The term, karma yoga, implies a realization of the essence of Life by the service to life. Karma yoga is most often defined as selfless service. Great karma yogis include Mother Teresa, Gandhi, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Ammaji; those who give tirelessly for the benefit of others. At the lay level, those persons who take up the role of parenting and stirve to do it well are, in my opinion, karma yogis!
In August our Teacher Trainees participated in a work day at Drikung Kyobpa Choling, a Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Center in Escondido. The director of the center, Drupon Samten Rinpoche, is indeed a karma yogi. With his assistant, Ani Chodron, he has planned and built a beautiful temple almost single handedly. They are currently expanding the Center to accommodate more functions and to serve the increasing Southern California population of Tibetan Buddhist practitioners.
On this hot August day we donned our work clothes, hats, and gloves to help organize and create space for the ongoing construction at Drikung Choling. Sweaty and dirty, yes, but so lovely to experience what community energy can accomplish! And as you see by the photos, we had fun as well!
Anne Nowell 