I had not plan on being there as part of the Pilgrimage, and certainly not for that long -- seven weeks at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB). It was a spontaneous decision, or perhaps a response to a deeper prayer, so deep that the conscious mind was not even aware of it.

I went in without any particular expectation, but came out with some of the most significant gifts a wayfarer could ever receive -- recognizing one's Teacher, making lifelong vows, learning to read the original sutras, exploring various dharma-doors (techniques of practice) and resolving upon one's own path… And the subtler impact of the seven-weeks at CTTB might take years -- or lifetimes -- to reveal itself.
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The student feels an overwhelming grace and overflowing gratitude, and wishes to harvest some of the fruits as an offering to all :)

It has been half a months since I returned to the US. It had been two months in India, and four months in Asia in total. And, it has been nine months since the start of the pilgrimage. Almost enough time for a baby to be fully formed in a womb. Yet I remain curious as to what is to be born :)

Now the pilgrim is back at "where it all started" -- the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah, California -- for 6 weeks, to be part of the Dharma study and Chan session here.
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Before it is too late to salvage the precious memories, here are some fond recollections and honest reflections from a deeply inspiring and nourishing second month in India.

Looking through the paper diary, it is hard to believe that it was only a month ago that I had entered "the Incredible India". The richness of each day in India could very well fill a chapter.

I have been waiting for a moment of peace and quiet to do some writing. Well, that moment never came for a whole month :) If anything, India teaches one that "peace and quiet" have got to come from within -- no use waiting for the outside dust to settle.
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The writer is faced with a dilemma: on one hand, there is yet the unpreparedness -- or unwillingness -- to unpack the most precious experiences; on the other hand, there is the fear that more waiting would further reduce the high-resolution of the treasured memory.
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As a compromise, here is a harvest of whatever feels right in this moment, trusting that the rest would continue to work its way through my being -- perhaps for lifetimes :)

English version below :) 

中国的“嬉皮士一代”

在路上走，尤其是在像拉萨、蓝毗尼这样的圣城，或是自然、野外之中，会碰见许多中国旅行者。大致有两类人：一类是退休的叔叔阿姨们，清闲地出来玩。更主要的人群，是二三十岁的年轻人。这些年轻人们，有的还在上大学，有的工作了几年，辞职出来，看大千世界、找人生意义。

这批年轻人们，有的背包徒步，有的一路搭车，有的骑自行车。大多数都是一个人，或是路上遇见同道，便一起走一段。有意无意的，他们在探索世界，也在探索自己的内心。大多数人，不一定有很强的目的性，而是作为一种人生经历，换个节奏，挑战自我，出来透透气。用行万里路的方式，冲刷着二三十年应试教育、社会家庭的烙印，释放着无拘无束、浪迹天涯的青春。

English version below :)

三个拉萨

时隔十二年，再次来到拉萨。上次来，火车还没通。

这次来，似乎看见三个平行宇宙般的拉萨。