Student Blog: Summer in One Word by Karen Marques

I describe my summer as healing. After our busy year at KIBI, the summer comes and we all do different things. I went to Kalimpong where Karmapa’s Diwakar Buddhist Academy is. There I could visit the shedra and enjoy the company of the young monks.  They are so loving and kind that make me feel at home, like little brothers. Besides visiting the shedra I did a retreat on Green Tara and I describe it as healing because after finishing it, my mind was very happy. Retreats are not easy in my experience but the overall feeling is one of happiness and strength to face the comings and goings of samsara and trying to set a good motivation for my new year, with the wish to study so that what I learn may be of benefit for myself and others.In short, trying to be more patient, more loving, and more easy-going.

Karen Marques, 3rd year student