Yoga etc.

This morning was my first yoga lesson. I don't feel any regret that I scheduled it for 6AM, because despite being unusually comfortable in bed this morning around 5:45, getting up was well worth it. My body has so enthusiastically endorsed this new schedule of "early to bed, early to rise" that I can't mentally mope about it. I'm realizing more and more how fortunate I am to have one-on-one lessons with these teachers, because they're all phenomenal in their own way and I'm learning faster than I ever have before. If I devote all my free weekday time to studying, I don't even know what state my mind will be in a week from now, let alone when I come home.

Last night was great too. Yesterday was my first day off (and weekends consist only of Saturdays here), so I spent the heat of the day reading at the stupa and went to a party with Yanik and Tais in the evening. It was an interesting experience and quite fun...all these kids in their 20s hanging out and schmoozing with their parents; the hippies and so forth from the 1970s who settled here when marijuana was legal and raised their kids to be true citizens of the world, wandering souls, very laidback, and definitely the type to have good fun more than once in a while. It was also amusing how the same political banter went on as it does in the States, particularly among the "young intellectuals", but it seems a great deal more interesting in Nepal than it does at home!

I've noticed that people who speak English as a second (or third...or fourth...) language pick up one particular speech mannerism very quickly--saying "you know" to punctuate their sentences, probably because it's actually useful for someone who isn't entirely fluent. I find that people who aren't native English speakers generally tend to use the language in a clearer, simpler, and more direct way, regardless of how flowery or effusive their style might naturally be. On the other hand, maybe that's a cultural thing and not a byproduct of using a foreign language. It's still refreshingly lovely to be around so many people who mind their own business and help you to mind yours.

I've been going through the postcards of various mandalas and Buddhist deities with a fine-tooth comb...there's a store by the stupa that has probably a hundred or so, with little blurbs on the back, i.e. "It is said that Avalokiteshvara's head split into ten from grief and despair when he saw the extent of wickedness in the world and the utter hopelessness of saving all people," and "The mandala of the wrathful Vajrapani symbolizes victory and control over the fire elements." The quality of the cards themselves aren't great, but some of them are good enough, and for 10Rs (...maybe a nickel or so) it's worth it to have some inspired decoration on the walls in my room. My sudden remarkable affinity with Manjushri (who besides being the God of Wisdom happens to be considered the divine creator of the Kathmandu Valley and the God of Speech, Learning, and Science according to various sources) continues to deepen, so I'm going to do some research on "him" when I have time.

Now I have some serious studying to do before I meet with the Amchi this afternoon. My stomach isn't feeling great, which I attribute to the insane!! cab ride home last night--every bump in the road was equivalent to the bus incident that resulted in a lawsuit when I was in middle school. We flew across the city faster than I knew was possible in a car. Time is getting short, so I'm going to study. I look forward to having a chance to get online and catch up with people, send some emails, etc.--but the last couple of days have been really busy and I don't know how devoted I'll be to regular communication soon...