The Learning Journey: Insights from a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery

After spending three days exploring Kathmandu in Nepal, I moved into Khawalung Monastery to volunteer and teach English, math, and science for a month. Khawalung Monastery located just outside Kathmandu, serves as a sanctuary for around 120 monks, aged four to twenty, who come from Nepal's impoverished Mougo District in search of a better life. The monastery encompasses a primary school and a training school for rites and rituals. My time there was a profound experience, highlighting the true priorities in life through the simple yet rich lives of the monks.

Time at the monastery flowed naturally, reflecting the Buddhist principle of living in the present moment. This concept paralleled the idea of slow tourism, where one moves slowly, observes nature, and appreciates the beauty around them. Daily life, there, is grounded in simplicity and mindfulness, values often overshadowed in modern education systems. The children’s lifestyle—wearing the same clothes and eating the same food—emphasizes essential principles such as friendship, fairness, and kindness. This simplicity fosters creative and meaningful thoughts, contrasting with the modern world’s overwhelming flood of information that can stifle deep thinking.

Teaching the children, interacting with them during free time, and observing their Punja (morning prayer) were some of the greatest privileges of my stay. Despite the language barrier, we communicated effectively, achieving our educational goals. In my view, teaching should build community and spark curiosity. I taught the children about stars, planets, and the universe, while they shared their understanding of who we are and why. I believe that questioning the fundamentals of existence greatly benefits the human mind. A child's curiosity arises from their continual realizations about things, objects, and circumstances. To think deeply, we must immerse ourselves in experiences of realization. These realizations enable self-reflection and expand our curiosity both outward towards the world and inward towards ourselves.

The children's calm and composed demeanor during meals and prayers contrasted with their energetic playtime on weekends. Many demonstrated a strong understanding of their bodies and movements, which I believe stems from their deep mental and physical connection—a truly inspiring balance. The influence of technology has exposed both young and older monks to ideas and principles that Buddha himself encountered only after leaving his palace. They are well aware of the presence of evil and malicious intentions but choose to focus on the good. As a result, many monks aspire to integrate into society rather than remain in monastic life.

During my stay, I was fortunate to experience the Losar Festival, a significant celebration in Tibetan Buddhism. With constant praying and rites and rituals taking place for 10 days for 12 hours a day. At the last day, the final celebration took place, in which all monks including the big Lama danced and burning ceremonies all to project the five pillars of buddhism birth insight englithment the first discourse and final death. 

I also had the privilege of meeting Karma, a graduate monk in Buddhist philosophy, who taught me the basics of dharma and the art of preaching. He explained that meditation must be intentional, focusing on why you meditate and what you meditate on. Karma also clarified the difference between reincarnation and rebirth, highlighting how the rebirth of spiritual leaders can be influenced politically and socially based on their caste in modern times. Our conversations often delved into the concepts of karma and the practice of goodness. Despite my limited understanding of Buddhism, Karma's passion for his religion shone through his kindness and love.

In a few words, my month at Khawalung Monastery was a transformative experience, teaching me about the essence of life, the importance of simplicity, and the profound impact of community and mindfulness.