Hello from Finland!

Hello All,

Said goodbye yesterday to my recent traveling companions after a last early morning sit together, and then said my goodbyes to India as the taxi took me to the Delhi airport.   Mixed emotions brought great waves of teary gratitude for all that was and had been, is, and will be.  Arrived just 7 hours later at Helsinki Airport  to be greeted by big hugs from good friends Timo Teravainen and Magnus Noren as well as being embraced by - 3 degrees celsius temperatures and a dusting of snow.  (By the way, the processing at the Delhi Airport makes the U.S. process look downright speedy!  India travelers flying from Delhi, be sure and give yourselves at least 3 hours to make it through all the security there.  It took me 2 hours and 40 minutes to get through yesterday).

What a change in just a few hours time!   It was full dark by the time Magnus, (who had flown in from Sweden a few hours before me) and I reached Lammi, where the annual Rohatsu sesshin will begin tomorrow.  Took a picture of the drive and small barn across from the retreat center from the big front stairwell window:

What a change ............

.............  from this just a few hours earlier

A few last pictures from Jaisalmer.........

........................ and Delhi

LAST NIGHT IN DELHI AT A SUFI DEVOTIONAL "SING IN"

WHAT A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!

**********************************************************

Now, the India experience melds and morphs into preparation for sesshin.  Buddha made the trip through all his important life places and back to Finland unscathed, and was invited into his new home on the Lammi Zendo Altar last night where, he now sits in dreams within dreams.  Welcome home!

We head into silence tomorrow for a week, so I will see you all afterwards when I get back to the States Dec 9th.

May all beings be happy

May all beings be peaceful and at ease

May all beings be free from violence, both internal and external

May All beings attain Buddhahood! 

*bow*

A few more pictures................

MAKING BREAKFAST CHAI IN AN ABANDONED HUT IN THE DESERT

JUST AFTER DAWN

TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS............ 

THE CHOICE IS MADE!
:)

BACK IN JAISALMER - SADHUS, COBBLERS.........

.... AND ROOFTOP KITE FLYING

In the desert, or in the villages; on the streets of tourist towns or in big cities like Varanasi, many, many persons passing on the streets say, "Hello" to us, or "Hi!", and occasionally there is a "Namaste" thrown in for good measure.  Many of the the greetings are indeed merchants bidding for one's attention in hopes of a possible sale.  Of course, sometimes it is the beggars using the one word of English they know to direct your attention to an outstretched hand.  But more often than not, it is simply a shy child practicing their English, or a playful teen making contact with a foreigner.  Sometimes for me, it is a woman seeing and greeting another woman in their shared sisterhood across a gulf of dissimilar cultures. And sometimes it is just men being flirty.......... like this one:

COMING OUT OF A HINDU TEMPLE

But whatever the primary motivation for greeting us, there is always a sense of open cheerfulness which I have only ever found before in small town Midwest America.  It is both refreshing and overwhelming at times to be so noticed and seen; especially in big, busy cities.

Just in from the desert today.  Thought I would at least post a few pictures.  Enjoy!

NON CAMERA SHY KIDS IN ONE OF THE VILLAGES WE STOPPED IN FOR WATER AND FOOD PROVISIONS

NATURAL OASIS

WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT A HEART?

UPSY DAISY JANI!

SHIVA LINGAM IN AN ABANDONED DESERT TEMPLE

SYMBIOSIS   :)

GATHERING WOOD FOR DINNER FIRE

EVENINGS WERE COMPLETE WITH AFTER DINNER DANCING.......

....... AND OTHER MUSICAL RENDITIONS

MORNINGS WERE GREETED WITH SPONTANEOUS BUDDHA BOY GAIETY
 

ON CAMEL

DUSK MEDITATION IN THE DUNES

UNWANTED GUESTS DURING A POST LUNCH NAP

OUR GUIDE PUSA, LOADING MY FAVORITE CAMEL, TANGO CHARLIE

IT HAD BEEN A LONG HOT DAY OF RIDING - THANK GOD FOR SOFT SAND AND SHADE!!!

OUR BEDS FOR THE NIGHT

DESERT SUNSET

PUSA DOING BREAKFAST DISHES

ONE OF THE MANY INHABITANTS OF THE DESERT

ONLY FOOTPRINTS REMAIN

THE DESERT WAS FULL OF LIFE - AND DEATH

RID OF 6 DAYS OF SWEAT AND GRIME - MIKKO IS READY TO ROCK AND ROLL

Hello from Jaisalmer, India.  

We are now in pure desert and the openness of landscape is much appreciated by me after the wealth of stimuli in the larger cities.  We had planned to leave almost immediately for a camel trek in the wilderness, but Jani came down with a stomach bug, so we have put our plans on hold for a day or two.  Jani seems almost completely recovered this morning, and if he passes the day well today, we will head out at 6:15 tomorrow morning.   Just us, the stars, the sand, camels and guide.   :)  See you when we get back.

VIEW OF HAWA MAHAL (AKA PALACE OF WINDS) FROM ROOF IN JAIPUR

VIEW OF THE AMBER FORT IN JAIPUR

AND LOOK WHAT WE FOUND INSIDE THE FORT!

THE WATER FORT IN JAIPUR

JAISALMER FORT AND OLD CITY VIEWED FROM OUR COMFORTABLE HOTEL, THE DESERT MOON

SUNSET IN JAISALMER

VIEWING SPOT FOR THE ............

........... SPECTACULAR SUNSET

DEEP DUSK

ENTRANCE TO OLD CITY OF JAISALMER VIA THE "NEW" GATE

ARCHITECTURAL DETAIL OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S HOUSE 

VIEW OF THE NEW CITY FROM ATOP THE OLD CITY WALLS

SUCH BEAUTY  EVERYWHERE