By Lama Tenzin Ösel

Comings and Goings

I went to Bodhgaya in December for His Holiness’ teachings, which were sponsored by the Maitreya Project. We also went on pilgrimage with Lama Zopa to Nalanda, Vulture’s Peak and Sugata. I explored a maze of passages in the monk’s quarters at Nalanda.

Everybody is on the move again this month (February). I am going to Kopan for Losar with my attendant Tseten Tashi and my father. Then we go to Dharamsala for His Holiness’ teachings. Gyurme has gone to visit his family in Nepal. Jampa is going to visit Australia. Subedi the gardener is going to Nepal. Kangyur and Kunkyen have gone to Singapore again. Kunkyen is learning Mandarin Chinese.

We have a new cook called Sanjay who used to work in a restaurant in Kathmandu called Fire and ice.

Animal Tails

Our deer Tsering got scared at night and panicked for some reason. His new horns were just growing and somehow he knocked them off by hitting something because he was so frightened. There was blood all over his face, and there were strips of flesh hanging down. The crows were trying to eat them. It looked awful. Subedi cleaned him up and put medicine on the wounds. Now he has recuperated very well and his horns are growing again.

Also we have a new puppy called Kalu. He is very playful and is learning his duties from Padme Hum.

School News

I have added two more hours to my Western studies per week and I have started three hours of debating per week. There is also an extra 15 minutes for reciting every day. So my day is very full now.

In Science we made an electric motor. I have just finished reading Smith by Leon Garfield. I really enjoyed it.