Monday tea

Monday started off with a bang in Mind and Its World. Yes it is called MIND and ITS WORLD. Scary business. Not The Mind of the World but Mind and Its World. Basically Buddhist Philosophy. So on the test I couldn't for the life of me think of the proper wording for the 4 seals of Dharma. Well now I know so let me enlighten you:

All conditioned phenomena are impermanent.
All contaminated phenomena are suffering.
All phenomena are empty and selfless(ness).
Nirvana is Peace.

There you have it. Buddhism in a nutshell and I couldn't think of it this morning. I don't think I will ever forget this now. My professor is hilarious. He is Nepalese. Completely compassionate and very clear. He demands attention with his wit and superb mind. Someone in the class today had no idea what the answer was to one question, and he said, "Is it in the book? Look it up." So funny. Basically we are learning definitions with classificaitons upon definitions upon those classifications. I feel like we are taking apart Russian dolls only to find another Russian doll, and then another Russian doll. Until you end up with just the 8 particles. I feel like i'm in advanced kindergarden relearning the definition of an object and thing.
"The definition of an object is that which can be known."
The equivalents of object is knowable object, existant, established base, object of comprehension and phenomenon.
The classification of object are thing and nonthing.
"The definition of a thing is that which is able to perform a function."

Are you bored yet? I actually find this stuff incredible. We break down everything! The string theory and Buddhist theory go side by side. Breaking something down to the bare particles. Eight of them actually.
Crazy. So after a mind blowing class of objects, things, matter, consciousness, non associated formation, phenomenon, etc. I sat outside and enjoyed the Colorado sun. Did I mention that it is beautiful here every day! So amazing. I then went with a friend to the Tea house from Tajikistan. They actually brought the materials from this country to be built in Boulder. It was a gift. Awesome tea and convo.
Now I am soaking in as much Tibetan as possible. It is starting to get hard. Vocab Vocab Vocab. My mouth is not used to making certain sounds. So many homonymes!

About to go hit the hay. Feeling good about life.

Tibetan word for the day:་ཇ་(tea)