March 7, 2024 • 8 mins
Embark on a transformative journey with Tenzin as he explores the ancient teachings of Buddhism within the serene walls of a Buddhist monastery. Delve into the peaceful atmosphere of the monastery, where Tenzin discovers profound lessons of compassion, mindfulness, and inner peace. Get ready to immerse yourself in the beauty and wisdom of the Buddhist tradition!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Tensen awoke to the soft chimes of prayer flags fluttering
in the crisp mountain breeze. He opened his eyes and
rubbed them, then rolled over on his mat and looked
out the open window at the sun painted snow capped
peaks of Tibet. Hughes of pink and gold cast a
warm glow on the village around him. It had been
(00:40):
a year since Tensen had joined the monastery. He thought
back about his life before climbing up the mountain and
starting his new life as a Buddhist monk. Tensen had
been born to humble parents in the village of Giapo.
His family had been devoted practitioners of Buddhism for generations.
His earliest memories were of prayer and the comforting presence
(01:01):
of the nearby monastery. His parents, recognizing the spiritual interests
of their son, encouraged him to explore the teachings of
Buddhism from a young age. As a child, Tensen was
drawn to the temple. His curiosity came out in the
form of many questions pose to the village monks and
visiting pilgrims. The elder monks, seeing his earnest desire for
(01:23):
knowledge began to guide him in the basic teachings of
mindfulness and compassion. One day, his tens And explored the
village Outskirts, he encountered a wandering monk named Kelsing. The
old monk, with a flowing white beard and eyes that
sparkled with ancient wisdom, recognized something special in tens In.
Kelsing saw in the young boy a kindred spirit yearning
(01:46):
for a deeper understanding of life. Over simple meal of
t sampa and butter tea, Kelsing shared his own journey
to enlightenment. He spoke of the challenges he faced, the
lessons he learned, and the joy that accompanied a life
devoted to mindfulness and compassion. Tensen hung onto every word.
(02:06):
In that moment, Tensen decided to become a monk like Kelsing.
Kelsing offered to guide him to the monastery high in
the mountains. Tenzen's parents knew they would miss their son,
and Tnsen knew he'd missed them, but they recognized the
calling within Tensen and gave him their permission to start
the journey. Under the guidance of Kelsing, Tensen made the
(02:27):
difficult hike up to the monastery, where he was welcomed
with open arms. Tenzen focused back on the present moment.
Waking in the monastery, he stretched, yawned, and noticed that
his friend Lapka hadn't woken yet. Hey, it's time to
get up, Tensen said, shaking his shoulder. Okay ok, Lopka said,
his head was shaved, just like Tensen's and the other boys.
(02:50):
I'm getting up, he said. Their other friend, Sonam was
already up, getting dressed and preparing for the day. Together,
they walked across the hardwood floor to the dining room,
where other boys sat around a low table on the floor.
They enjoyed a simple breakfast of sampa, a traditional Tibetan
staple made from roasted barley flower. As tens and eight,
(03:11):
he listened to the rhythmic chance of the monks from
the nearby monastery, a sound that echoed through the valley
like a soothing melody. After his meal, Tanzan and his
friends headed to the temple where he would spend the
day learning the way of mindfulness and meditation. The temple
was perched on a mountain side, overlooking the village below.
(03:33):
Its weathered stones and ancient prayer wheels told stories of
generations seeking wisdom and enlightenment. The temple's exterior was adorned
with intricate carvings depicting scenes from Buddhist scriptures. Tibetan prayer flags,
vibrant and fluttering, adorned the eaves, imbuing the air with
a sense of sacredness. A pair of heavy wooden doors
(03:54):
marked the entrance. Above them, a gilded canopy sheltered a
trio of prayer wheels, waiting to be set in motion
by the touch of a devoted pilgrim. Together, the boys
entered the temple with a sense of reverence and anticipation. Inside,
the air was thick with the earthy scent of incense.
The flickering butter lamps cast dancing shadows on the walls,
(04:16):
creating a setting of peace and tranquility. Their teacher, Lama Doorge,
awaited them. He was a wise and gentle monk with
a flowing red robe. His head was shaved like the boys.
His eyes were dark and piercing, and he always had
a smile on his face. Lama Doorge lived the teachings
of compassion and patience. His goal was to guide the
(04:38):
minds of the young boys towards the path of enlightenment.
The morning rituals began with prostrations, a humble gesture expressing
devotion and humility. Tenzen, Lakpah, and Sonam bowed to the
images of Buddha, their bodies moving in a fluid rhythm.
The repetitive motions served as a physical expression of their
(05:00):
dedication to the spiritual journey. Following the prostrations, the boys
engaged in mindful breathing exercises. Lamadorge instructed them to focus
on each in breath and outbreath, grounding their minds in
the present moment. Tensen closed his eyes, feeling the cool
mountain air fill his lungs. As he exhaled, he released
(05:23):
stress from within. After the morning session, the boys gathered
for a simple lunch of lentil soup and steamed vegetables.
The act of eating itself became a practice in mindfulness,
with every bite savored and appreciated. The boys shared stories
and laughter, fostering a sense of friendship that would support
(05:44):
them on their spiritual journey. In the afternoon, the boys
explored the temple's garden. Colorful flowers decorated the landscape, and
the smell of blooming jasmine filled the air. They stood
still and listened to the gentle rustling of leaves and
distant chants from the temple. As they strolled along the
(06:04):
winding paths, Tenzen embraced the beauty of the moment around them,
practicing what he learned every day about fully living in
the moment and appreciating what was happening in the now.
The boys walked a little further to the center of
the garden to a body tree. This was the same
type of tree Buddha was said to be sitting under
(06:25):
when he received enlightenment. Under the shade of the body tree,
Lamad'orge guided the boys in walking meditation. With each step,
they connected with the earth beneath them, giving them a
deep sense of gratitude for the interconnectedness of all life.
As the sun dipped below the towering mountains of Tibet,
(06:46):
the boys returned to the temple for the evening session.
Lamadorge led them in the chanting ritual, the vibrations of
the bell and their voices resonating through the ancient walls.
Their words carried prayers for the well being of all
living beings, the court Buddhist belief in compassion. The day
(07:06):
ended with a meditation session. Overlooking the majestic mountains, the
boys sat in silent contemplation, their minds settling like a
calm mountain lake. The fading sunlight painted the landscape in
shades of lavender and indigo. As they opened their eyes,
Lama D'Orge shared a simple yet profound teaching. In the
(07:28):
stillness of the mind, one finds the path to enlightenment.
Embrace each moment with gratitude, for it's a step closer
to understanding the nature of our existence. Tensen and his
friends left the temple that evening with hearts full of inspiration.
The teachings of mindfulness and compassion had taken root in
(07:48):
their young minds and were shaping the foundations for a
life dedicated to the pursuit of inner peace and enlightenment.
In the quiet of the night, Tensen stood on the
temple balcony, gazing at the starlit sky above the mountains
of Tibet. The vastness of the universe matched the depth
(08:09):
of his new understanding. The journey would be long, but
with each step Tensen walked a path illuminated by the
wisdom of the ancient teachings, a path that led to
peace of the mind and the boundless compassion within the heart.
Tensen awoke to the soft chimes of prayer flags fluttering
in the crisp mountain breeze. He opened his eyes and
rubbed them, then rolled over on his mat and looked
out the open window at the sun painted snow capped
peaks of Tibet. Hughes of pink and gold cast a
warm glow on the village around him. It had been
(00:40):
a year since Tensen had joined the monastery. He thought
back about his life before climbing up the mountain and
starting his new life as a Buddhist monk. Tensen had
been born to humble parents in the village of Giapo.
His family had been devoted practitioners of Buddhism for generations.
His earliest memories were of prayer and the comforting presence
(01:01):
of the nearby monastery. His parents, recognizing the spiritual interests
of their son, encouraged him to explore the teachings of
Buddhism from a young age. As a child, Tensen was
drawn to the temple. His curiosity came out in the
form of many questions pose to the village monks and
visiting pilgrims. The elder monks, seeing his earnest desire for
(01:23):
knowledge began to guide him in the basic teachings of
mindfulness and compassion. One day, his tens And explored the
village Outskirts, he encountered a wandering monk named Kelsing. The
old monk, with a flowing white beard and eyes that
sparkled with ancient wisdom, recognized something special in tens In.
Kelsing saw in the young boy a kindred spirit yearning
(01:46):
for a deeper understanding of life. Over simple meal of
t sampa and butter tea, Kelsing shared his own journey
to enlightenment. He spoke of the challenges he faced, the
lessons he learned, and the joy that accompanied a life
devoted to mindfulness and compassion. Tensen hung onto every word.
(02:06):
In that moment, Tensen decided to become a monk like Kelsing.
Kelsing offered to guide him to the monastery high in
the mountains. Tenzen's parents knew they would miss their son,
and Tnsen knew he'd missed them, but they recognized the
calling within Tensen and gave him their permission to start
the journey. Under the guidance of Kelsing, Tensen made the
(02:27):
difficult hike up to the monastery, where he was welcomed
with open arms. Tenzen focused back on the present moment.
Waking in the monastery, he stretched, yawned, and noticed that
his friend Lapka hadn't woken yet. Hey, it's time to
get up, Tensen said, shaking his shoulder. Okay ok, Lopka said,
his head was shaved, just like Tensen's and the other boys.
(02:50):
I'm getting up, he said. Their other friend, Sonam was
already up, getting dressed and preparing for the day. Together,
they walked across the hardwood floor to the dining room,
where other boys sat around a low table on the floor.
They enjoyed a simple breakfast of sampa, a traditional Tibetan
staple made from roasted barley flower. As tens and eight,
(03:11):
he listened to the rhythmic chance of the monks from
the nearby monastery, a sound that echoed through the valley
like a soothing melody. After his meal, Tanzan and his
friends headed to the temple where he would spend the
day learning the way of mindfulness and meditation. The temple
was perched on a mountain side, overlooking the village below.
(03:33):
Its weathered stones and ancient prayer wheels told stories of
generations seeking wisdom and enlightenment. The temple's exterior was adorned
with intricate carvings depicting scenes from Buddhist scriptures. Tibetan prayer flags,
vibrant and fluttering, adorned the eaves, imbuing the air with
a sense of sacredness. A pair of heavy wooden doors
(03:54):
marked the entrance. Above them, a gilded canopy sheltered a
trio of prayer wheels, waiting to be set in motion
by the touch of a devoted pilgrim. Together, the boys
entered the temple with a sense of reverence and anticipation. Inside,
the air was thick with the earthy scent of incense.
The flickering butter lamps cast dancing shadows on the walls,
(04:16):
creating a setting of peace and tranquility. Their teacher, Lama Doorge,
awaited them. He was a wise and gentle monk with
a flowing red robe. His head was shaved like the boys.
His eyes were dark and piercing, and he always had
a smile on his face. Lama Doorge lived the teachings
of compassion and patience. His goal was to guide the
(04:38):
minds of the young boys towards the path of enlightenment.
The morning rituals began with prostrations, a humble gesture expressing
devotion and humility. Tenzen, Lakpah, and Sonam bowed to the
images of Buddha, their bodies moving in a fluid rhythm.
The repetitive motions served as a physical expression of their
(05:00):
dedication to the spiritual journey. Following the prostrations, the boys
engaged in mindful breathing exercises. Lamadorge instructed them to focus
on each in breath and outbreath, grounding their minds in
the present moment. Tensen closed his eyes, feeling the cool
mountain air fill his lungs. As he exhaled, he released
(05:23):
stress from within. After the morning session, the boys gathered
for a simple lunch of lentil soup and steamed vegetables.
The act of eating itself became a practice in mindfulness,
with every bite savored and appreciated. The boys shared stories
and laughter, fostering a sense of friendship that would support
(05:44):
them on their spiritual journey. In the afternoon, the boys
explored the temple's garden. Colorful flowers decorated the landscape, and
the smell of blooming jasmine filled the air. They stood
still and listened to the gentle rustling of leaves and
distant chants from the temple. As they strolled along the
(06:04):
winding paths, Tenzen embraced the beauty of the moment around them,
practicing what he learned every day about fully living in
the moment and appreciating what was happening in the now.
The boys walked a little further to the center of
the garden to a body tree. This was the same
type of tree Buddha was said to be sitting under
(06:25):
when he received enlightenment. Under the shade of the body tree,
Lamad'orge guided the boys in walking meditation. With each step,
they connected with the earth beneath them, giving them a
deep sense of gratitude for the interconnectedness of all life.
As the sun dipped below the towering mountains of Tibet,
(06:46):
the boys returned to the temple for the evening session.
Lamadorge led them in the chanting ritual, the vibrations of
the bell and their voices resonating through the ancient walls.
Their words carried prayers for the well being of all
living beings, the court Buddhist belief in compassion. The day
(07:06):
ended with a meditation session. Overlooking the majestic mountains, the
boys sat in silent contemplation, their minds settling like a
calm mountain lake. The fading sunlight painted the landscape in
shades of lavender and indigo. As they opened their eyes,
Lama D'Orge shared a simple yet profound teaching. In the
(07:28):
stillness of the mind, one finds the path to enlightenment.
Embrace each moment with gratitude, for it's a step closer
to understanding the nature of our existence. Tensen and his
friends left the temple that evening with hearts full of inspiration.
The teachings of mindfulness and compassion had taken root in
(07:48):
their young minds and were shaping the foundations for a
life dedicated to the pursuit of inner peace and enlightenment.
In the quiet of the night, Tensen stood on the
temple balcony, gazing at the starlit sky above the mountains
of Tibet. The vastness of the universe matched the depth
(08:09):
of his new understanding. The journey would be long, but
with each step Tensen walked a path illuminated by the
wisdom of the ancient teachings, a path that led to
peace of the mind and the boundless compassion within the heart.
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