Twilight Meanderings

Last night, I walked to the stupa after dinner. These days, it's best to go early in the morning and late in the day to take advantage of the (relative) coolness. I joined one of the nuns, Ani Nydia, in circumambulating. I dedicated my practice to our dear monk Yeshe, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer in Tulsa, OK. It's been strange not to see him and his sweet dog, Shanti when I come up here lately.

Yeshe and Shanti live a few blocks from the stupa, and it was not unusual for them to visit several times a day. Even when Yeshe's health deteriorated, he would get a ride from someone and the two of them would circumambulate.

Not long after that, Shanti appeared with Kathleen, eager to see her friends. Ani Nydia went to greet her and fell into a conversation with a visitor, Natalie, who had been meditating on the deck and accompanying us on some of our circumambulating. Natalie had just lost her husband, Michael, in April, to a sudden illness. She had made the trip to Sedona from Tampa and it had been a healing journey for her. Although she practices Christianity, she especially felt connected to the stupa. While circumambulating, she felt the presence of her husband and other family members who had died, and was at peace. She left a photo of herself and Michael and their dog, Hercules.

The stupa is not just for our Buddhist community. We offer it for the benefit of all beings, regardless of whatever spiritual background you have. We invite everyone to come and experience this treasure.