May 10th...Obstacles and Antidotes...

Well, what can you say. Sometimes you just have to roll with the challenges. : )

Quang and I started work today hoping to finish the west wall. Instead we spend a lot of time trying to solve problems. (not really a new thing...) Not long after we got started, we noticed the blasting wasn't working right. We were dumping sand in a hurry, with no result on the paint. A sign of a leak for sure. Or loss of pressure in the system somewhere. We tracked it down to a broken nozzle attachment. You can see the photos below. : )

At first we were trying to figure out how to take the whole thing to Clarksburg (Rentals Unlimited) but we didn't want to waste the sand (we figure out the problem before blowing an entire pot of sand). As it turns out, they service their equipment, so we put in a service call.

While waiting for the service guy to come, I spent time contemplating obstacles. Clearly, this is what was happening. We're under pressure to get finished, and everything is getting disrupted. The beauty of Dharma is there's no situation without a solution. The antidote for obstacles is purification, offerings and practice. Fortunately, and auspiciously I might add, the perfect solution was literally a few steps away. There was a tsog scheduled (a group practice where offerings are made, purification occurs, and obstacles are removed!). How amazing. They usually are scheduled in the evening, but the Tuesdays are during the day, for us folks who can't make evenings easily...So I borrowed a shantaub (nun's skirt) from Ani Hesper and joined in! It was great to be able to apply the antidote to the situation so quickly!

The plan, if we can still entertain such thoughts, is that a load of sand will be delivered tomorrow, our sandpot will be repaired/replaced, and maybe some work will get done. Quang will be there, even if he's by himself (Norbu is still with family in West Virginia and I'm working). I gave him some ideas of work he could do alone (sandblasting requires two people for sure). Ani Rene has volunteered to be on site for the delivery, and to field the service call. Chuck and Pete may be there later, maybe they can overcome these set backs!

In any case, Norbu will be back on Thursday, and hopefully work can get back on track. : ) We'll keep plugging anyway!

No one tomorrow will have a camera, so I'll post an update without them. I'll touch base with Ani Rene in the evening after work...Say some prayers for us!

The great lesson for the day was to relax into the commitment. It doesn't matter if we don't keep on schedule, it doesn't matter if things keep breaking down or not working out, it doesn't matter. We'll keep at it until it's done, not because we're heros with big biceps and hard wills, but because we're completely devoted to liberating sentient beings, to truly freeing every being from suffering. This kind of thing is like tiny ripples on a great ocean, obstacles can come up, but they can't stop us from fulfilling the aspirations of our teacher! We will keep working, and praying, and practicing, until it is accomplished.

Please do come out and enjoy the Stupas! We're working hard to restore them, repair them, and preserve them, so their immense blessings may be available for generations to come! Heck, with the sandblaster broken you don't even have to worry about the dust! : )