Baptist to Buddhist

Me and Mae didn't go to church today- not in the mood. Instead we went to the local Buddhist Monastery! The Samye Ling monastery is the first in the western world, and it is about 20 miles away, which sounds close, but is still the middle of nowhere.

It was great- what a nice drive, very Canadian with trees trees trees. The grounds are nuts, as you are driving through the Scottish hills, really brutal and barren once you get up to Eskdalemuir, where it is, then you come upon prayer flags, golden buddhas, white stone shrines, etc. Mae said 'Look, it's a party!'

Here is a picture of the wish tree, where you hang a ribbon, then as the ribbon fades in the elements so your wish is granted.

Here's my little wish come true, but we did hang a ribbon for someone......

And this was a corridor walk (it was new, so this is the outside) and these cannisters turn around constantly

'throwing off the mantras that are on them'. Beautiful concept.

What a wonderful day. Just take a look at the link.

Here's a note though: we saw four pheasants, two herons, three peahens, one peacock, two robins, three hundred and eighty thousand sheep, eight cows but not one damn yak. Bummer.