Thus ends our epic journey to Pokhara and back, a grand adventure of less than 48 hours, cascading over mountains and valleys, through the dust and sun, braving the elements and extremely limited time constraints - to film an interview with Maniwa Lama Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche and auspiciously having us arrive during the vastly powerful and rare Guru Rinpoche puja and accumulation at Karma Dupgyu Chokorling in Matepani, Pokhara. What a trip, what a view - from my window watching as the beautiful landscape passes by in a blissful yawning blur, the colors melding together as we whip past, turning trees, mountains and open sky to formless waves of heavenly hue.
Pit stop, recharge, another tea and we’re back to it - such is the pace and style of these types of trips that have become such a huge part of my life these past few years. Here I am at ease, at peace, in these wild conditions cramped up in the back seat, leaning on bags and empty water bottles, working away (I’ll mind-over-matter this car sickness stuff) as we splash and crash around the mountainside, the bumpy legendary Nepalese hills our great dance partner in this fantastic voyage. This is the stuff of happiness for me - forget the weak and weary, be gone gentile virtues, climbing these hills with a mini bus full of gear and friends through thick and thin is what I call a good time.
Upon arriving to Pokhara, albeit late and weathered by the trip, we literally had to run up the steps to the Gompa to get set up for our interview with Rinpoche that he had graciously agreed to, regardless of his tiring schedule of puja these past seven days already. Ready, set, camera rolling! Rinpoche was such a delight, his amazing kindness and compassionate energy so clearly evident on screen, he was positively radiant. He beamed effortlessly through three hours of filming, while I was left to my own devices, creeping around and snapping away, catching some of Rinpoche’s lovely softness and gentle humor during out-takes as he faced the big camera and I was left happily invisible. I am in awe of this great man, a symbol of grace and humility as he stood steadfast through it all. He is so incredibly humble and simple, for such a prominent teacher and figure in the Dharmic world he is impeccably ordinary, nothing fazes him, he just keeps on smiling, chanting mantras and glowing away like a candle in the dark. His every waking moment is Dharma. Pure and simple. Cloaked in our artsy lighting and shadow or bathed in neon and fake fluorescence, he is always seated like a great Dharma Warrior. No change. I am deeply moved, as I always am when I see him.
And just like that it’s over, back to the bus, back on the road, back amongst the trees and mountains once again, as the sun fades down signaling the end of the day, and the end of our journey together. Fare thee well dear Pokhara, there and back again, perhaps one of these days I will be able to spend more time - but who knows if that would be any fun. Even if we’d come just for the interview and then immediately back on the road I would do it again in a heartbeat. This is living at its finest, the best of this wonderful present moment, there and back again.
