BHUTAN: Blessings of the Heart, Meditation & Service – December 2011
Not many people have actually heard about Bhutan – Land of the Thunder Dragon, or even know where it is located. For many years this little country about the size of Switzerland has been off limits of foreigners. If you look at a map you will find Bhutan to be east of Nepal at the same latitude, with a tiny piece of India separating the two countries – and the northern edge touching the Himalayas. You must realize that Bhutan is not like any place you are likely to travel to.
Shamans & Buddhists
The people are Tantric Buddhists who also have a Shamanistic background called Bon – and a fantastic history filled with legends and mythology. In fact, one of the highlights of our spiritual journey is hiking to Tiger’s Nest where Guru Rinpoche flew to on the back of a flaming tigress! Indeed, the monasteries are magical and beautiful in ways that I cannot begin to describe.
Finding the Buddha Within
Everyone who visits is touched in the most astonishing ways, by the landscape, the heart of the people, and their philosophies. By the time we leave, the experience will have opened your heart in a manner that that is totally unexpected. Through meditation, chanting, prayer and ceremony – we will expand our consciousness and cultivate the compassion of Buddha within us.
Compassion & Blessings
Thankfully we’ll have the opportunity to spend a day at Tongsa Tsechu, one of the annual religious dance festivals to immerse ourselves in ancient tradition where elaborate, spellbinding masked dances at the festival are performed by specially trained monks. We’ll also spend time visiting the very rare and endangered Black Necked Cranes in Phobjikha. And as a special gift, a Lama will be preparing a prayer and blessing ceremony for us. As service is an important part of our spiritual experience, we’ll be giving of ourselves and helping the Bhutanese people during our visit.
Inner Peace & Contentment
On our last two nights we’ll be staying at the incredible Hotel Zhiwaling which is beautiful and restful – a proper end to our journey. You can have spa services here to relax from our journey and prepare for the long trip home. This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime journeys, and you will not come back the same person you were when you arrived. If there is any way that you can get way for this mystical journey, I encourage you to come!
The 2010 trip cost was: $5195.00 USD per person double occupancy, pricing will change slightly for 2011. Questions? Give us a ring at 727-421-0849 – we can’t wait to hear from you!
