August 17, 2016

Today is a poya day and the end of the Perahera.  I am urging everyone to boycott the Perahera in future until something is done about the abuse the elephants are suffering.  Surely in this day and age, there are other alternatives for a parade than mistreating elephants, especially by Buddhists.

On a happier Buddhist note, it was Ken Kawasaki's 70th birthday, so we went to Vijirarama Monastery to offer Danne to the monks.

Chanting in the prayer hall.  On the far right in red robes is a Canadian nun ordained in the Tibetan tradition.  She is on her way to Bodhgaya to study for 5 years.  

Novices

Offering Danne of kiri hodhi which is coconut milk and potato essentially.  Wets the kiribaht (milk rice) and string hoppers.

Visiting monk from the US.  He gave a very apt lesson about earning merit in this life in order to ascend to a higher level in the next life on the road to Nirvana

Chief Monk

Deputy Chief Monk

Visakha receiving her nuwal (sacred thread).  The string is held by everyone receiving blessings during the chant.  The string is then tripled, a knot is tied in the middle and then tied to the wrist while more chants are uttered.  You wear the string until it drops off.

Veenitha's turn

Now mine.  We are in white as that is traditional when going to the temple.

Now Mike

It was a very early morning.  We were back at the Kawasaki's for breakfast by 8 and finished by 9.

It is woodapple season, so we bought a bunch and made jam.  Lovely.

On the tree.  They are as hard as cricket balls and about the same size.  If one hits you, it could do real damage.

Once you break the hard shell, the pulp is very fibrous and seedy.  You have to boil it and then put it through a sieve to get the pulp out.

We have happy news in our garden as well.  A couple of red vented bulbuls have built a nest in the verbena and are tending eggs.

The nest

The last picture is taken with my new phone.  It takes great photos.

The arrival of the eggs is great news as the bank is being dug up by a very large bandicoot.  We are going to have to strew moth balls all over the slope to discourage the beast.  I am afraid the bank may collapse in the next big rain.

Basically a big fucking rat

And of course the usual cat pic.

Lying beside me in bed