I figured it was high time for some new pictures, who knows how long I can hold peoples' attention when I'm rambling on about quasi philisophical whinings.

Anyway these are pictures from one of my favorite places in Xining. As you can see (well maybe you can't) it takes quite a lot of effort to reach the stupa in the mountains overlooking the city. It is especially difficult for someone like me who hasn't lived at an elevation like this for their entire lives.

I am not sure the exact specifics, because sometimes there is a little bit lost in translation. My Lama Garchen Rinpoche either built and maintains this stupa, or basically sponsors and takes care of it presently. At any rate it is an amazing place and definetly worth the hike. Every time I see it up above the city I think of the wonderful kindness of my Lama and the wonderful teachers of the Drikung Kagyu.







I live down there...




A really cool Lama lives in a shack next to the tower, opening it for visitors and doing practice. He is an amazing person and I was quite blown away the first time we visited because he is also a disciple of Garchen Rinpoche and knows many people I know in America. It was quite surreal. It is always an interesting feeling when you meet someone who is like a brother that you have never met. Why would I say that? Well we have the same teacher and lots of the same Dharma friends.