Today the monastery held a special lunch to thank Bennett and myself for working at the monastery. We each received a thangka painting, identified by a B and D, respectively, written on the back.
After we sat back down, a monk distributed photos of the Dalai Lama sitting in front of a large Buddha statue. Lobsang explained…
[applause]
I think this image is oldest image of Buddha, and after Buddhism [was] destroyed in India, later they found this image in the earth, so everybody says this [is a very precious image].
Like every lunch at the monastery, a monk placed several balls of hide-colored dough on the table, which Lobsang picked up and squeezed in his fist, as did the other monks. The dough became elongated, ridges forming between his fingers. Bennett asked what this pa, a dough made of tsampa (roasted barley), was for.
It’s those people who already died, and they couldn’t eat but they can smell. They’ve a lot of these souls we couldn’t see, but they’re very hungry. So, after you die, first they have [a] certain puja… second week… third week… seven week—it’s 49 [days], yeah? So after 49 [days], if you [had] good [intentions during your lifetime], then you [are born again as a] human being—happy—if you do bad things, [then] after 49 days, now [a decision is made], whether you go down or up—it’s up to you, what you did [during your life]. So during this [time there are] a lot of people who couldn’t eat [but who can] smell. So this [is] pa. [It’s made of] tsampa [roasted barley flour].
And butter?
[Here] they prefer to put water because they have to [make it quickly].
…
When His Holiness [turned] 60, the monastery stopped to serve meat here. Before then, they had a lot bones, you know? Now [he is] 76—16 years ago. And several monks also purely vegetarian—maybe some [have been for] five years, some [for] six years.
…
Okay, now we go—maybe they’re waiting for tea [at Tibet Cafe].