Blessed by the Sun

On the temple roof
The top of the stupa aflame with the sun

The top of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum houses a quiet orchid garden, with the focal point of an enclosed Vairocana Buddha Prayer Wheel. A real oasis of calm, broken by the occasional gong of the turning wheel and the distant traffic. The morning sun was reflected as a flame at the stupa top.

New Year Greetings

In the Botanic Gardens this morning

Best wishes for 2010

Waiting at Broxbourne

Broxbourne Station

Overnight from Singapore and waiting for an early train at Broxbourne in a watery sunrise. These trees have become good friends over the years, rustling leaves on a warm afternoon on the way to Japanese classes, more often, waiting in a bitterly cold wind returning from Cambridge, and this morning, listening to a conclave of local rooks discussing rook plans while the sun was rising and the moon was setting. The world just "is" - simple really.

Bodhisattva Manjusri (2)

Bodhisattva Manjusri

Bodhisattva Manjusri at sunrise today

This being, that exists.
Through the arising of this that arises.
This not being, that does not exist.
Through the ceasing of this, that ceases.

Remembrance Day 2009

The last dawn

Manjusri at Sunrise

Cutting through illusion

Quiet Dawn

UK dawn
04:30 - jetlag has its virtues

Fire

Timeless

The sun has started its journey back across the sky, though only two weeks on from the solstice, the change in direction is barely discernible. The cloud was low but the high clouds were lit up long before sunrise. Resonates deep in the collective unconscious this daily renewal.

Colour of a different kind in the splendid Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. The chanting was particularly fine yesterday, if incomprehensible to me. Maybe the better for being just that.



Then a concert of old music from Southern China, in the afternoon - "Soul Journey" was the concert title. More later on this extraordinary music.

No words needed

As the solstice approaches (24th June?) a picture of the rising sun - I never tire of watching it rise. It now must be close to its most westerly position and will soon begin the trek back for the winter solstice. The angular movement seems far more pronounced in Singapore than ever it was in the UK.


Of late I have been preoccupied with renewing my lease (with a 31% increase, so sharply has the price of property risen since I came here two years ago) and my employment pass, so I am set-up for the final year of my contract. Writing has therefore not been as frequent as it might have been.




I have been spending time in the Buddha's Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown, a very active Pure Land Temple in the heart of a very busy area. Pictures to follow as I get them together. This reclining Bodhisattva I take to be Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara). It is behind glass and in subdued lighting, but the grace and calm come through.