The benches where the monks will sit

Tucked away in the high mountain village of Wutai Shan China we return to the ancient Tibetan Temple where we stay for our retreat.

We wake at 3:30 am to cross the dark and cold stone courtyard to get our blankets. Brrr! I can’t wait to sit with the monks and chant with them for the morning ceremony. But first we make 108 bows. You put your hands on the two mits and then whoosh! – until you are lying straight on this board. It gets a little easier every day, and it sure warms you up for sitting and chanting. I remind my self we’re only doing this for a few weeks. They do it every day.

We are surrounded by Tankas and Temple art that has been soaked in ceremony for centuries.

We listen to the hum of the monks deep voices that shakes the cells of our bodies as the sun starts to come inside. Our spirits are carried to the dharma realms where I imagine the Buddhas reside.

It’s always a happy moment when warm buns are brought in for the monks. It means the ceremony will soon come to an end.

As the birds begin to sing outside,  we get to have our yak milk tea and bread too!

Many Temples and sacred items were destroyed by the Chinese government.

So precious are the things we got to see. 

Tantra Tanka inside the temple

4 animals painting on courtyard wall

Stunning Guan Yin inside temple

 Tiger & Monk on temple entrance

Rats on Door to the Wealth Guardian Temple

Ancient butter candle in hidden Guan Yin Cave

Sign says ‘Spontaneous Enlightenment’. We walked through  just in case.

A Tibetan Man we met. Yum!

Our beloved teacher Angela Yan. No way we’d be here without you.

A hard-to-get picture of Sifu Gandan

Farewell to Wutai.  Off to Bejing.

For Tea

of Course!

 Tea Scouting ! Many, many trips to the bathroom.

BuddhaTea

Got Tea here

and here…

Till we meet again

Many Blessings. In beauty, Amara and Shyena

Om Mani Padme Hum