Forest Sangha Newsletter October 2002
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Editorial:
 Suffering Should Be Welcomed; Luang Por Sumedho
Reading the Heart; Upasika Kee Nanayon
Mudita: Shared Enjoyment; Ajahn Sucitto
Reflections; Ajahn Pannasaro
Mt. Kailash; Luang Por Sumedho
Nourishing our Hearts; Sister Thaniya
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Mt. Kailash
 From messages sent by Luang Por Sumedho.

31st of May:
Greetings,
We arrived in Lhasa this morning. Our pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash went well. It has taken 5 days of very bumpy and dusty driving to reach Lhasa today. I often thought of you during the circumambulation on the Kora. Reaching up to 18,000 ft. altitude at the Dolmala Pass - Prayer flags were made and now have joined tens of thousands of others on this very auspicious pass. At least one of these flags was made with you all in mind. Sending you blessings and gratitude. I and Ven. Panya will be in Lhasa until 4 June when we return to Kathmandu. I am in good health and contented.
 
The roads in Western Tibet are the worst in the world.
 
16th of June:
Greetings,
We are now staying at the Himalaya Chalet Resort which is about 30 Km from Kathmandu. It is in a famous resort and viewing area called Nagarkot one of the higher hills where you can have a panoramic view of the Himalayas.
We have spent most of the time recovering from our time in Tibet. Looking back at that pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash, I can only feel that it was a truly wonderful experience. Physically, I found it very difficult. At high altitudes I lose my appetite. It was very difficult to eat any food. Plus the available food was not very appetizing. There were thousands of Tibetan pilgrims. They would arrive at Kailash in big trucks all crowded together. The roads in Western Tibet are the worst in the world; you literally eat dust most of the time. But the devotional impact of the pilgrims and the austere beauty of Mt. Kailash led to a most sublime atmosphere and the physical stress even increased the quality of the spiritual experience.

Yesterday, we walked to Bhaktapur (22 Km). Bhaktapur has preserved its rather medieval atmosphere with its winding lanes, temples, palaces etc. We returned to Nagarkot on the public transport; a bus jammed with school children on their way home. I thoroughly enjoyed the Asian scene. The walk to Bhaktapur led us through beautiful villages and Asian life scenes are forever compelling and interesting to me.
The World Cup fever pervades life in Nepal. The school children on the bus were talking about Argentina, Brazil, and even familiar with the players' names. I've seen Denmark win over France and England over Argentina plus a few others. This fever has even taken over Tibet.

We will fly to Bangkok on 20th June.

All my best to everyone,
LP Sumedho.