Tsum Valley – NEPAL
Tsum Valley
This visit was intended to follow up on last year’s visit, when we fitted 26 hearing aids and 4 Maxi ALD’s.
It is the most peaceful and spiritual valley, exquisite mountain scenery, adorned with waterfalls and so many dancing flowers, showing off their unblemished form in gentle sunlight. Dreamtime!
Tsum
Sue, Lew, Keshab and Dhargye, a new member of our team from Kopan Monastery Medicine Buddha Clinic, were spell bound during the 40 minute helicopter “adventure” through the mountains, landing next to Rachen Nunnery, upper Tsum Valley, at 8:30 am.
Welcome to Rachen Nunnery
Warmly greeted by Nunnery Manager Tenzin Lhondup, teachers and nuns, we settled in our rooms and then began setting up the clinic. First the power supplies through surge and voltage regulators, then the work stations. And lined up already were 15 people who had walked for 2 days from Philim / Sirdibas region.
Nifty Knitting from NAFA reaches Nepal
The lucky recipients
Jumpers from the Nifty Knitters of NAFA were distributed – 36 jumpers and 90 nuns, so it became a bit of a lottery. Next year we aim to have a hat for everyone.
Keshab, our local expert ear technician from NAHOH, our associated Kirtipur Clinic in Kathmandu set up his Primary ear care section, video otoscope, ENT style wax removal and ear syringe equipment, and a suitcase full of lotions and potions for ear health management.
Play Audiometry – Dhargye & Sue
Sue checking ears
Dhargye was being trained to use the screening audiometer, referring to Sue our senior audiologist, ear asymmetries and losses requiring consideration for hearing aid / ALD fitting.
On Sue’s advice, Lew fitted appropriately.
This gentleman walked for 2 1/2 days to see us.
The following day we also began fitting custom moulds made in Australia and reviewing aid settings of last year’s clients.
This gentleman walked for 2 days to see us – now we can see his happiness.
The joy of communication is visible on everyone’s faces.
The joy of communication is visible on everyone’s faces.
A similar pattern on the third day, when we were joined by Jade and Tashi who had requested to walk up to Tsum, as we had done last year.
And then just a few each day until we left 4 days later. Sue, Dhargye and I grabbed the opportunity (Jade was on standby if required by Keshab) to climb the hill sides to spiritual wonderland, retreat caves of great Buddhist teachers (Milarepa, Lama Khonchog etc). We had a “tea party” at Lama Khonchog’s retreat.
Our “Tea Party””
Dhargye described it as adventure, probably referring to the thundering landslide, turning an effervescent waterfall into a churning dark brown mud slide, darkening the river below. For half an hour it roared, from somewhere above the clouds, dumping trees and tonnes of mud into the torrent below.
Or, perhaps he was referring to the final river crossing, at the Nunnery’s doorstep! Sue and I watched as our young nun guide skipped across the slippery boulders scattered in the raging torrent. Think I am exaggerating, just check out the photos. The young enthusiast told Sue to be strong, and she could do likewise. We chose to hold our position and await a better solution.
How to cross a river the Nepali way
It came, in the form of a timber beam 6 inches across, which they precariously position onto a pointed rock. It wobbled. Again we remained steadfast. New position, nuns guiding hands each end, and so we stepped gingerly across. And then to be shown the casual approach by a spritely 60 year old nun who sauntered across.
Our party was happy to “hold the fort” while Keshab and co went by horse for a two day ride up to the holy lake.
Home time and no communication with Kathmandu as insufficient sunlight to power the solar phone left us guessing as to if and when the helicopter may arrive. Not to worry, the helicopter was previously booked, and all it had to do was find us in the narrow valley through peep holes in the cloud base. Why not burn some sampa as an offering to clear the clouds? The helicopter dropped through the hole in the clouds, as sought.
We convinced the pilot that we would all fit (now 7 persons plus a young baby). He grumbled about previously agreeing to 6 persons no luggage, and then agreed that if we could take off with 8 plus luggage, we would most likely be OK, as it was down hill all the way! He was right, as we descended, weaving between the clouds and dodging mountains.
Next year we are going to walk down (5 days), the reason being that we will run a two day “ear camp” half way down! There is a school that is attended by teachers and students alike, and we will be able to follow up new fittings made this year with their custom moulds. We shall also track those who were unable (unwilling?) to make the two day trip up to the Nunnery. We will in general only fit hearing aids at the nunnery, as they are issued free of charge, and it sorts out those who are really keen to use them, if they have to make some effort to get them. We do charge for replacement batteries, price to be negotiated, based on that which they can afford.
The most beneficial advancement this year was the training of the local Tibetan Doctor, Ani Dolka, by Keshab, in primary ear care. We also left the western medicines for use by the Doctor when dispensing health care to the locals, visiting the Rachen Nunnery clinic.
Seventeen new fittings, including 3 Maxi Alternate Listening Devices, and seventeen previous fittings (last year was our first year) were entered in the local log book. Leaving the area or dying, accounted for three of last year’s fittings, and the remaining eight we will pursue next year. It is all very new, but the results are heart warming.
21yr old Angmen Lama and Rachel bear
This year’s tear jerkers included a young man who said they “hate” him in the village because he could not hear correctly, a school boy who will hear better in class and a twenty one year old young lady who can now seek normality in her daily life.
We dedicate our efforts to the increased happiness of those on our path.
Sera Jey Monastery – SOUTH INDIA
Kopan House. Ven. Ngawang Sangye sits with the little monks at lunch time.
Balmy South India has a Buddhist monastery and nunnery complex, numbering near six thousand disciples of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. World peace and harmony, based on looking inward through study and compassion for all, motivates the twenty plus years of study and practice before graduation as a teacher (Geshe). Sangye and I decided we would go down and see if we can assist the process with an ear care and rehabilitation offering.
The husband of Sera Mey worker can now hear his wife speaking from behind him.
We were warmly received, and although a pilot program, we were able to benefit a cross section of participants with 23 fittings of ALD’s and hearing aids. Beneficiaries included an ex Abbot, Geshes, students of all ages, a cook, a vegetable gardener, a gentleman from the Tibetan refugee settlement and the husband of a worker in the Sera Mey Carpet factory, which provides employment for Tibetan refugees.
Next year we have been invited to return, with our primary ear clinic team from NAHOH, Nepal, and Senior Audiologist Sue. We shall check 1000 little monk’s ears, plus children and adults from the surrounding Tibetan refugee settlement. It shall involve training the local health workers in primary ear care and education. At least 50 more hearing aids and ALD’s are required, and our faith in our supporters is such that we are optimistic that this is achievable.
Thubten Phende receives his aids, with the aid of Black Bear
Thubten Phende, 30 yo, was fitted with a Bernafon Extreme 121 behind the ear hearing aid. Life changing!
Special thanks to:
Ven. Sangye Tenzin – Kopan Medicine Buddha Clinic (Nepal) and Ven Ngawang Sangye (Sera Jey Monastery – South India) for all your efforts to make it happen.
Jennifer Dowling, Victoria, Australia– hearing aids donation
The team at Bernafon Australia, Brisbane–without whose continuous donation of time and resources, we could not have benefitted so many.
Doug and Bozzy at GN Otometrics, Sydney, Australia– keeping our equipment going
The team at Word of Mouth, Melbourne for their ongoing support of our ALD program
Sue, Senior Audiologist and understanding wife, and Bronte, Whitsunday Hearing manager, who care.
We dedicate our efforts to the benefit of all others. May our teachers have long lives with no obstacles to their transmissions, may the student’s motivation and effort be pure and concentrated.