Wish I Were There

Today, September 10 (well, yesterday in Mongolia, but anyway), is the day for the Annual Prayer Festival at the sacred Shambhala site of Khamar Monastery in the East Gobi. It’s there, I’m here, and would have been there. They chose September 10 for a very poignant reason – that was the day in 1938 when the Red Army arrived and began ruthlessly demolishing the monastery. Now it’s a day to celebrate spiritual renewal. I've written about previous celebrations in 2007 when we offered the whole collection of Nyingma scriptures (here and here) and in 2006 when thousands celebrated the completion of the 108 stupas of Shambhala (here and here). I’m so sorry to miss 2008, and miss bringing it to all of you. My best wishes from afar are with all my friends there, including the camels.

But. While the Buddha’s first observation was the truth that life is pervaded by suffering, he didn’t mean unremittingly so (though there are days, aren’t there?).

For instance, this is funny.

And so is this.

And this is really, really interesting, especially since today also happens to be the 10th day of the lunar cycle, traditionally sacred to the Nyingma lineage's progenitor, Padmasambhava.

OK, the Mongolian Embassy’s Consul General and the president of the Mongolian Cultural Center are arriving momentarily to interview me for some publication or other so I gotta scoot, fix some snax, and brush my hair (Hey! Who said, “Which one?”).

Please, you too think some good thoughts about Buddhist revival in the Gobi and elsewhere. I'll be back and reporting live on location in no time.

Comments

[c.]

i wish you were here...(song)
have a good mongolia!