Land of Medicine Buddha Adventure

Last Veteran's Day, we three headed to the Land of Medicine Buddha for a hike.  It had been years since I'd been there, and it was practically like going for the first time.

A welcoming entry

Traveled some windy sometimes one-lane roads to get there, although it's not very far from downtown Soquel.

The girls were super excited.  We were somewhere!!!  I got them in their harnesses, a coupler and flexi-lead without too much of a ruckus. 

First stop, giant prayer wheel ...

Jemima scouting for squirrels

Where we stopped to say a word of thanks to all our selfless warrior veterans, for the beautiful day, for such a peaceful place that inspires reflection, to easily find our way back, for some crumbs along the trail to vacuum, and for lots of fast critters to cross our path.

There were small groups of people - and dogs - walking the trails and visiting the various temples and altars.  A few were out running the mountain trails with their dogs.  Everyone was quiet.  It was awesome.  Such a change from our hectic world.


Even the dogs were respectfully quiet.  :)

Be.

There were statues and benches and colorful prayer flags and altars and deep, resonate chimes and temples and more prayer wheels and trees and hilly trails.  There is a gift shop.  There are rooms available for retreats.  

It's a mindfulness kind of place.

I was glad to let my Itidarod girls pull me up some hills.

Shhhh ... there's a retreat going on over there

Chalk-drawn mandalas graced a road that led to a house where a retreat was being held.  Love mandalas and their (usually) impermanent beauty. 

Mandala (Sanskrit: मण्डल Maṇḍala, 'circle') is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the Universe. 
Mandalas often exhibit radial balance.

 

A tiny altar in a tree ... doesn't take much ... a niche, colorful rock, some flower petals, 24-hour chip, moss.  One day at a time.

And so we head back on this day.

But then see another prayer wheel, with a narrow rough-hewn bench, and a giant golden statue behind. A quiet little pocket of ... quiet.

Fat Happy Buddha up by the shop ... complete with an offering of wind-up dentures.

And ... we made it back.

Good day.  Woof!