- Chuang Tzu, 4 th century Chinese philosopher

- Chuang Tzu, 4 th century Chinese philosopher

September 29 - October 13, 2017 Offered by the Louisiana Mississippi Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (LMHPCO)

Arrival September 30, 2017: 2 nights at Ashok Country Resort Capital city of India, population 25 million Seat of India's government Delhi Faces

Optional day trip from Delhi UNESCO World Heritage Site and voted one of the world's seven wonders, it's the most wellknown symbol of India's history 7 million visitors per year can't be wrong about how amazing this site is!

From the word dharma, a loose English translation of Dharamsala is 'spiritual dwelling' or, more loosely, 'sanctuary'. The center of the Tibetan exile world in India since the 1959 Tibetan uprising, when an influx of Tibetan refugees followed the 14th Dalai Lama to Dharamsala. Elevation is 4,780 October average temperature day 75ºF, night 55ºF, jacket for evenings Dharamsala gets an average of 3 days of rain fall each October. Population is 19,000 Accommodations at Ahimsa House for 6 nights.

2 nights at a mountain lodge in Gallu Scenic foothills of the Himalayan Mountains Optional 7 mile hike to Triund, which is 9,275 feet in elevation Rest and relaxation on the lodge veranda overlooking the majestic Himalayan Peaks Both options are truly meditative experiences!

Depart USA on Friday, September 29, 2017 Day 1 September 30: Evening arrival in Delhi Ashok Country Resort Day 2 October 1: Delhi, Day trip to Agra (Taj Mahal) Ashok Country Resort Day 3 October 2: Delhi, Overnight train from Delhi to Dharamsala Day 4 October 3: Dharamsala LHA Charitable Trust Guest House (Ahimsa House) Day 5 October 4: Dharamsala LHA Charitable Trust Guest House (Ahimsa House) Day 6 October 5: Dharamsala LHA Charitable Trust Guest House (Ahimsa House) Day 7 October 6: Dharamsala LHA Charitable Trust Guest House (Ahimsa House) Day 8 October 7: Bir Palyul Nyingmapa Monastery Guest House Day 9 October 8: Bir Palyul Nyingapa Monastery Guest House Day 10 October 9: Gallu Himalayan Mountain Lodge Day 11 October 10: Dharamsala, LHA Charitable Trust Guest House (Ahimsa House) Day 12 October 11:Dharamsala, Overnight Bus from Dharamsala to Delhi Day 13 October 12: Delhi, evening departure Ashok Country Resort Day 14 October 13: Arrive back in USA If anyone would like to arrive early or stay longer please note that accommodation and site seeing ventures can be arranged directly through Ashok Country Resort. Any extra days and excursions are not included in the cost of the group trip and are fully independent undertakings. Domestic flight options are available at an extra cost for those not interested in the overnight train or bus.

Day 1 - Evening Arrival Day 2 - Delhi: Optional day trip to the Taj Mahal or a Delhi Market Tour Day 3 - Delhi: Hindu Burning Ghats on the Yamuna River, Mother Theresa's home for the Dying & Destitute, Mashnu Katila (Delhi's Tibetan Refugee settlement) Day 4 - Dharamsala: The Dalai Lama's Temple and Gardens surrounding his home, the Tibet Museum Day 5 - Dharamsala: LHA's Social Service Center and Men Tsee Khan (Tibetan Medicine Institute) Day 6 - Dharamsala: Nursing home & Hospice for Tibetan Elders, Buddhist rituals with Tibetan monks Day 7 - Dharamsala: Tibetan Children's Village www.tcv.org.in Day 8 - Bir: Norbulinka Institute for the Preservation of Tibetan Arts, Palyul Nyingmapa Monastery Day 9 - Bir Tour of Palyul Nyingmapa Monastery, Walking Tour of the local Tea Plantations and small Indian farming villages, Tibetan Prayer Flag hanging ceremony. Day 10 - Gallu Mountain lodge overlooking the Majestic Himalayan Peaks Day 11 - Trekking in the Himalayas or a day rest and reflection Day 12 - Final day in Dharamsala for personal points of interest or shopping in the Tibetan Markets Day 13 - Rest and relaxation spa facilities at Ashok Country Resort in Delhi Day 14 - Arrive back in New Orleans *Please note, due to the nature of travel in India, the itinerary will remain somewhat flexible throughout the trip.

Milarepa Tibetan poet & saint

The purpose of this course is to provide a foundational understanding of the Tibetan System of Living and Dying. The core concepts of Tibetan Buddhism will be explored through readings, lectures, site visits, and discussions. The group will meet with a wide array of teachers and lay persons living this ancient tradition.

1. Meditation types and techniques within Tibetan Buddhism 2. The evolution of the Tibetan refugee situation 3. The three Jewels of Buddhism (Buddha, Dharma & Sangha) 4. Rebirth and reincarnation in the Tibetan tradition 5. Social Services in the Tibetan Refugee community 6. Developing and working with a compassionate mind 7. Buddhist Perspectives on the Joy of Living and Dying 8. The Four Nobel Truths and the Law of Karma 9. Mindfulness techniques for anxiety, depression, pain, self healing and self care

Ama Adhe: Tibetan Elder and author of The `Voice That Remembers`. She spent over 25 years of her life in a Chinese torture camp, only one of the three survivors from a group of over 300 women with whom she entered the camp. Her life s mission since that time has been to tell her story to aid in global awareness of the Tibetan situation. Samdhong Rinpoche: Previous prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, and close associate of 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso. In 1950, after the Chinese invasion of Tibet, he was forced to go into exile in India along with the Dalai Lama. From 1960 onwards Rinpoche worked as a teacher in Tibetan religious schools in India. He is regarded as one of the leading Tibetan scholars of Buddhism and is also an authority on the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. Geshe Lakdor Rinpoche: Translator and religious assistant to His Holiness the Dalai Lama since 1989. In this capacity he has accompanied His Holiness to many important conferences and forums throughout the world, and has translated numerous books by His Holiness from English to Tibetan and from Tibetan to English. He is now the Director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives and head of Science Education Project.

Each day the group will be introduced to different meditation techniques with the option to participate in a brief meditation session. The goal is to give participants the opportunity to learn a variety of meditation techniques applicable to working with different mental states (anxiety, stress, anger etc.)

This program offers a total of 10 CEUs for Social Work Professionals 10 CEUs are FREE for LMHPCO members 10 CEUs cost an additional $200 for non-members Continuing Education Credits for nurses and chaplains may also be available! Please contact LMHPCO if interested

LMHPCO is an educational corporation focused on improving hospice care and palliative services throughout Mississippi and Louisiana through quality professional education, research, public awareness, and advocacy. For more information and to learn about membership, visit LMHPCO.org

Jocelyn first took an undergraduate class taught by Neil over 10 years ago and has been involved with the Louisiana Himalaya Association ever since. She first volunteered in India in 2008, and later returned for a field placement as part of her master's degree from the Tulane School of Social Work. She recently co-taught a course at Tulane entitled "Buddhist Practices and Mindfulness in Social Work", and has spent the last few years researching the latest evidence-based practice related to Mindfulness, focusing on topics related to trauma, anxiety, and self-care for practitioners. She brings an important contemporary western perspective to this program. She is currently a social worker in New Orleans.

Founder and President, Louisiana Himalaya Association Neil is a founding member of the Louisiana Himalaya Association, established in 1997. He has lived and worked with the Tibetan community in northern India for six months each year since that time. Neil has now been the main guide for over 50 groups to India. Over the past 12 years his courses at Tulane University and these India groups have focused on Mindfulness, Meditation, Buddhist practices & Global Social Work with Tibetan Refugees. The host organization for this trip is LHA Charitable Trust in Dharamsala, India, where he serves as Advisor and Consultant.

Tsering is one of the 250 monks of Palyul Nyingmapa Monastery. He specializes in Sacred Lama Dance and Ritual Ceremonies. His main position for the monastery is overseeing the general health of the monks. Tsering has assisted Neil with international groups since 2002. He speaks fluent Tibetan, English, Hindi and Nepali. His happy demeanor paired with a vast knowledge of the cultures and traditions of the area make Tsering the perfect guide.

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche The Art of Happiness by HH Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler The Voice that Remembers by Ama Adhe How to Meditate by Kathleen McDonald Additional Handouts and suggested internet readings will be provided

The Buddha, 2010 PBS documentary Pawo, 2016 Tibetan-made film on self-immolation Free the Mind, 2012 Documentary about Richard Davidson's research on Mindfulness Kundun, 1997 Blockbuster movie about the Dalai Lama's escape to India Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion, 2002 Documentary drama on the Chinese occupation of Tibet What Remains of Us, 2004 Documentary on the resistance movement secretly filmed inside Tibet

1. Salary and or expenses for group manager/guides/translators & assistants 2. One group meal per day 3. All nights lodging while in India (Double Occupancy) In flight (1 night) Delhi (2 nights) - Ashok Country Resort Night Train (1 night) * Domestic Flight option Dharamsala (6 nights) - LHA Charitable Trust Guest House Ahimsa House Gallu (2 nights) - Himalayan Mountain Lodge no website Night Bus (1 night) * Domestic Flight option In Flight (1 night) 4. All Overland Transportation while in India Auto transport - provided with professional licensed drivers. The vehicles are Toyota or Chevy SUVs (referred to as Jeeps In India) each carries 5 passengers plus the driver. Local Taxis may be used for short distance transport. Bicycle or Auto Rickshaws may be used for moving around local areas 5. Donations to Guest Lecturers 6. Entrance fees to any museums or other attractions in the group schedule

Roundtrip airfare USA-Delhi (approx. $1000 $1500) There are a number of flights from the US to Delhi. Some are direct (about 16 hours) and others such as Jet Air have stopovers in Europe. Optional Domestic Flights - The group will be traveling by overnight train from Delhi to Dharamsala and back again. For those wanting a more direct route there are domestic flights available for approx. $150. (Note that this flight is not fully reliable. For flight cancelations, those chooseing this option would be responsible for the cost of hotels while waiting on the next flight or an overnight bus or a 12-hour auto transport.) India Visa ~ $90 (we have directions on how to apply) Travel Insurance ~ $100 *The only other foreseeable out of pocket expenses would be souvenir shopping and two meals per day. Meals in the areas we travel run about $5 a meal.

Flights: We will hold your spot on the tour as soon as we receive your deposit. But please do not purchase an airline ticket until you have received confirmation from us. At that time we will share more information on flights. Travel Insurance: It is required that we purchase independent travel insurance, which provides protection against trip cancelation/delay, lost or stolen luggage, and international medical emergencies. Vaccinations: Technically not required to enter the country, vaccinations are a matter of individual choice. Check with your doctor to get advice. Be up to date on your usual vaccines. You should do this sooner than later, as some vaccinations are a series, and you also want to give the vaccines time to "sink in." You should tell the consulting nurse or doctor that we are spending the majority of our time in the state of Himachal Pradesh which is in the foothills of the Himalayas, so some of the standard vaccines for India (like Malaria) are not as much of a concern for us. Follow the recommendations of your health care professional and make your decisions based on your own comfort level and prior vaccines.

The train and the bus rides are both approx. 12 hours On the train we will travel in 3AC class which means Air Conditioned and 6 beds per cabin - upper, middle and lower beds on each side. The trains are safe and the bedding is clean - an experience you don't want to miss! Auto transport will be waiting upon arrival for the two hour ride up into the Himalayas to our destination of Dharamsala. The bus is comparable to a Greyhound bus in the USA, maybe a little nicer. Made by the Volvo company. Domestic flights are available as another option at an additional cost of approx. $150 each way plus the extra hotel night stay.

Step one Apply to jocelyn.pinkerton@gmail.com and jboudreaux@lmhpco.org (a simple email, providing your contact info and your interest in being part of this adventure) - maximum group size is 12 don't delay! Step two Application will be reviewed and replied to within two weeks of submission Step three Upon notice of acceptance. Good faith deposit of $500 and signed liability waiver is due within two weeks. Step four Group Member will receive: India Visa application info Packing and general health info Conference calls with the rest of the group

Step five Individually apply for India Visa and purchase International Round Trip flight. Visit travel clinic for vaccines and medical recommendations. (contact group coordinator before booking flights) Step six Provide to Group Manager the balance due on the trip cost with a photocopy of Passport, India Visa, Flight Ticket and Travel Insurance. No later than July 31, 2017 Step seven - India! Maximum Group size is 12 - Applications available now * Please note that parts of this trip can be somewhat physically challenging. People may wish to opt out of the more strenuous offerings - such as the trek into the Himalayas. Other enjoyable options will be available.

We have a list of previous group participants from different cities around the US that would be happy to have a phone conversation about their India experience. Our on-site coordinator, Neil Guidry has organized over 50 India groups prior to this one and is looking forward to introducing us to the Tibetan community with whom he has lived and worked for the past 18 years. Know that this is not an ordinary tourist sightseeing group - this will be a very intimate experiential learning and sharing time integrated within a well-established community situation. Please check out www.lhainfo.org and www.lhasocialwork.org for more info about the programs and projects our group will be in contact within India. Direct any further questions to Jocelyn Pinkerton (jocelyn.pinkerton@gmail.com)

Hidden Passport Pouch for passport and $ Hand sanitizer small enough to carry around but large enough to share when it turns out you are the only person at the table who has it :) Flashlight (small bright LED preferred) Any prescription medications times two - one set in carry bag and one set in checked luggage Whatever medicine you might normally take for headaches, upset stomach, diarrhea allergies or constipation. Comfortable shoes for lots of walking Day pack to carry around Sunglasses and a hat Ear plugs and eye mask for lite sleepers Pack Lite - laundry service will be available every few days Whatever alcoholic beverage you favor can be picked up from Duty Free in Delhi *A more detailed list will be provided prior to departure.