Prayer Flag's flying over Leh

Before sunset Doug, Kristen and I climbed to the Shanti Stupa, a large Buddhist shrine which was erected by the Japanese, Nipponzan Myohojia. This group plans to erect similar Buddhist shrine's all around the world. They will all be identical and presently there are now twelve in the world. Perhaps fifteen feet below the Stupa is a place where Doug flew prayer flags for David in 2003. We brought prayer flags and a bold, black magic marker to write the names of several of you on the flags and fly them above Leh. There is a monk, who was on a retreat living near the stupa and he was standing near the flying flags as we approached the area. Doug and the monk tied the flags in the same location he did six years ago. He also asked the monk to say prayers and to bless and consecrate the names we placed on the flags. As he prayed and chanted, the monk waved incense over the flags. It was a very spiritual and emotional experience and for those of you who's names are flying high above Leh, I hope the God of us all will remember you.

When the monk was finished (Kristen and I both crying) praying, he asked us if we would like some tea and to see the temple. He took us into a small temple, built only ten years ago and then asked if we would like to see the relics of The Buddha, which was given to the temple by a benefactor from Singapore. He stepped on to a small stool, put his hand around a crystal container about eighteen inches high and handed it to Douglas. I think Kristen and I both stopped breathing at this point, afraid that DFO would drop the container! The monk climbed down, took the container and then proceeded to open it. He told us that what we were looking at was a small piece of The Buddha's brain and bone fragments. He then closed it up, had DFO (we stopped breathing AGAIN) help him put it back in it's place. After thanking him for showing us the temple and relics, we went to the shelter where he lives and had black tea (I was worried that it would be butter tea) and cookies. After a nice exchange we took our leave, thanked him and then continued to climb up to the Shanti Stupa.

Once again, I have been given an opportunity that is not afforded to the average tourist......This was the perfect ending to my introduction and stay in Leh. Like MG, Leh is not what you would think of as India. The best example of this is comparing New York, LA or Chicago to a small town in Wisconsin, Colorado or Vermont.