Monkey Temple & Maheswari Tent Camp Relief Goods Distribution

Today was a really busy distribution day. In the morning, we helped group B do their distribution of blankets and multi-purpose beds at Monkey Temple (Swayambhunath) and in the afternoon was group A's distribution of blankets at the Maheswari Camp.

This was my first time going to Monkey Temple.  The story goes like this: Swayambhunath is one of the oldest religious sites in Nepal. According to Swayambhu Purana, the entire valley was once filled with an enormous lake, out of which grew a lotus. The valley came to be known as Swayambhu, meaning "self-created." Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple because there are holy monkeys living in the north-west parts of the temple. They are holy because Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom and learning was raising the hill which the Swayambhunath Temple stands on. He was supposed to leave his hair short, but he made it grow long and head lice grew. It is believed that the head lice transformed into these monkeys. Manjusri had a vision of the lotus at Swayambhu and traveled there to worship it. Seeing that the valley can be good settlement and to make the site more accessible to human pilgrims, he cut a gorge at Chovar. The water drained out of the lake, leaving the valley in which Kathmandu now lies. The lotus was transformed into a hill and the flower became the Swayambhunath stupa.

The dome at the base represents the entire world. When a person awakes (represented by eyes of wisdom and compassion) from the bonds of the world, the person reaches the state of enlightenment. The thirteen pinnacles on the top symbolize that sentient beings have to go through the thirteen stages of spiritual realizations to reach enlightenment or Buddhahood. Another fascinating fact is that each morning before dawn, hundreds of Buddhist (Vajrayana) and Hindu pilgrims ascend the 365 steps from eastern side that lead up the hill, passing the gilded Vajra (Tibetan: Dorje) and two lions guarding the entrance, and begin a series of clockwise circumambulations of the stupa. 

In the afternoon, we all went to Maheswari Camp to do the relief goods distribution, but it was pouring down rain. The grounds were completely flooded and it was very hard to walk on since it was a complete mud slide. At the last minute, we decided to switch locations for the actual distribution. Thanks to all of the volunteer's quick thinking and willingness to help, the distribution was able to be conducted smoothly in the main kitchen area. I am so grateful for our local volunteers! These youths are all role models! I am so inspired by their giving and fighting spirit!

All the plastic chairs were completely covered in mud, so when we got back to the hotel, everyone from Group A all started to clean the chairs, one by one. It was such a touching moment, seeing everyone gathered together and working together as a unified team all for the greater good.

I got really excited! They call me superwoman! 

It was such a great day! Lots of curveballs as usual, but it is also these curveballs that makes us learn how to think quickly on our feet. I am so grateful that I get to learn new things about life and myself, every single second of the day! Meeting time!!!! The chairs are all cleaned!