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Tag: Omalaya

What does peace mean to you? by Jeanette

19 December 2017

On the 16th December, 1989- His Holiness the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel peace prize. It was a momentous occasion and one which brought hope to so many people including the Tibetan community in exile. It’s been 28 years since His Holiness stood up on the podium in Stockholm to receive this award and to express his hopes to the world for a better future. Let’s take this opportunity to remind ourselves of the message that not just he, but also many of the great leaders of the world wished to convey to us all in these times of turmoil and uncertainty.  

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Letter to my Ego by Stéphanie

19 December 2017

When words became too heavy to be spoken, writing them down can be a solution to free yourself from their energies. It can be a good way to clear the mind, to calm down the flooding gibberish thoughts looping in your head. This is a natural and instinctive human need. As we all seeking happiness and mental calmness we should all try to write. Whatever way you will do it, keep in mind the main point is to let ink flood to release the pain, write words to cure sores. Dear Ego, Today I am two Tomorrow, I hope to be only one. One year ago, I finally identified you as I traveled into the heart of sacred Indian traditions. Acknowledging your existence was the starting point. Shutting you down is my final target Let’s start at the beginning and define you: you are a mistaken conception of “myself”, you are the untrue belief that “I” can be self existing by itself out of any connection with the whole. Some say that you stay an essential part of our survival instinct, a keeper of dignity and respect. The more I know you, the more this vision seems untrue for me as dignity, respect, and instinct are vast notions only defined by you. Essentially you are, this part is very true but I don’t think that’s the reason why… Today I am two Tomorrow, I hope to be only one. “Be one” is to reunite in the same energy of life who I am and who I perceive as “myself”. “Become me” is a much longer quest than expected, a more difficult fight where the final issue has to be you bending in front of my real identity. And if, along this path of life, destination is only a pretext in which to keep going; reaching it stands as an essential part of my inner blossoming puzzle. I won’t give up, Ego, one day I’ll get you! Dear, dearest Ego, I don’t wish your total disappearance I just want to be able to define your true shape, your real field of existence. I just want to recognize your real influence upon my decisions, my opinions and my actions, feel it is the key not to let you manipulate me like a doll enslaved by preformatted mental limits. I’m working on successfully using you as a tool dedicated to my personal blossoming […]

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Kalachakra initiation 2017 to be held in Bodh Gaya by Tashi

Bodhgaya

07 January 2016

Omalaya Travel is happy to offer its customized Kalachakra tours to India to the devotees wishing to attend the precious Kalachakra 2017 Empowerment teaching. Omalaya-designed spiritual journeys are rooted in individual’s quest for self discovery and we incorporate the same outlook in designing the Kalachakra 2017 tour package. Omalaya Travel operated a successful Kalachakra tour to Ladakh in 2014. Omalaya-led devotees can receive Kalachakra initiation, teaching & empowerment under the expert guidance of tour’s spiritual guides like Geshe Tsering with Dr Chok and Geshe Lobsang with Tulku Phuljung. His Holiness the Dalai Lama would preside  the Kalachakra 2017 initiation to be held in Bodh Gaya, India from  3rd to 14th January  2017. This will be the 34th such initiation given by the Dalai Lama and the fifth time in Bodh Gaya. He has previously given Kalachakra initiations in Bodh Gaya in 1974, 1985, 2003 and 2012. What is Kalachakra? Kalachakra is a concept that is strongly associated with the Vajrayana sect of Buddhism. The term is derived from two words Kāla which means time and Chakra which means wheel. According to this concept, the events of the universe occur in a cyclical pattern. According to this religion, time is perceived as a symbol of change. For instance, a year is a measurement of change involved in the Earth revolving around the Sun. These changes are cyclical in nature although they might not replicate in the exact same manner each time. What is Kalachakra initiation? Kalachakra initiation is a process that empowers Buddhist pupils to practice the Kalachakra Laghutantra (also known as Kalachakra Tantra) in order to attain Buddhahood. The Kalachakra Laghutantra is a treatise that contains Buddhist philosophies, commentaries and meditation practices. The empowerment ritual is performed over a period of three days after the completion of the preliminary preparatory steps. During these three days of the actual empowerment, the disciples take part in various Buddhist rituals in order to obtain Kalachakra empowerment. The experience is divine and unforgettable even for a casual observer and is one that would stay in our memories even long after its end. Omalaya brings you a unique opportunity to witness the 34th Kalachakra initiation. For more information, please click here. You can also watch the video below to know more about Kalachakra 2017.

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Kalachakra 2017 initiation: 10 tips for pilgrims traveling to Bodh Gaya. by Tashi

Tips for Kalachakra 2017

09 December 2015

Where will the Kalachakra 2017 takes place?  The 34th Kalachakra 2017 initiation  will be held in Bodh Gaya, the holy Indian town where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.  This is the fifth Kalachakra initiation to be held in Bodh Gaya. His Holiness the Dalai Lama would preside over the proceedings. The dates will be from  3rd to 14th January 2017 Thousands of devotees from all around the world are expected to congregate at this town during those 12 days. Nearly 300,000 visitors attend the previous Kalachakra initiation held in Ladakh in 2014. The experience would most certainly be overwhelming for a first-timer, especially for an outsider who is unfamiliar with the hustle and bustle of India. Here are a list of things to know to get yourself well-equipped to attend the ceremony: How do I get a visa? In its efforts to boost tourism, the Government of India introduced the e-tourist visa scheme for foreign nationals who visit the country for a short duration. Interested individuals can apply for a visa online and have to carry a printout of the e-Tourist visa at the time of travel. For detailed information about Indian e-Tourist visa, please click here. Do I have to register for Kalachakra 2017? Yes. Pilgrims are required to register for Kalachakra 2017. Foreign nationals, Tibetans and Indians are required to submit photocopies of their passports or identity cards to obtain a pass for the Kalachakra teaching. Interested individuals are requested to visit the official Kalachakra page when it come online regularly for more information about the procedure. You may also register through your travel agent or Dharma center. Do I have to pay for registration for Kalachakra 2017? There is no registration fee for Kalachakra teaching and the teachings are open to everyone. How is the weather like? The weather in January in Bodh Gaya is pleasant with average temperatures ranging from 18 – 22 degree Celsius. The nights might get a bit cold with temperatures dipping below 10 degrees once in a while. The monsoon season lasts from June to September and one doesn’t have to worry about rains during January. In fact, January is one of the best month to visit Bodh Gaya. What are my stay options? Thanks to the regular influx of tourists from all corners of the world every year, Bodh Gaya has very good accommodation facilities. Ranging from two star to five star, a variety of hotels that suit the budgets and requirements […]

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Omalaya to organize a Kalachakra 2017 journey by Stéphanie

27 November 2015

Omalaya is organizing a unique journey for the Kalachakra 2017 festival. It is the 34th time that the Dalai Lama is giving the initiation. Omalaya, experts in the field of spiritual travel, bring to you a wonderful opportunity to participate in the ceremony. The Guide – Hermit Tsephel Gelong Tsephel is monk,Yogi and Hermit.He will share his knowledge of meditation and the experiences of Buddha’s own realization with the pilgrims. Tsepel would talk not just about the Kalachakra 2017 Bodhgaya​ Teaching and empowerment but also give tips on how to lead a happier life, how to engage the world we live in more compassionate ways and how to explore our inner self to find more peace. The experience – Unique If  you wish attend the teachings and empowerment rituals of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we invite you to join us inwhat will be a journey of a life-time. This tour would be ideal for you if you are a spiritual wannabe, a keen Buddhist, an avid tourist or just an observer of the biggest gathering of the Tibetan Vajrayana sect of Buddhism. The site – Bodh Gaya It is said that the Buddha attained enlightenment on the sacred ground of Vajrassna beneath the sacred Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya. It is here that the Buddha became one with  Mother earth’s universal and infinite energy. Since then, Bodh Gaya has been the centre of Buddhist universe and most important site of  Buddhist pilgrimage. Kalachakra 2017 will take place for the fifth time in Bodh Gaya to celebrate life, peace and the 80th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Here is a list of things you must know if you are travelling to Bodh Gaya to attend Kalachakra 2017. For detailed information about our Kalachakra 2017 journey, please click here. For more information about the other journeys we organize, please click here.

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An interview with Tashi Gyalpo, the founder of Omalaya for Radio Free Asia by Stéphanie

Sikyong award

10 September 2015

‘If You Make a Good Business Plan You Will Always Be Successful’ On September 2nd this year ‒ Tibetan Democracy Day ‒ Gyalpo Tashi, the founder of Omalaya (formerly Tendrel Travel), was presented with an entrepreneurship award by the Central Tibetan Administration. Here, in an edited version of an interview with Radio Free Asia, Tashi explains his company’s origins and his plans for the future. http://www.rfa.org/tibetan/exile/interview-with-owner-of-tendrel-travel-09292015142116.html#.VgrYdpW9 Radio Free Asia: Tashi Delek to all listeners of Radio Free Asia. I’m Tsewang Ngodup. My guest today is Mr Gyalpo Tashi, who was born in Jangthang, Ladakh. He attended Upper TCV School in Dharamsala and is an alumnus of the University of Delhi. Tashi is among the first businessmen to establish a Tibetan company ‒ Omalaya ‒ in Ladakh, along with a Ladakhi partner. This year, on Tibetan Democracy Day, four outstanding Tibetan entrepreneurs were awarded seed money by the Tibetan Entrepreneurship Development Programme of the Central Tibetan Administration’s (CTA’s) finance department. Tashi was amongst the winners and was presented with Rs 400,000 by the CTA’s political leader, Dr Lobsang Sangay. The award was made possible through the support of the Dalai Lama Foundation, Montreal, Canada. Tashi, please explain to us how you came up with the idea for your travel company. GyalpoTashi:  I once visited France and met some French people who, upon learning that I was from Ladakh and had worked as a guide and interpreter of Buddhism, said they wanted to visit the country. They asked me to arrange a tour and this is how the company was started. In 2010, I ran a tour programme for three groups and in 2014 we hosted 25 groups. 2014 was special, because we arranged for the groups to meet a shaman, join Introduction to Buddhism sessions, as well as touring in and around Leh. RFA: Omalaya is based in Dharamsala and receives groups from around the world, especially France. Besides Ladakh, do you visit other sites in north India? GT:  Our main programmes are in Ladakh, as the landscape, culture and pilgrimage sites are very similar to those of Tibet, which is more difficult to visit. We also run tours from Dharamsala to Bodhgaya and Nepal. Next year, we also plan to take a group to Bhutan.   RFA: You’ve said you were proud to win the award ‒ to be encouraged to develop your business so that you can give more […]

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