Life Goes By Quickly!

My father fell ill

he was well cared for

well fed

and welcomed me warmly

Alexander cooked

as he entertained the girls

however he quickly got weaker

Victoria read to him

and Olivia stroked him

when pain was great he received medicine

then rested

and I went out to photograph

Malith and Dimu payed their respects

Sandra provided warmth

however the end approached

by morning he had left

the doctor made his pronouncement

Jose helped dress him

and then the undertakers came

to take his body away

How quickly life goes by!

Life Proceeds at Rato Dratsang

Fall in New Jersey

and at The Tibet Center - Kunkhyab Thardo Ling

Then on to India

where people enjoy the sun’s warmth

I visit Nizamuddin

have lunch

and meet Mayank Soofi, The Delhi Walla

On to the South where Norbu Tsering awaits

along with Lobsang Tenzin

Suresh makes tea

old friends come by

the new abbot says hello

Administrators are hard at work

Gen Ngawang Tashi is constructing a new building

it began as a room for the temple keeper

electricity has been provided

workers are busy

toiling the old way

Drakpa Gyaltsen cleans up

the young monks help

enthusiastically!

they are Rato’s future

they study hard

learn to read

write

and memorize

We celebrate the anniversary of Jé Tsongkhapa

Founder of the Geluk Order

Monks exit chanting his mantra

and circumambulate the temple

Life proceeds at Rato Dratsang

A stop in Rome

I visit my father

He lives near Garibaldi

protected by soldiers

a general

It’s a sedentary part of town

easy to navigate

we read

and eat!

Sandra writes her book

Alexander visits

we walk

a carbonara at Checco's

followed by a rest

and then good bye

to return to New Jersey for Halloween

Taiwan

In Xiushui the scent of lilies fills the air

in Xiushui life moves steadily

you take your shoes off outside

and people are respectful

I visit Lukang’s temple

people are happy there

happiness is the point, is it not?

and Lukang has charm

On to a mountain retreat

warmly welcomed

and then it’s over

On to Taipei

the Grand Hotel looms over all

as does 101, once the tallest building in the world

photographers take aim

I visit the Wu sisters, Saraha runs the gallery

showing contemporary Buddhist art works

her sister Ruby prepares Matcha

drunk with two hands to steady concentration and appreciation

and Hsiao Ro arranges flowers

the Wu sisters work hard

to bring beauty and spirit to their isle