The journey continues

Permission to photograph!!!

Permission to photograph!!!

in the Mahabodhi Temple

in the Mahabodhi Temple

the image of the Buddha, created, it is said, by a celestial artist during the life of Gautama Buddha

the image of the Buddha, created, it is said, by a celestial artist during the life of Gautama Buddha

at the place where he sat beneath the Bodhi Tree and attained enlightenment

at the place where he sat beneath the Bodhi Tree and attained enlightenment

Rinpoche reads the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment

Rinpoche reads the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment

then visits the place where the Buddha spent six years

then visits the place where the Buddha spent six years

leading a life of austerity

leading a life of austerity

A young girl offered him boiled milk and rice

A young girl offered him boiled milk and rice

We need to be healthy to practice, help others...

We need to be healthy to practice, help others...

and proceed along the middle path,

and proceed along the middle path,

accepting life's challenges

accepting life's challenges

The Buddha traveled to Rajgir

The Buddha traveled to Rajgir

up to Vultures’ Peak, where he taught the Wisdom Sutras

up to Vultures’ Peak, where he taught the Wisdom Sutras

on the lack of an inherently existent self

on the lack of an inherently existent self

Form is empty, emptiness is form; form is none other than emptiness, emptiness is non other than form...

Form is empty, emptiness is form; form is none other than emptiness, emptiness is non other than form...

And on to Vaishali

And on to Vaishali

Korean Buddhists chant and bow

Korean Buddhists chant and bow

before the Buddha’s ashes

before the Buddha’s ashes

and the stupa where relics are protected by Ashoka’s lion pillar

and the stupa where relics are protected by Ashoka’s lion pillar

Then to Hampi to meet old friends...

Then to Hampi to meet old friends...

well pampered

well pampered

It is the 14th century capital of the Vijayanagar Empire

It is the 14th century capital of the Vijayanagar Empire

A natural spot for a picture

A natural spot for a picture

a family portrait

a family portrait

with holy elephant

with holy elephant

holy cow

holy cow

holy bull

holy bull

holy monkey

holy monkey

holy self, the source of all our troubles!!!

holy self, the source of all our troubles!!!

And so, we follow our Master along the path to enlightenment

And so, we follow our Master along the path to enlightenment

Happy New Year from Bodhgaya

Bodhgaya

Bodhgaya

full of hidden corners

full of hidden corners

little stupas under little bodhi trees

little stupas under little bodhi trees

The Mahabodhi Temple

The Mahabodhi Temple

pilgrims

pilgrims

below the Bodhi Tree

below the Bodhi Tree

offerings before the engraved mantra of compassion, Om Mani Padme Hum

offerings before the engraved mantra of compassion, Om Mani Padme Hum

And Goddess Tara, who skillfully implements compassion

And Goddess Tara, who skillfully implements compassion

Some circumambulate the temple, others prostrate before it

Some circumambulate the temple, others prostrate before it

All seek the blessing of the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment

All seek the blessing of the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment

But many are in need of sympathy...

But many are in need of sympathy...

Is anyone taking any notice???

Is anyone taking any notice???

Happy Diwali!

Today the light of wisdom shines

Today the light of wisdom shines

bringing a glow to life

bringing a glow to life

a crispness to the atmosphere

a crispness to the atmosphere

I’ve come from the south

I’ve come from the south

where the monsoon was abundant

where the monsoon was abundant

Stopped in Delhi to visit our Gelukpa accountant

Stopped in Delhi to visit our Gelukpa accountant

and received a tutorial on malaria

and received a tutorial on malaria

life is relaxed in Delhi

life is relaxed in Delhi

Then on to Amritsar

Then on to Amritsar

to feed the pigeons

to feed the pigeons

Punjab is an elegant place

Punjab is an elegant place

with old grandeur

with old grandeur

poetry

poetry

romance

romance

a twinkle

a twinkle

and fun

and fun

Then to Dharamsala

Then to Dharamsala

my office

my office

our kitchen

our kitchen

the path around His Holiness’s residence

the path around His Holiness’s residence

Om Mani Padme Hum

Om Mani Padme Hum

or simply ni

or simply ni

Not everyone circumambulates

Not everyone circumambulates

some watch

some watch

and many struggle

and many struggle

I am invited to Ludhiana

I am invited to Ludhiana

to celebrate the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak’s birth

to celebrate the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak’s birth

a grand affair

a grand affair

with various faiths participating

with various faiths participating

I felt at home

I felt at home

then time for a trim

then time for a trim

as I’m back in McLeod Ganj

as I’m back in McLeod Ganj