This is the way to the Jewel Heart Center. Beautiful horses across the way and white fluffy clouds in the sky.

Dharma brothers: David from Boston and Derek from Singapore.

Rimpoche likes to squeeze our cheeks and lips and sometimes we do it to him, too -- this is my friend, Carla.

Dharma sisters: Sarah from Cleveland and Fran from Connecticut.

Getting ready to start the morning chants.

The summer retreat includes fun events in the evening such as Bollywood night!

On the right is our Bollywood dance teacher who taught us a fun dance and got us all laughing and sweating! On the left is my dharma sister, Colleen, who is also one of our awesome umzes/chant leaders.

After Bollywood dancing, came an amazing vegetarian Indian dinner made by our own dharma sister, Joan, who used to be the chef at the Oberoi in Delhi. She and her helpers cooked for four days to make this delicious meal -- the best Indian food I've ever tasted! Thank you! Then we watched a Bollywood movie and did the dance we learned. Fun, fun, fun.

Rimpoche and Derek at an Italian dinner the next night.

Beautiful dharma sister, Naomi, from the Netherlands. She has been studying with Rimpoche since she was 18, what good fortune.

Rimpoche and me making funny bird faces to each other. He loves to be playful!

Even though this picture is out of focus, I love it. I am soooo fortunate to have met Rimpoche and to get to study with him. He has been the most important influence and I am forever grateful to him.