Reflections on a Quiet Winter and a Journey Ahead

A Winter of Reflection

I haven't written here for a while. It has been a busy time. Sadly, winter is almost over. This winter has not been as fruitful as I hoped. There hasn't been much rain, and the temperatures felt more like a cool summer than winter. It's a bit disappointing, but that's how it goes. Not every year brings a fantastic winter.

Our World Peace Garden Project

Aside from this, I’ve been working hard on our World Peace Garden. We are passionate about building this garden with support from around the globe. Right now, we are at the stage where we need crowdfunding to gather seed money. This funding will help us hire a lawyer, an architect, and create a costly 3D presentation video to explain our project. It's a challenging journey, but we believe it's worth it.

In addition to this, we are also crafting prayer wheels for the world Sangha. These wheels are a wonderful way to spread peace and awareness.

Upcoming Trip to the USA

I wanted to let you know that we will be traveling to the USA from May 25th to July 7th. During this time, any orders will have to wait until our return. I appreciate your understanding! This trip is something we've looked forward to for six years. Finally, we can take time off to travel.

We plan to see Rinpoche and visit GBI, which we expect to be an amazing experience. We miss our friends there so much!

The Challenges of Practice

It's not easy to be a Buddhist practitioner where there are no teachers or places of learning. The absence of guidance can make the journey feel lonely. In a country filled with conflict, hate, and stories of the past, it can be challenging to remain centered. It's ironic that we live in what is known as the Holy Land.

Lately, I have been spending my "free time" meditating outside on our porch. Sitting there for hours, I find peace in nature. The more I meditate, the more the story of "me" fades away. Instead, there is just a background awareness, quiet and serene.

Yet, the challenge remains—how do we cultivate love? Pure love that isn't directed at anything—just love itself. Rinpoche often reminded us that we are like blocks of ice floating on the surface of the ocean. These frozen blocks believe they are separate from the water below. But, in truth, we are all one and the same. We simply need the warmth of the sun to melt away the ice. This sunshine of love, as Rinpoche calls it, is essential for our practice.

A New Hobby: Crafting Wooden Spheres

On another note, I have decided to try turning wooden balls on the lathe. Creating perfect wooden spheres is so much fun! They may seem useless, but they are beautiful and delightful to hold. Do you remember fidget spinners? Wooden spheres are similar, but they offer a more relaxing experience.

Here is a photo of me with a wooden sphere made from a local oak tree.

Love to you all! Many prayer wheels will soon emerge as I roll more nano film mantras into each one. I’ll keep you posted on the progress of our projects!

Apologies for my absence in writing for a while. I appreciate your patience during this busy time. Let’s continue to support each other on our paths!