September 15th..Uncertainty...

Here's a look at Migyur Dorje last week. You can see the paint is coming off, and with luck, it will continue to come off this weekend! Lisa has taken up the call, and will do what she can while we are gone.

For myself, I'm working at getting ready to go to the Gulf Coast on Saturday, and support Amber in the morning as she gives birth! You can see her in earlier posts this month...she's eager to have it!

No word from Norbu at this point, but soon enough I'll get some photos up!

For now, please do keep all those suffering in your prayers, as well as those who have set aside their lives to help them!

September 14th...Shadows, unknowns, rainbows...

This is a photo from just last week...and we thought we had a big job on our hands then! : )

Now Norbu and Tashi are enroute to Mississippi, and I'm in a time warp trying to finish out my two shifts this week and scrambling to get ready to join them, leaving here Saturday! I'll be joined by a young fellow named James, a new sangha member, who is ready and willing to jump in!

No word from the front yet (we're not sure if there will be...infrastructure problems). Norbu is decked out with a laptop with car charger, cell phone and wi fi access, but none of that matters if the "wireless" transmitters aren't working. We'll keep you posted! For now, I'll leave you with this view of the Stupa being power washed....you can see the mist forming a rainbow in the sun...The Stupas are always here for you, to heal sickness, mental and physical, as well as bring peace and prosperity to all. No need to be Buddhist, or even religious. All you must possess is the wish to be happy...

September 13th...Action!

If there's anything we've learned as Buddhists, it's impermanence. Things change... We received word last night that animals are being killed down in New Orleans for fear of spreading disease, so at the request of our teacher we scrambled into action. We had planned on connecting with a small Buddhist temple in a fishing village in Alabama, but our focus shifted to animal rescue. Our timeline moved up, no longer having the luxury of routine planning, we all worked through the night with a few naps here and there researching, organizing and gathering supplies. You can see here our white board, multiple computers, and the gang working hard.

We're not going into a blind situation, there's a nun from the sangha in Arizona, who is also a veterinarian, already established in an animal rescue camp about 100 miles north of New Orleans. There they are receiving animals brought out from the city at a large facility run by FEMA, in association with Best Friends. There's a pressing need for volunteers to not only go in on the boats and rescue the animals directly, but for folks who can help out at the camp with caring for the hungry, injured, frightened animals. Thus, we're able to plug in with this already established effort. All we need to do now is get ourselves down there!

Norbu and Tashi are leaving today (no time to waste!) and I will be following on Saturday (got to earn that paycheck), hopefully there's going to be a copilot!

In addition to the actual efforts at hands on rescue down south, we'll be building a shelter for displaced animals right here in Maryland, so when the need arises we can bring some of them here to be cared for until they find new homes. There will be many, many needs arising as we embark on this mission, your prayers are deeply appreciated, and guaranteed to bring benefit!

Just in case you worried he might wear his flimsy flip flops, Norbu busted out the big guns for this trip! His strap on Tevas! Don't worry though...he also brought some good sturdy boots, and we have full waders enroute to them in Mississippi. What you don't see (because I was too busy working with the team to gather and coordinate everything) is all the gear we got together for them, from tents and insect repellent, to leashes, muzzles and bowls. They're stocked up on first aid supplies as well... 

Ashby, a regular on the Stupa Crew, is also a graphic artist with amazing talent! He was asked to design, print and have laminated Clergy ID cards for those of us heading down. He turned these out in less than 24 hours! We're working hard at creating a sustainable organized effort. We've connected with a large organization down there, Best Friends, who is being supported by FEMA. We're getting our documetation in order so folks can identify us. We function all the time as clergy here, and even when we work with other centers the tradition recognizes the robes, so it isn't an issue. We've had to have the cards made so folks unfamiliar with Buddhism understand our role... 

Inside the truck is a tiny statue of Green Tara, may she keep them safe in their journey! 

Tashi runs some prayer flags on the truck...the prayers then enter the wind spreading blessings as they go! 

Norbu worked on figuring out a route...He's been checking on his computer about road conditions. Though from what we understand the destination is in pretty good shape (electric is functioning, roads are passable).  

While it may seem like glory and adventure, we all know it's dangerous as well. The guys had a complete set of vaccinations this morning, and filled out Advanced Directives before leaving...just in case... 

Tashi fills his out... 

Finally...legal forms completed, signed, duplicated and filed on site as well as traveling copies given to the guys...Here you see Tashi sporting his bandaid from his vaccinations this morning, and his documentation. Not bad considering up until 7:30 pm last night everyone thought we had until Wednesday to see these guys off! 

Finally everything was ready. The guys didn't waste any time, as soon as the forms were copied and filed, they were moving! Those of us who worked all day scrambling supplies and documents together for them sent them off with mixed emotions. We're thrilled at their courageous rise to the call, but we'll all miss them terribly. We may be Buddhist, but we're not without attachment...They took off a little after 4 pm today. Say prayers for their safe return and successful journey!  

This is the Enlightenment Stupa at the end of the day today. Though we're scrambling to get down there to save the animals stranded by the storm, we haven't forgotten our precious commitment to the Stupas. Norbu made me promise I'd finish them without him if he cannot return in the near future (he may stay down in the Gulf Coast for a few months if he's needed there).

Lisa Banana, ever the brave Stupa dudet, informed me she won't let the Stupas lay idle in our absence. She'll be out stripping Migyur Dorje this weekend. We went over all the tools and their quirks (almost every one has an "issue" you must know how to navigate...we do know this is a sign of "old age"...). I reviewed the state of affairs out at Migyur Dorje, and she told me she thinks the Auspicious Manifold Doorways Stupa needs some more repair work. So the transmission of the charge has taken place (temporarily...don't worry Lisa...I'll be back before you miss me!).

After I circumambulated before leaving the temple for the day, I looked up and sure enough...the tigle was in color mode. It was a bright green light! This time I used the zoom to get a close up of it, so hopefully it shows on the photo!

You can see from these posts that the whole meaning of the Stupas, their boundless compassion and equanimity inspire those of us devoted to them. Some of those qualities are rubbing off on us. Our teacher has called our attention to an area of profound suffering in the world, and begged us to intervene...so the Stupa Crew is mobilizing! We may not be out working on the Stupas every day (Norbu may be gone for a while), but we'll be working hard for the benefit of beings.

Keep checking this blog, as we'll be posting photos from the rescue efforts here!

And always remember, the Stupas are here for you, 24 hours a day, every day! We have one completely finished (the one closest to the parking lot! This very Enlightenment Stupa) so you can come out and enjoy it in all it's beauty...or you can still visit the Stupa Park or Migyur Dorje, even with less paint on them they're just as potent! We're spending the hour between 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm every day circumambulating the Migyur Dorje Stupa, generating prayers and benefit for all those suffering from this disaster. You're welcome to join us! Of course, if you're shy (I was when I first started out), you can come any time, and I guarantee you'll find a quiet, private place for your prayers...

Very quick post tonight...was at the temple until past midnight, and a 4 am prayer shift awaits. Huge plans in play, including sending our beloved Norbu off with Tashi Dorje on Tuesday! They're heading to Mississippi to connect with an animal rescue program down there. This mobilization represents a rapid change in plan, based on reports of animals being killed down there for fear of disease spreading. The goal is to rescue as many as possible! Once they get there we'll get more information on needs and make plans for more volunteers to go. I myself hope to go by the end of the week (don't worry folks, won't go for too long, the Stupas will get finished!). Please do come join us here at KPC Maryland, whether at the Stupas, in the Prayer Room, or by donating things like leashes, muzzles, and pet carriers! 

September 11th...Surf's up!

In case you're wondering what this is, it is a photo of the top of the gau of Migyur Dorje. I took a series of photos of this area, as it has damage in need of repair.

It had been our plan to get back out and continue removing paint tomorrow, maybe with Norbu doing these repairs, but there was a meeting at the temple today where the need to send folks down to the Gulf Coast directly was discussed. Norbu, always willing to respond to the needs of beings, volunteered to go. He isn't abandoning the Stupas, rather embracing the needs of those suffering down south. He may leave as early as Wednesday, thus, we're not sure what tomorrow holds! No matter what happens, the Stupa renovation will continue, it may just have a day or two of regrouping while I figure out how to get it done with those willing to pitch in. There is much I can do myself, and weekends Gabriel and Lisa are willing to offer their devoted efforts. Who knows who else might show up willing to help carry through the last phases? I myself may be going to the Gulf Coast through work, and may rotate through for the temple as well. So it isn't an "either or" situation, but a negotiation of new waters. We'll find a way to get it all done! We've encountered increased demands before (remember when we realized we'd have to sand blast??), and we've persevered. So too will we find a way to ride this wave, rather than tumble in it!

You can also see hairline cracks all along the top of the gau. It almost looks like the concrete has a thin layer on top of the foundational concrete, and that layer is cracking and in places coming off. We have the materials to work with it though! 

Here's a close up of a chunk of concrete missing from the top of the gau. This is definitely the area that has the most damage we've seen so far. Norbu had planned on doing the repairs, but with his call to duty it may end up being me! His hands are definitely the more skilled, but I will do what must be done.... 

So, here's the current state of Migyur Dorje. The plan is now completely up in the air, as attention is turned towards sending some folks down to the Gulf Coast directly to lend physical assistance to those in need. The tentative plan is for Norbu and Tashi Dorje to leave on Wednesday, for an as yet undetermined period of time. We'll MISS Norbu, but don't fret...we'll carry on. I know Norbu wouldn't feel comfortable leaving if he didn't know I'd keep the project moving in his absence (he'd do the same for me, we discussed this).

Thus, the week ahead may hold many unknowns, but we will continue to keep the Stupas in our practice even as we embrace the increasing demands of Katrina Relief Efforts. We're close to completion, we won't give up now!

The temple is circumambulating the Stupas for an hour a day (formally, more than that on our own) to increase prayers and benefit for those affected by the storm. You need not be Buddhist to turn to the Stupas in a time such as this, (or anytime you are suffering), they exist only to bring benefit to all beings without distinction. They are a source of peace and healing, from grief as well as physical illness. And they are here for you, 24 hours a day, every day. Please do take advantage of them!

September 10th...Planning...

This picture is from a few weeks ago, when we dropped off a few barrels of water. Amber championed the water that day, and set us up so that once the repairs are all completed on the Auspicious Manifold Doorways Stupa we could move forward with painting. With luck Lisa Banana had a chance to get out there today to take a look. As our resident artist, we're leaving the final decision in her hands (don't fret Lisa, we trust you!). Her eye for detail and commitment to doing the very best she can are what we're counting on.

I also received an email from Philip today, who has been researching options for that huge base on the Long Life Stupa. He's looked at some decorative concrete options, including staining for portions. We're waiting for more details, but it sounds really interesting!

So though I was at the hospital today earning a living, activity still occurred on the Stupa Project! We have water set and ready both at Migyur Dorje and the Stupa Park, and we're getting really close to painting!

As always, all the Stupas, from the Enlightenment Stupa next to the parking lot to the Stupa Park (pictured here) waay back in the woods on our 65 acre peace park, to Migyur Dorje, they are all here for you! Whatever your mood, whatever your time constraints or physical limitations, we likely have a Stupa that will meet your needs! So please do come out to Poolesville to catch a glimpse of these beautiful structures first hand! Their blessings are not only free, but open to all, regardless of faith or lack there of, no special knowledge required to benefit from them.

September 9th...Digging in...

Norbu helped us get everything out to the site today, here he is scolding me for taking yet another picture of him....He's doing an assessment of how our work yesterday looks now that it's dry...

As usual, we forgot stuff...so I improvised. I could spray without a respirator if necessary...but not when it was almost all overhead.. 

We got everything set up for the power washing while we waited...Here Ashby is fueling up... 

Gabriel showed up in the afternoon as promised, and got right to work hauling water... 

Well....it took quite a while for the stripper to soak in. It soaks through the paint layer, down to the substrate, then bubbles, causing the paint to lift off. You can see here there are still areas of light orange, where the chemical hasn't yet penetrated through the paint...so we circumambulated and accumulated mantras...