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5th October 2013
Plough the Fields and Scatter
Teachings of the Buddha

So a weekend drive down to the Samye Ling Buddhist centre in the Scottish Wasteland Borders to meet up with Kurt and Karen and scatter our Mum.
We know it's what she would have wanted because she told us. She even told us exactly where - it's known as the Naga House - where the water spirits live, at the confluence of the river Esk and Moodlaw Burn. It's pretty there.

Mum really loved Samye Ling, visiting often - I've not quite worked out if she took the opportunity to visit me on her trips there or visa versa. But then, she used to visit me before she ever discovered Samye Ling - so I win!
It's a slightly unnerving place, incredibly peaceful, but just a little smug. Opulent, but at the same time tawdry. Beautiful but meretricious. It does deliver an overwhelming sense of peace though, carried on the astonishingly rich birdsong, the fluttering of prayer flags and the mellow ringing of wind chimes. I can see why Mum loved it so much - just her kind of thing.

My route there is through some of the best countryside that the Borders has to offer, not that I got to see much on the way there - according to Google Maps I needed to make up half an hour on their estimated time of arrival to get there on time, so I had to drive like a complete bastard. I needn't have bothered as it turns out; Kurt and Karen were an hour late - more than long enough for my front wheels to cool down sufficiently to touch.
Luckily the Tibetan Tea Room does an acceptable latté to sip on as I waited for them to randomly show up since there's absolutely zero phone signal anywhere nearby.

I wonder if it's a Buddhist plot?


Comments (3)

Newest first Oldest first

  1. Phlora's avatar Phlora

    Shed a tear, thank you for sharing, looks lovely there.

    #3 – 18 December, 2013 at 12:36 pm

  2. If I were you I think I'd go for stability first, vulgar ostentation later!

    Thanks for the nice comment.

    x

    #2 – 19 November, 2013 at 10:56 pm

  3. Rachel's avatar Rachel

    Some of that does look as though it attracts attention in a vulgar manner. My next motorcycle is going to be meretricious. It's lovely your Mum was scattered by her children in a spot she loved xx

    #1 – 18 November, 2013 at 9:38 pm

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