Mothers knit
fathers watch their cows
while children play
They toss
and run
and everyone wins
The goats?
they dance
they climb
they leap
they prance
and always land
in the field of enchantment
An afternoon in the mountains
Journey to Himachal Pradesh
Head Constable Kumar checked my Covid test result as I entered Himachal Pradesh
My car was let through the checkpoint
and up into the mountains we drove
to meet Khyongla Rinpoche
being cared for by Norbu Tsering
Mya
Ananda
Simon
and Sapna who keeps everything clean
Rinpoche enjoys adventures
quiet spots
the wild
mountain tops
a spot where he can look out far
at other mountain tops
see goat keepers
and shepherds returning home
where their wives await them
Our elegant mountaintop tea maker…
and home
where we are blessed with a view of His Holiness’s residence
Norbu Tsering goes to work on dinner
and Rinpoche resumes his prayers
The Rainy Season
We prepare for the rainy season
trimming
weeding
and moving pebbles around
The clouds arrive
as does the wind
and then the rain
the atmosphere has changed
administrators work on
the cashier tends his cash box
new disciplinarian assumes his duties
this year’s Geshe prepares to enter the Tantric College
He has some years to go
and Gen Tashi Dorje needs a signature
all wear face masks!
which arrive by DHL
The head of our education department sets a date for exams
monks work on memorization
the test approaches
a quick review
and into the temple
presided over by the Buddha and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s throne
Where to begin?
recitation proceeds
watched over by the Geko and Goddess Tara
We try to social distance
novices wait their turn
peek at what they must recite
a squirt of sanitizer
and then the recitation
Soon it’s over
back to the room
past empty fountain
no more need to recite!
we can enjoy the rains