A wall of reverence

This is the mani wall right across the dirt road from my inn. The monks carve they words "ohm mani padmi ohm" into stones, then pile the stones into a wall that extends to a stupa. It seems that the daily lives of all the people here, not just the monks, are imbued with a sense of beauty and the sacredness of life. Their religion is not separate from their lives. With color, with stone, with fire, with right speech they make their way from one day to another, intentionally.

Do you hear what I hear?

At the first teaching of the Dalai Lama, I was sitting beside a man who was taking notes in Sanskrit. I was listening to an English translation through my radio and taking notes also. When we "compared notes" we found that what each of us had decided was most important to remember was "Respect for all beliefs." It is the desire to change people , to not accept difference that causes suffering. In a strange land, far from my home I found a man who believes as I do. A man who believes in respect and tolerance.

Women of Stok, Ladakh

This was the scene at graduation at Siddhartha School in Stok. These beautiful women were sitting just across the aisle from me. This was my first day in Ladakh and I was still acclimating at 12,500 feet. The people here are quiet, simple and non-attached.