April 16th

Today the festivities surrounding the 20th Anniversary of our Prayer Vigil started. Sorry, I didn't carry my camera around. Pete took a few photos of our booth, and I'll post them tomorrow (awaiting the email containing them..). In addition, I'll bring my camera tomorrow for sure, so you can see what is happening. I was able to wear my robes again (I'm a nun) and it felt great.

I missed a good portion of the presentations-we were scrambling to assemble a photo album of the restoration process so far for the booth-so I missed the teaching on the Prayer Vigil, how it got started, the inspiration behind it, thus I'm a poor reporter for this event. I apologize.

The Prayer Vigil started 20 years ago at the request of our teacher, Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo. At that time there was no temple yet, and the vigil started in her house in Kensington, Maryland. She actually opened her doors to practitioners 24 hours a day, to keep this vigil going. We still keep the doors open 24 hours a day, every day. We keep the vigil going, 24 hours a day, every day. Prayers for the end of suffering, for all beings, for peace. It is real, happening right now in this very moment, every moment. Now there are two going, one here in Maryland, and they started one out in Arizona as well. Thus, where ever you are, whatever time it is, there is someone (in two places now) praying for you. If you're in the area, there is a place of refuge for you to go to, any time, day or night, any day of the year, where you will find a prayer room filled with crystals and statues and images, and a practitioner in prayer. The prayer room is open to all, Buddhist or not, whatever your faith or if you have no faith. It is there for anyone looking for someplace quiet, safe, and peaceful. We even have a little coffee and tea station outside the prayer room, where you can sit and sip some refreshment and relax. All of this is maintained for you, for all beings, no strings attached. We do, of course, ask that you respect this quality, and keep the place in a condition that welcomes others. All of it, the temple, the land, the Stupas, all of it is maintained completely by volunteers. And all of it is maintained with the specific intention that it is an offering to all who are seeking relief from the suffering in the world.

The Stupa Crew did have a booth, as I mentioned. And we naturally, compulsively, spent our time planning and strategizing between introductions to visitors. We took time away from the booth to investigate the results of our efforts yesterday. You can see in the PHOTOS what we discovered. We considered it a significant discovery, as it influenced our decision about how to tackle the problem of stripping the Enlightenment Stupa. If you've been following this blog you know that there is a layer of "stucco" like material under the paint, on top of the concrete. The dilemma was how to remove it without damaging the concrete. But as you can see from the photo, it seems the blasting that Stacey did with an abrasive agent may not have pitted the concrete after all. There are areas where the chemical stripper removed paint, and under the paint the "stucco" layer was removed, so you can see bare concrete, and sure enough, the surface looked rough in areas and smooth in others. David Somerville, the Stupa Builder in the sangha, said he recalls this was the case, the original concrete in that Stupa, the first one built, was not consistent. Thus, there are going to be rough areas, and this is not the result of the abrasive agent. So, we've decided to seriously pursue sandblasting as an option. Chuck, one of our regulars, has some distant experience with this process (very distant, but better than NO experience..)and has volunteered to do it. We're going to rent equipment on Monday to give it a try. We figure this way we'll find all the problems hidden under the "stucco" and be able to repair them, and any future project of this nature will not have to contend with all this mystery surrounding what is under there. No one really knows right now. We're going to photograph the whole process, and by taking it down to the concrete we'll eliminate a lot of the uncertainty as to how to proceed. Of course, we have no idea what we'll find under this paint and stucco, but we feel confident whatever it is we can handle it somehow. : ) Say prayers for us, that the aspiration to restore this amazing spiritual power house will move swiftly and without obstacles, for the benefit of all beings.

And finally, if you are in the area please do come by tomorrow to join the festivities surrounding the Prayer Vigil. If you do, we promise to take you to the Stupas and give you a personal tour, answer your questions, and tell you stories. If you are nowhere around here, or can't break away from your plans, please join us here. This activity is precious, how often do you have a chance to participate in something so simple, yet so powerful? We know that by what we are doing we can change the world for the better. We know that all you have to do is see the Stupas and wish for the end of suffering in the world and you too can participate in this effort, whether you see them in person or here. The exist only for the benefit of beings, all beings. By the effort devoted to repairing them may we all accomplish complete equanimity and effortless generosity, may we too exist for no other reason than to benefit beings. May we shed our pride, our fear, and self concern and embrace the spontaneous compassion that arises, rejoicing in the opportunity simply to do what must be done to bring comfort and safety to all beings without exception.