Sacred place

Boudha Boudha must be my favorite place on earth. (Forgive my artistic license cabin, Marymore Park, and a few others. Here I feel the energy of hundreds of years of compassionate prayers to end suffering in the world. Perhaps I should take this opportunity to clarify some tibetan terminology. Gumba - monastery Puja - prayer (used to describe the times when monks gather to chant/say prayers) Kora - the act of walking around a stupa for the purpose of reflection, prayer, etc (the most auspicious number for kora is 108 rounds) Mala - a circle of 108 beads used during meditation (similar to a catholic rosary) Mantra - a specific short prayer (most common example Om Mani Padme Hum) Kada - a (usually) white thin shawl used by masters to give blessings and given to travelers departing as a prayer for a safe journey Rinpoche - master or guru Lama - Tibetan term for a monk (in certain sub sects it can mean something specific but Im not up on that) Some of these are poor translations but you can discern the general idea. My favorite thing is watching the people. So many, seemingly so different. Everyone from the mother in her traditional Tibetan dress and two braids to the girlfriends linked arm in arm to the teenage boys in gangster hats and punk haircuts. Would you believe I walked behind two punk boys who touched every sacred place, spun all the prayer wheels, and asked for a blessing from the ancient nun who sits in front of the main monastery in the stupa circle. The Boudha Stupa is the most sacred place for all Tibetan buddhists. Actually, it's also sacred to Hindus. Another example of these two people's living happily side by side.