Jamyang Tashi

I was pulled away from Ngawang's reception to have lunch with Jamyang Tashi. I was a bit miffed bythis at first. I felt that he was really dominating my time. That dissolved very quickly
when I arrived at his house. He is so kind and sincere. He is a big man with a hard round face. He looks as though he could put the fear of Yama into his students if he had a mind to. The depth of his devotion to his students is shows so clearly with everything he does. He is very close to receiving his Lharampa Geshe which is the highest form of Geshe and takes about 25 years to earn.

He treated me to a feast of food from Ladak. One of the plates called scew had small peices of thick noodles. There was tookpa a form of noodle soup. vegetables and more than one man could possibly eat. He was constanly getting up and talking to his students. At one point he
came back in and handed me a letter and said "My english is not so good so I wrote this so you would be sure to understand. " The letter said that he ws very sorry but he would be leaving Sera tomorrow because he is sick and need to go to Dharamsala. That
he was supposed to leave on the 11th but since I was coming he put it off until the 19th. He took
my hand and with tears in his eyes he looked deeply into mine and
said. "For me in my life there is the kindness of His Holiness the Dalia Lama, my mother and father and there is you. Thank you for your kindness and all that you have done for me for all of these years" I didn't know what to say. His sincerity. His Tears and by this time my tears it was all so overwelming. I asked to please remain in this life to spread the Dharma. That the world needed him and his kindness. This is a Tibetan prayer for a teacher.

He then produced some Gift's for me. A text of His Holiness teachings, a couple of
videos an pendant each for Andrea, Timmy and I. He then produced a small Tsa
Tsa of a protector Deity and said that it was given to him by the Dalai Lama and that the Deity would protect me as long as I prayed and believed in him. He also gave me a red scarf with a special knot tied by the Dalai Lama. These are all extremely precious gifts and by this time we both had tears in our eyes.

I did not want to leave him at that moment but I had to go back to video Ngawang. He walked me to the gate and told me that his students would be there to help i
me in anyway I needed while at Sera all I had to do was ask.

I walked back to house number 2 full of emotion. I could not speak to anyone I just needed some time to absorb what he had told. His Holiness, his parents and me for kindness. I certainly don't feel worthy of such a huge honor, but knowing the plight of his students I'll do what I can.

Big Love to All!!

Bilbo