No real work out here today. Spent the day in teachings and talking with the many Sunday visitors. The temple utilizes Sundays to offer teachings and practices to the general public (everyone is welcome all the time, but Sundays are structured for those who have no experience in Dharma). It is a day when there are beginning classes, as well as a lunch offered to visitors. It is a day when many of the regular sangha also come, to take in teachings and do some practice. Though much goes on all week long, this is a day when many people are off, and thus the crowd is larger and the teachings target newer students. Because the intention and view are so essential to the work we do on the Stupas, we generally set Sunday aside to engage in study and practice, to keep our minds grounded in the purpose behind the activity.

So, today I came out to water the repairs (sounds strange?). The concrete mortar needs to stay moist to cure properly. The moisture, drawn into the concrete because it is porous, helps the repair bond more securely to the underlying surface. Thus, the very reason we have trouble with paint (the wick-like quality of the concrete) actually serves us well here!