On the Road Robert Hadley February 19, 2024 A journey to Vrindavan where Lord Krishna spent his childhood Prabhupada worshiped him under the Krishna Tree in NYC I then visit Rikhiapeeth for the centennial celebration of Swami Satyananda who suggested calling emptiness God then on to Rajgir where emptiness was explained All is empty, all depends on other, emptiness makes all possible… is it not the creator? On to Nalanda, the seat of Buddhist scholarship many attained enlightenment the fiercest scholars guarded Nalanda’s four gates And Bodhgaya, where not all trees are famous His Holiness has consecrated Khyongla Rinpoche’s stupa The larger one is in the Rato temple where monks sit for examination younger ones await their turn then play The monastery is under new rule the teak trees thrive as do the palms I visit the home of my friend Rashid then to Kendalgiri where children dance my banyan dances too I visit our monks’ rooms pay respects to the incarnation of our former abbot Chuwar Rinpoche my little student Leki Tsering studies hard and Kamla sweeps It’s lovely to be back Soon on to Delhi where it’s cold I visit barber tailor then off to Rome winter is crisp and oh so beautiful on to Göttingen with my friends Adam Hee Jin and Josh to meet Herr Steidl and absorb the wonders of his library then take the train and back to Rome to spend more time with father view ancient murals and enjoy the food
A Salute to the New Year Nicholas Vreeland December 31, 2023 From the Bodhi Tree in Bodhgaya we salute the New Year!
It’s been a while Nicholas Vreeland November 20, 2023 From Rome to Paris to see friends their creations and enjoy the beauty Then on to New Jersey where I settle in to Kunkhyab Thardo Ling - The Tibet Center, as per Rinpoche’s instruction Tony has maintained the Center with Darren’s help I venture into NYC to see my brother my step brother and his wife my fellow photographer and monk and Wade, our lawyer friend I’m happy to return to New Jersey to my new pall, Buddy to tend my garden and welcome Serkonk Tsenshab Rinpoche I visit Geshe Yeshi Lhundup and his student and spend a weeked by the sea where Nuno cooks Then fall arrives I must move on to share some time with my Papa He eats well works hard hangs out with palls & pallettes and puts up with my camera It’s been a pleasure now time to move on back to the holy land, Bharat Mata Arrivederci Roma
Italy Nicholas Vreeland July 20, 2023 Holiday in Tuscany some effort is exerted a swim a walk lunch an evening drink and a drive to Lucca for some fun and a visit to the anfiteatro Bruno has looked after us well we stop in Pisa then home to the dog little outings around the neighborhood with stops for holy coolth and home to rest then, saved by Salvator Mundi after a bump on the head much rest the fruit is ripe Sandra returns and exhibits her devotion