I got a call a couple of weeks ago from a woman (I’ll call her Jane) who runs a tour company. She was looking for companies to connect with because the economy had not been good to her. She was doing the right thing — finding ways to help get the word out about what Read More…
buddha
Burma Photos (Part I – Temples)
My trip to Burma last fall took me completely by surprise. This is a country that has had economic sanctions imposed upon it by the international community for nearly 20 years. Surely it would be struggling. I expected what I experienced in 1992 in Vietnam. Women begged me to help them find an American husband Read More…
Buddhist Prayer Bowls: Photo of the Day
When you visit the Reclining Buddha in Bangkok, you’ll notice a row of prayer bowls along one wall of the building, along the back side of the Buddha. For good karma, you can purchase/donate about $1 in exchange for 108 coins. As you walk along this wall you place the coins, plink plink plink, into Read More…
Photo of the Day: Cambodian Buddha
Within a 30-minute walk around Siem Reap, I saw the saddest sight and the most amazing sight. Both of which brought tears to my eyes. First, as I strolled down a relatively main street, I caught something odd out of the corner of my eye. I looked to my right and, across the street, I Read More…
A Monk Walks onto a Plane…
(True story though some facts are slightly embellished for story-telling purposes.) A Buddhist monk walks onto a plane, returning home from a gathering of monks from around the world. There are many participants from the gathering on this plane but they are seated throughout coach class with only a handful having seats next to one Read More…
Photo of the Day: Buddhas
Practiced by perhaps 230 to 500 million people around the world, Buddhism is based on the premise that sentient beings can be released from the cycle of suffering through rebirth (be nice, don’t come back as an ant!). These statues represent numerous ways that Buddha is represented in a variety of cultures. The above Read More…
Photo of the Day: Reclining Buddha
Next month I’m headed back to Bangkok on my way to Bhutan. In between munching on amazing street food, I will definitely be stopping by the immense temple complex at Wat Pho to see the reclining Buddha. This gold-plated Buddha is about 150 feet long and 45 feet high and is symbolic of the Buddha Read More…