Bir 2011

We spent a  couple of days visiting Bir ... so many interesting places to see.  Thanks to Graeme Ross for most of the photos.

Some vagrants in the temple at Deer Park Institute

Deer Park Institute is a centre for the study of classical Indian wisdom traditions. The core vision of the Institute is to re-create the spirit of Nalanda, a great university of ancient India in which all traditions of Buddhism were studied and practiced, alongside other schools of classical Indian philosophy, arts and sciences.

the monks rooms from the temple steps

Dzongsar Khyentse Chokyi Lodro Institute has a faculty of highly trained khenpos and hundreds of students enrolled in an intensive nine-year graduate program.  There are eleven classrooms, a library, computer and reading rooms.  Each year the students undertake the study of two major texts or commentaries, plus subjects such as logic, grammar, monastic discipline, and poetry.

Look out, those hang gliders are wild

 Bir was full of hang gliders from all over the world for some competition ... the ones staying in our hotel were very loud & drunk Russians who decided to sing...

Tea in flower ... spot the caterpillar

Ive seen so many tea plantations and never seen her beautiful flowers before

BIR 24th Feb - 2nd Mar

Bir is beautiful ... wide open skies .... photos seem better than words


An evening view across the valley to the himalayas. Every morning the peaks are covered in snow that recedes during the warmth of the day (relative warmth of course!)


I always have to take a photo (or 10) of the beautiful Chokling Monastery, seems to look good from any angle


Deer Park, where the teachings (Way of the Bodhisattva) are held. It must be morning cos the mountains have more snow


Our teacher, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. The statue reminds me how much things have changed ... lute( I am sure it has a lovely Indian name but lute is all I can think of) replaced by mobile phone


Sardines in Manjushri Hall (Deer Park) waiting for the can to open


An inspiration for vegetarianism. Thought it was a snake underneath but when I asked ... it was sausages!