I just received this gracious letter today from the Director of Lha Charitable Trust, Ngawang Rabgyal, and one of Lha’s founders and Board members, Neil Guidry. It speaks volumes about the importance of education, in this case, massage therapy education, in changing people’s lives for the better.

Please consider donating to Massage for Peace (www.massage4peace.org) this holiday season to help BCMT continue its efforts to provide training and massage therapy services to the underserved in our local and global community.- Carol B.

Hello from Dharamsala,

Ngawang Rabgyal, Lha

We at Lha Charitable Trust wanted to once again thank the volunteer instructors from BCMT. Your instructors were both professional and personal. The Tibetan Refugees that received your training and our staff all express their appreciation. We all hope that our new relationship with BCMT will continue long into the future. The Tibetan People and BCMT share the mission of world peace through non-violence.
It should be mentioned that the time your volunteers spent here will have far reaching benefits. Most Tibetan Refugees arrive in India destitute, fleeing oppression. Most come from nomadic herding communities; the skills they come with are no longer helpful in gaining employ. Through massage training, many are able to find work to support them and also provide financial assistance to their families still inside Tibet who are often in dire circumstances.
Many of the Tibetan Refugees that come through our programs eventually end up in western countries. Our original mission of providing them with Language and Computer skills is certainly very helpful and necessary, yet not enough. The addition of this Massage program is offering the much needed skills and confidence necessary to begin their new lives.
We are looking forward to our next group of BCMT volunteer instructors. Hopefully, with the guidance and support of BCMT, we will be able to develop our Massage Training Program and further reach out to more of those in need.
Thank you.

Sincerely,
Ngawang Rabgyal
Lha General Manager

PS For more info about Lha Charitable Trust please see www.lhasocialwork.org

At Lha in Dharamsala, there were 5 women in our basic level massage class who learned a full body Swedish massage and chair massage in our week long intensive. They ranged in ages from 20-30 years old. The youngest was born and raised in India and her parents were Tibetan. The others had all journeyed from Tibet at different ages alone or with family members, but only one had any family there in Dsala with them. The rest were on their own!

Louise Sexton and students from Lha Charitable Trust

When we asked them why they wanted to study massage they all emphasized that they felt it was a very important way of helping themselves and their families stay healthy. For some it was to work on family members who were in pain (i.e. mothers, husbands, children). They said massage was an alternative to unavailable health-care options. Another was motivated by her own interest to become a teacher and to continue her studies in the sciences and health related fields. She was going to be moving to Germany to be united with her mother and siblings, to continue her studies and to work as a massage therapist. Her mother wanted her to study massage so that she could share her knowledge by teaching her mother what she learned. Her mother wanted to become a massage therapist, too! Several were hoping to find employment as massage therapists there in Dsala. One worked at a local hotel, Chonor House, that as you know is popular with American tourists and celebrities and she hoped to be able to offer massage to guests at the hotel in addition to her current duties. We have already heard from her and she is doing just that and doing well!!! Another was a mother of 2 who hoped to return to the work force and hoped to do that as a massage therapist.

All of our students, having limited or no previous education opportunities before arriving in Dsala, were emphatic about how important it was to them to be learning. Many of them were taking other classes at Lha; one had been studying there for 2 years. Their desire to learn was insatiable. They were impressive and quick learners with enthusiastic, open minds and hearts, fun loving spirits, and strong intuitions. Each of them were a blessing to Jessica Gumkowski and I as teachers.

20 Lha Students Graduate from BCMT Massage Therapy Training

Namaste,

Louise Sexton, Swedish Therapeutic Massage instructor

How can I look at joyous healthy children playing on a well equipped playground with proud doting parents looking on, and not think of the young naked children I saw in India running around an open trash area near the side of a busy street rummaging for food or begging with outstretched hands for something to satisfy their hunger?

How can I enter a large open market filled with fresh wholesome food and not think of the marketplace of those vendors in Dharmasala sitting cross-legged in a space just wide enough for their gaunt bodies and long enough to display their meager offerings of a dirty bundle of scallions or a torn basket of fly infested potatoes and cabbage?

How can I turn on my faucet and flush my toilet at home and not think of the filthy gray contaminated water running in a deep ditch alongside the narrow streets, while a dozen thin rusted metal pipes poking out of the ground nearby convey this unsanitary water to the community?

How can I walk through my tree lined neighborhood of comfortable homes and cars in the driveway, and not see in my mind’s eye the massive tall concrete structures in India, with each designated dwelling no bigger than a small bedroom where an entire family of adults and children exists cramped everyday?

How can I not breathe in the fresh aromatic smells of a Colorado mountain morning and not remember the dank pungent odors of cow and dog waste and exposed trash wafting from the streets when I made my way to the school in Dharmasala?

How can I teach another student in a massage class and not see and feel to my core the enthusiasm, shear joy, and excitement of the Tibetan refugees who came each day to my class with a kind of thirst for knowledge I had never experienced in all my years of teaching?  This, despite their history of struggle and adversity that scars them physically, but ceases to define who they are.  Their smiles and voices will always ring in my heart, and continue to teach me about the profound resilience of the human spirit.

These sights, thoughts, and smells will forever be a part of me.  They will serve as reminders of a short period of time in my life when I dared to venture out of my comfort zone of my home, my community, and my country, and step into another world where living day to day took on a whole new meaning.

- Gaye Franklin, Massage for Peace Ambassador

I think we’re all excited and surprised that we already have an article on the Lha website.  Surprised in that nothing moves fast in Dharamsala; coffee = 45 minutes, a meal = 3 hours.

I guess news of our visit travels a bit faster, thank you Lha, we appreciate the recognition for Massage for Peace.  The more awareness we create the better; creating peace one massage at time.

Click here to read the article on their website.

I’m a dog lover, but I shy away from petting street dogs. They could have fleas, mange, or snappy attitudes. Today was different though. A neighborhood mutt, a handsome chow mix, limped over to a group of us looking for help. He held his front paw up just high enough to get a look at it. We didn’t see anything too serious, but he definitely had a sore pad or toes.

Being a helping, healing bunch, we touched him – massaged his leg, scratched behind the ears. Actually, one of us had some arnica (I know, very Boulder), so we rubbed some of that around, too. As I sat next to him, he started to relax, and then gave me his paw. I’d massage his leg a bit, stop, and then the paw would float right back up. Then he started moving in for a hug, a snuggle. My little pampered dachshund, Quita, would have been very jealous. Was this dog trying to tell me something? I mean, I’m the only one on the trip who is not a massage therapist. But should I be? Could I be?

While working at BCMT over the last 7 years, I’ve taken a few continuing education classes, but I’ve never seriously considered studying massage. “Not this life time”, I tell people who suggest it. Hey, I’m already writing and dancing on the side. I think I’ve changed my mind. I would love, love to help dogs here – or anywhere – feel better.

You know, maybe this lifetime I should just do as much as I can. Life is precious, right? We’ve got to live it to the fullest. I wonder when the next BCMT canine certification program starts? – Carol B.

I speak English very well after 45 years of practice, and about 15 years as an ESL teacher.  I’m happy to report that  it’s coming in handy in Dharamsala. While the rest of the crew is teaching massage or introducing monks to their first massage, I’m talking – and listening. Turns out I listen pretty good.

Today a Buddhist nun, Sonam, made my day.  She was beaming just a few minutes into our chat when she realized I could understand what she was saying.”My English no good. Many teacher no understand.”  I didn’t realize I had any special skill, but I guess my ear has been trained by the hundreds of Asian, European, African and Latin America students I’ve taught over the years.

Tibetans like Sonam understand a lot, too. The teachers she’s referring to are volunteers – people from all over the world – who come to English conversation class at Gu Chu Sum (and several other locations throughout Dsala). The volunteers speak Australian, American, the Queen’s English, and some hybrid-English versions, too.

Sonam asked if I was coming back next year. “My English very good in one year,” she said. “I write to you. You come visit my nunnery.” That settles it. Massage for Peace, Dsala 2010 here we come. — Carol B.

One day in Dharamsala feels like a lifetime  – a sweet lifetime. Today Becky and I enjoyed the company of Tibetans at work: at the tiny Shop no 5, the Tibetan Artesans Coop, and the local Tibetan Children’s Village. Shopping for towels to solve a training challenge – a shortage of sheets and expensive laundry services – we sorted through the towel selection at Shop no 5. Actually, we cleaned the place out. We needed 22 towels – thin and quick to dry – and that’s exactly how many we found. It was a big purchase for the tiny establishment, and the shop owner, Tenzin, treated us to milk tea. We took photos (we’ll upload them when we get back to Boulder and quicker computers), and chatted with her and her mother and their smiling, dollfaced niece/granddaughter.

Our shopping spree was preceded by a huge morning – a visit to the local Tibetan Children’s Village. Our tour guide, Nyima, patiently answered our questions about its history and development. We were touched by her story and that of other Tibetan children who “lost” their parents when they set out for India via the Himalayan mountains and Nepal. Their parents loved them so much that they sent them away – to India – to seek out education and opportunities denied to them in their home country. A huge sacrifice for them and a huge gift for their children.

Back from our jaunt to TCV, we stopped by the Tibetan Artesans Coop to pay for the rugs we’d picked out the day before. The sales manager, Tsering, took note of our interest in the artistry that goes into creating the handwoven rugs, and offered to show us more of the workshop. We headed to the basement, and we were greeted by a roomful of spinners and weavers working on custom orders -all with Christmas deadlines. We hope we were a pleasant distraction for them rather than an annoyance.

We finished up our “work day” with an English conversation class at Lha. There were at least 40 Tibetans and volunteers packed into a 12 x 12 room. I was waved over by a couple of Buddhist monks. They were not what I expected. They were so easy to talk to although one asked me pointblank, “What does Buddhism mean to you?” I kept my answer short and sweet. A smile and a nod seemed to indicate I did alright.

If I had to use one word to describe a typical day for us in Dharamsala, it would be: abundant. Tomorrow’s another day and we are already counting our blessings. – Carol B.

This is the question that I’ve been asking myself about how I will fully describe our experience at the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV).   For me, it was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life; one that I hope will change me forever.  Not fully understanding the flight of the Tibetans before coming here I feel that today has given me an inside look into the lives of those affected by this tragedy.  It also gave me a real experience in love, compassion and understanding.  These children are well cared for, happy and learning to be students of the world. Teachers would be a better way to describe them, teachers  that I feel we could all learn so very much from.

Despite their separation from family and treacherous journey through the Himalayas to freedom TCV is educating each and every child to be a servant of the world.  There is no entitlement here; what we find here is simply a chance to live a life of freedom and opportunity. To give back through their education, to give thanks for their blessings and understand that there is good in all, even the injustices of the world.  The level of acceptance that I witnessed today was overwhelming.  With over 1,000 children living at the TCV location we visited; financial support is a must from the outside world.

We were given a personal tour by Niyma who is one of the people in charge of sponsorship.  She was quite gracious in answering our questions and providing much insight into the once devastating but now beautiful lives of these children.  TCV was breathtaking;  situated on the side of a mountain it is pristine in its cleanliness and surrounded by inspirational messages and vibrant gardens.  We visited the homes of the children, saw their toothbrushes, face clothes and shoes.  Read letters to their parents posted on the walls, parents whom they will most likely never see again.  We visited the ‘baby home’ and held back tears of joy as we entered the nursery of cobalt cribs each comforted with a stuffed animal and pink blankets.  One of the cribs revealed a sleeping baby whose breath I will never forget the sound of.  There were a few of the younger children in the courtyards with their house mothers.

We stood high upon one of the verandas and watched the older kids play in the school yard; soccer, badminton, table tennis; laughing and playing like all children should.  Among them were their canine comrades sinking up the joy and living off the message of hope.

A message that I’m not sure I will ever fully process and an experience that I can only hope will change me forever.

Where to begin? Where to end?  I have no answer to these questions, but what I know for sure is that today, I learned about beauty.

Woke up early to the daily call of the wild from the locals;  King Fishers, dogs, cows, and Buddhist monks praying in the streets.  I think after only two days we all look forward to our morning call, just as much as the espressos and ginger lemon tea that Tsering is making us each day.  I’m thinking I may start calling back, just can’t decide on if it will be a howl, caw, moo or chant.  Like with everything here, we’ll just have to see what is meant to be.

Today is the first day of teaching at Lha – we met the advanced students who greeted us with big smailes and grateful blessings.  I’m heading over for the afternoon teaching shift and feel so blessed to be able to join in on the instructions.  The morning class are the  advanced students who have already been through Maria’s training.  The afternoon students are the beginners whose hearts and hands will begin to mold their new skill this week.  I know that I speak for the entire team when I say we look forward to seeing each and every student evolve through the teachings.  I feel that we have all learned so much from our local friends already and now it is simply our turn to give back to them.  I’m sure that we will walk away from this experience will even more than we already have.

Namaste from Dsala day 3.

Today was a the day to see monkeys — baby ones, baboon lookalikes, and some standard issue swinging from branches ones. We oohed, aahed, and picked up our monkey sticks having been forewarned they may not be friendly. The cows, however, are a docile bunch; the goats cruise the countryside and congested alleyways; the dogs doze, beg, and bark with abandon; and goldeny white birds soar above it all.  The locals don’t blink an eye while we snap photos incessantly. It’s sweet to see the coexistence of so many creatures.

We had a full to the brim day. A few of us sought meditation and quiet, taking in the chanting of  the monks at the Dalai Lama’s complex. Others let loose with the rupees snapping up bargains from the tiny, chockful-of-colorful- wares roadside stands. We feel at home but stick out like sore thumbs. An Indian woman asked if we would pose for a photo with her. Apparently, our backpacks, cameras, water bottles and REI wear are as exotic to Indians as saris, henna, and bindis are to us.

Tomorrow is our first day of training. We are a bit nervous not knowing much about our students or the training facility. One thing we know for sure: the people we meet will be lovely, gracious, and full of gratitude. — Carol B.