Before I went on this meditation retreat I was teaching kids ages 4-12 Yoga at the Gym I have been going to. The Guru there just asked me to do it one day so I agreed and started. It is a good way for me to keep the stuff fresh. It’s a lot of fun and the kids really dig it. They are so respectful………..it’s really fun!!

I did make it through silent meditation prison to be established in the Dhamma (seeing things how they really are). At first all I could think about was that Buddha had way too much time on his hands. “What the hell am I doing here!” We all thought that but obviously could not express that let alone discuss what the technique was doing to us at the individual level. There were 9 guys and 6 girls from all over. Everyone from a stock broker from Cairo, Egypt who flew in just to be at this course, a french/swiss snowboarder/cook who spends 7 months out of the year in the Alps and a retired English PHD from Berkeley (he was very interesting). I did not find any of this out until the 10th day. We all just got to know each other from each others habits. I had 2 roomates an old Nepalese guy that let huge rippers in his bed before passing out and snoring himself to death and the French snowboarder. The silent part was not even the hardest. It was the 10 hours a day of meditation inside the hall (4:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m. For 3 one hour periods a day you could not move at all. The 2 1/2 hour sittings you could move a little. Only 5 minute breaks. Yeah my max time towards the end was 35 minutes straight. It’s tough if you are not used to sitting cross legged. Calming the mind is the one of the most difficult things in the begginning for sure. It takes around 2-3 days just to stop it from racing using a simple part of the technique to sharpen your mind. I thought I was going to be relaxing by the lake all serene like getting enlightened. It’s exactly the opposite. I had my shit packed and was ready to get the hell out there on day 2 and day 6. It ended up being work and took a hell of a lot of diligence. I am sure glad I did not leave though. Very, very eye opening in a totally different spiritual way I definitely have not felt before. I recommend anyone that is still searching for something to look into this meditation technique. It is absolutely liberating and it works. The technique of Vipassana works at the mental and physical level. All you have to do is try one course and you will see how it works for your own self from inside you. It is a tool to live a better life if practiced and it is not just at the intellectual level, it works from the deepest part of your mind. I am not here to promote it you will see if you try it………that is why it is free. I would like to do another session one day. There are centers in the U.S. if anyone is interested. Intense but fully worth it.

After that the whole silent crew of use including a Israel , Thai, French, Egyptian etc. all had dinner talked. I went back to Kathmandu and took my Egyptian friend to a temple in as he had not been to Kathmandu before. He is a really cool guy and is also a Scuba Diving Guide and he said if I can make it there he can show me around and get me qualified to dive by myself. God I would love to Scuba Dive………I am going to get to Egypt at whatever cost to take advantage of this. I guess the Red Sea is great diving.

After Kathmandu I went to a place called Trisuli about 3 hours from here with 8 other guys on motorcycles. It was fun!! We went there to celebrate Shiva Ratri for 3 days. It is on a huge river on the beach. We slept permanent tents with beds built in side. All the meals were prepared and we had a big fire. I kayaked for the first time which was really fun and challenging! We played soccer and volley ball. We just enjoyed. It was nice to get out of the city.

I am planning on leaving soon. Soon could mean 2 weeks or April who knows……but certainly soon. As soon as I find someone to travel through India with me (a beautiful woman will do). I am on the case. There are some certain places I want to visit and then I am thinking Egypt and then Israel as I have met people from these countries that will let me stay for free and show me around being locals. Would love to go to Jerusalem. I am now working my whole trip around locals from other countries I meet. It is way more fun that way!!! =-)

I will keep everyone updated and I love you Friends and Family!!!

Camen