sri lanka #2

the weather in sri lanka is just like malaysia so i fit right in as it feels like home. i love it that i can walk around bare foot in the centre's compound. the contact between soles and earth is healing, grounding. a complete connection, communion. wonderful for practicing walking meditation.

in the background is the meditation hall and stupas containing relics of the late teacher, arahant amata gavesi hamdru (hamdru is a term to address monks here).


there are signs like these around the compound.
   that's the new shrine. next to it is another stupa.
   this is the old shrine, a lot smaller. during my practice, after reporting to my teacher of my slow progress in meditation, i was instructed to meditate in here and surprisingly it helped. i was able to get into calm and concentration easier. my friend joked that i must have been an ascetic in my past lives that meditated in caves as it really resembles a cave in here.
    i'd seated myself on the floor at the right side of the buddha statue and meditate.
   a pipal tree, also known as the bodhi tree, the tree of enlightenment.

 i love the shape of the bodhi leaves. i've picked some fallen leaves back with me. tucked nicely in some books.