BFN update and the Little Lama's

When I arrive in Kathmandu I will first visit BFN (Bungamati Foundation Nepal) where I will work together with Sukha on the Teachers for Teachers program. Gerard was in Bungamati a few weeks ago and he was brainstorming with Sukha about this idea meanwhile preparing my visit so that we can fully use the days I am there during the trip. He did a lot of other things for BFN: for instance digging into expanding possibilities for the BFN Bed & Breakfast.
Today Gehini, Jeroen and Gerard will talk about the program during their meeting and I hope we can develop it further in the next few weeks. The first subject will be Learning and Teaching, the next one will be English I assume, but Maths is also possible. A lot to do because I am also thinking about a new pilot with the Driestam (Primary Education in the Netherlands) and a school for primary education in Bungamati (Nepal). Furthermore I will work on the idea to further explore the possibilities for internship for students of the Pabo and Sporthogeschool but maybe also english teachers of FLOT (Teacher Education) at BFN. For that I will probably go and talk with Maurice of Fontys International Office.

Very exiting and inspiring: will keep you informed on everything in upcoming blogs!

After the BFN visit I will go to the Little Lama's ( check the Facebook of the Little Lama's) and I feel so priviledged that I will have the opportunity to experiece that all (thanks Doc!).

Jonang Monastery Kathmandu is a Tibetan Buddhist institute to help children from the Himalayan Mountains by providing funds for education, shelter, and food. LittleLama.org is committed to bringing support to the first Tibetan Buddhist Monastery of Jonang Tradition in Nepal: Palgyalwa Jonangpa Takten Shadrup Choeling. The school was established in Spring 2006 by Tulku Tashi Gyaltsan Rinpoche, the founder and spiritual leader of the Dorje Ling Buddhist Centers. He is recognized as the reincarnation of Jetsun Taranatha, a historian scholar of the seven-hundred-year-old Jonang Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

Jonang Monastery accepts children from Mugu, and other rural districts in Nepal to study Tibetan Buddhism of Jonang Tradition in the country’s capital, Kathmandu. The decision for a child to become a lama is made by the child’s family.
Their mission is to support the children who attend Jonang Monastery. They are provided with necessities which they may otherwise not have access to in their home villages, such as nutritious food, clean clothing, and medicine. Equally important is that the students receive an education and a gain the opportunity for a promising future.

More information is to be found here: Little Lama

Educational possibilities for BFN

Yesterday Jeroen Gerard and I had another meeting at Jeroen’s place. This time we talked specifically about educational possibilities for the Bungamati Foundation Nepal. Based upon the annual report 2011 we reflected upon the past year and started to dig into possibilities for the future.

The four 'big' projects are:

• School Management Support Programme (SMSP);
• Children Education Support (Sponsorship) Programme (CESP);
• Early Childhood Development Centre Programme (ECDC);
• Volunteer Programme (Women empowerment is also a topic, very interesting).

Cooperation with Fontys University of Applied Sciences i.e. FPA (1. bachelor primary teacher education, 2. Pedagogical Management Child Care <PMK> and 3. Master Learning and Innovation <MLI> and Master in Leadership in Education <MLE>), FSH (sports, teacher physical education) and FLOT/FLOS (teacher secondary education) seem to be possible and might be within reach.
I will certainly try and work hard to get things going.

This upcoming week is a holiday week. I will take some time together with Gerard to work further on our ideas, together with Jeroen (he already gave some feedback) Sukha (by skype) and possibly also Gehini.

In short, another interesting week with preparations for our stay in Nepal… how exciting this all is…
Will deff keep you guys posted!

Thanka and Lumbini Buddhist Thanka Painting School

Thanka is excellent piece of Tibetan art works. Thanka is a Tibetan painting depicting various facts of Buddhism of mystic sect. Thanka is painted on silk or cotton fabrics using bright colors of many hues.Thanka is of exceptional quality, hand-painted by Nepali and Tibetan artist. The word "Thanka" is believed to have come from the Tibetan word "thang yig" meaning a written record. Thanka are used as wall -decorations. For, Lamas Thanka is object of religious importance. Thanka is an object of devotion, an aid to spiritual practice, and a bringer of blessings.

On the basis of techniques involved and materials used thanka can be grouped into several categories. Generally they are divided into two broad categories: those which are painted (called bris-than in Tibetan) and those which are made of silk either by weaving or with embroidery (called gos-than). The painted thanka are further divided into five categories:

• Thanka with different colors in the background
• Thanka with a gold background
• Thanka with a red background
• Thanka with a black background
• Thanka whose outlines are printed on cotton support and then touched up with colors.

When we are in Nepal we will first visit Sukha and his family at Bungamati Foundation Nepal.
For more information: Bungamati Foundation Nepal

After we have worked with the teachers and children and have finished the first research round we will return to Kathmandu and visit Anil. Anil has invited us to visit the Lumbini Buddhist Thanka Painting School. We are very excited to meet him and his friends and are thrilled to be able to learn more about the techniques used in this beautiful artwork. Furthermore we would like to learn more about traditions and intentions that form the base of Thanka painting.

Anil knows his way around in Kathmandu ofcoz, he lives there, and he has said he will take us hiking into nature, to show us one of the most beautiful spots around there… we can hardly wait!

To learn more about the Thanka Painting school check out this link:
Lumbini Buddhist Thanka Painting School

I would like to see a White Tārā, also known for compassion, long life, healing and serenity; also known as The Wish-fulfilling Wheel, or Cintachakra. From the beginning White Tara has entered my heart somehow… White Tara and White Lotus :)

Much to see & experience, and eager to learn!

Again something beautiful we will be able to experience when we are in Nepal… ain’t we lucky….
*looking forward*

White Tara, by Lumbini Buddhist Thanka Painting School

_/|\_

Awesomeness: Bungamati Foundation Nepal

Yesterday I had a meeting with two great guys, Jeroen de Haas (founder chairperson) and Gerard Arink (vice chairperson) of Bungamati Foundation Nepal. Together with their colleagues in Nepal they work on several educational and empowerment projects in Nepal. Joost (thanks Hurk!) introduced me to Jeroen and we made an appointment and so the snowball started rolling…

Anyway, last night we met and we had a great brainwave on all kinds of possibilities for the foundation and Fontys Pedagogical Academy (FPA). Gerard will talk to Sukha on skype: to talk about possibilities. One of these days I will receive more information from Jeroen about the different projects. Then I will write down how I would like to start this whole thing (collecting basic information) and Gerard will help out, he will be in Nepal within a few weeks from now. He might even start it up: things can accelerate from there. If things turn out right we will be visiting Bungamati Foundation and use the time we might spend there well… to help out, to learn, to share… Sounds good, right!?!

Bungamati Foundation is a registered NGO founded in 2004 with the primary focus on providing and improving educational for the children of Nepal.

This organization has also taken a progressive role in a range of programs to include health education, cultural and community issues, sanitation and projects to improve the environmental situation.
The foundation offers their assistance to provide support to Nepalese schools, address community needs and work in partnership with local organizations at various levels.
Their main focus is on educational opportunities and that goal plays a central part in all of their projects and is the heart of all their activities.

For more information check out this link: Bungamati Foundation

I always wanted to do something like this. Now I have the chance to actually do it in a country that was on the top of my wish list. Jeroen and Gerard are great and live ‘around the corner’. I always thought about it as something far away, out of reach… and now it is so near.
You know, I’ve worked so hard for my PhD, unexpectedly won the Fontys Knowledge Prize with my thesis and all of that resulted in this... OMG…

I am so very happy and excited… and I feel so humbly privileged: I can’t even express myself properly about it to be honest.

It’s a feeling, it has no words… it is felt within my heart…

Peel it, Cook it, Boil it, or Forget it!

Today I paid 107 euros to let a nurse inject all kinds of vaccines in both arms! Makes one wonder what happened with my ‘natural’ resistance… but ok… that’s another topic. Result: two arms with sore heavy muscles… and an empty wallet ;-)
Books, flyers, posters, film: In the waiting room I (again!) learned all about what I already knew: Peel it, Cook it, Boil it, Or forget it. In other words: Be Careful! Eat and drink only that of which one can assume it is safe. In case of doubt: don’t!

I skipped the rabies vaccine, think I will look into the eyes of the doggies and tell ‘m to take a hike... by heart ;-)
Malaria pills we will take with us tho, just in case we decide to visit the natural park down south (sure hope we will have enough time to do that). Altitude sickness, yeah well, we do want to go into the mountains (how can we NOT!?!?) and better take it then crash and see nothing due to all kinds of strange altitude sickness symptoms so… yup… we will bring along those too.
ORS? That’s a rhetorical question… ofcoz! Along with bandages and all kinds of other things that I carry when I travel. We will dig into those kinda things later 2gether coz my saying is ‘be wise, bring nothing twice', you have to carry it all on your back right?!?!.

www? Oh yeah...

(DTP) Diphtheria Tetanus Poliomyelitis: check
Hepatitis: check
Typhus: check
Malaria: check
Altitude sickness: check

Aye… am healthy now... So far So good ;-)

About: A Mantra

Mantra is a religious or mystical syllable or poem, typically from the Sanskrit language. Mantras are primarily used as spiritual conduits, words or vibrations that inculcate concentration in the devotee. Mantras are also integrated in religious rituals to remove obstacles, avoid danger, reduce foes, or accumulate wealth. Mantras got their origin from the Vedas of India.

Mantra - The Word
The word "Mantra" has been derived from Sanskrit. Mantra contains two words - "man" which means "to think" (also in manas "mind") and suffix "tra" which means "tool", hence a literal translation would be "instrument of thought". A mantra is a powerful word or phrase that may or may not have meaning in the same way as a sentence.

What is Mantra?

Mantras are single or strung together syllables. It is important to pronounce the mantra properly with an understanding of its meaning. Improper pronunciation of Mantra can inflict losses. So, one should be careful while chanting mantra.

Mantras are energy-based sounds. The Indian metaphysical tradition explains that the body is composed of the combination of five elements and the first of them is sound. Studies in sound symbolism suggest that vocal sounds have meaning whether we are aware of it or not. And certainly there can be multiple layers of symbolism associated with each sound. So even, if we do not understand them, mantras are not meaningless; no vocal utterance is entirely without meaning.

One's subconscious mind can find its solution through meditation and recitation of mantras. A mantra, when repeated constantly during meditation, first loudly and then through silent and mental chanting, changes the consciousness.

Several definitions
Definition # 1: Mantras are energy-based sounds.
Definition #2: Mantras create thought-energy waves.
Definition #3: Mantras are tools of power and tools for power.

Mantras written on a rock in Nepal, pic. found on the net

The two Villains, aka my kids

Barcelona, Spain Okt 20011
I am going to Nepal with Femke, one of my friends, but I have two kids (Enzo & Kiza)  who would love to come with me to Nepal too.

That's not possible the first time sadley enough but a thought entered my mind a few days ago...it got bigger and bigger and right now I am almost at the point of no return: mayb I can go back during summer holiday with them.. Show them this country, experience the Nepalese culture together with them and spent some quality travel time together. Sounds good aye?!?!
I've got some serious saving to do now I guess... ;-)

These two 'villains' below are my kids. Enzo on the left (he is 11 now) and Kiza on the right (she is 9).

They are the two most important ppl in my life. Love m to bits and they are great, I learn so much from and with them...

I think us going to Nepal would be one of the biggest presents in this lifetime... so...

I've already thrown it up into the air, and by that gave it to the forces of the universe, becoz I wish it to happen! :))

I'll keep you posted on this new idea.

Barcelona, Spain Okt 2011