Dealing with the Heat

Fountains evaporate

Fountains evaporate

peacocks preen to the setting sun

peacocks preen to the setting sun

some enjoy midday

some enjoy midday

delighting in a splash

delighting in a splash

or tumble

or tumble

some cool their insides

some cool their insides

others just are cool

others just are cool

there are those who insulate

there are those who insulate

and those who bask in the glory of life

and those who bask in the glory of life

Recording is important!

Recording is important!

self reliance a plus

self reliance a plus

though it can get confusing

though it can get confusing

we see a pro at work

we see a pro at work

My fellow tauruses take to roaming streets

My fellow tauruses take to roaming streets

as I do

as I do

Some have learned to loaf

Some have learned to loaf

and some to smile.·Stay cool my friends!

and some to smile.
·
Stay cool my friends!

Awaiting permission to be

Hello from under the elephant of bureaucracy

Hello from under the elephant of bureaucracy

The gates are guarded

The gates are guarded

within, we are well shaven

within, we are well shaven

well fed

well fed

free to stroll

free to stroll

or sit

or sit

or lay back and enjoy

or lay back and enjoy

Shankar, my dear godfather who’s 90th birthday I’ve come to Delhi to celebrate, leafs through life…

Shankar, my dear godfather who’s 90th birthday I’ve come to Delhi to celebrate, leafs through life…

past

past

and present,

and present,

delighting in celebration

delighting in celebration

I keep busy, discussing secular ethics with the pros

I keep busy, discussing secular ethics with the pros

and enjoy a well guarded coffee

and enjoy a well guarded coffee

or equally delicious chai

or equally delicious chai

and try to keep fit

and try to keep fit

competition is fierce

competition is fierce

It’s important to have friends

It’s important to have friends

and perform the required pujas

and perform the required pujas

in order to survive life's ordeals

in order to survive life's ordeals

and navigate its crossroads

and navigate its crossroads

A Southeast Asian Adventure

As the young Rato monks celebrated Tibetan New Year watching Hindi films

As the young Rato monks celebrated Tibetan New Year watching Hindi films

Rinpoche and I left the monastery

Rinpoche and I left the monastery

for Hong Kong

for Hong Kong

where we visited the Big Buddha

where we visited the Big Buddha

and the magnificent Guanyin, Buddha of Compassion

and the magnificent Guanyin, Buddha of Compassion

whom Rinpoche prayed before

whom Rinpoche prayed before

and who bestowed her blessings

and who bestowed her blessings

Then to Indonesia

Then to Indonesia

with its dancing girls

with its dancing girls

However we had come to find the place where Atisha traveled from Bengal to study with the renowned Sumatran master Dharmakirti

However we had come to find the place where Atisha traveled from Bengal to study with the renowned Sumatran master Dharmakirti

We looked for the place they met 1000 years ago

We looked for the place they met 1000 years ago

found hints of it

found hints of it

a grand gateway to the monastic complex where aspirants were questioned by sharp minded gate keepers, à la Nalanda

a grand gateway to the monastic complex where aspirants were questioned by sharp minded gate keepers, à la Nalanda

Rinpoche prayed as we searched

Rinpoche prayed as we searched

And then on to Borobudur

And then on to Borobudur

and its famous noodle soup

and its famous noodle soup

Finally, with the help of Adele, who wheeled Rinpoche through Jakarta Airport, we said goodbye

Finally, with the help of Adele, who wheeled Rinpoche through Jakarta Airport, we said goodbye

Life is a carousel

Life can be a carousel

Life can be a carousel

with ups and downs and turn arounds

with ups and downs and turn arounds

It’s important to aim high

It’s important to aim high

Some have better chances

Some have better chances

some more challenges

some more challenges

If we serve others

If we serve others

keep our eye on the road

keep our eye on the road

stay close to what’s important

stay close to what’s important

true to our friends

true to our friends

friends of virtue

friends of virtue

close friends

close friends

with faith

with faith

effort

effort

steadiness

steadiness

perseverance

perseverance

over a long long time...

over a long long time...

we can achieve enlightenment!

we can achieve enlightenment!

and thereby help others along their paths

and thereby help others along their paths

to awakening

to awakening

So don’t waste a moment!

So don’t waste a moment!