that this was the only existing nunnery in the Drukpa Kagyu tradition, and that she had hopes that many of these nuns would go on to become teachers and high lamas. Tara Dhatu then offered a donation and many of us offered individually as well, asking also for photos with Tenzin Palmo. We rode home exhausted, yet uplifted.