This American Buddhist Pilgrimage will begin with a short trip up the East Coast of the USA to find and visit a few traditional, consecrated Tibetan-style stupas (Tib: Choeten). The final goal is to visit every stupa built in North America over the next year or two. The pilgrimage begins at my home monastery, Kagyu Thubten Choling, in upstate New York where Lama Norlha Rinpoche and the Sangha of KTC has built one of the largest (around 65' high) stupas in the eastern half of the country -- and, I think, the most beautifully ornamented one. The way the rest of the pilgrimage will go is up to karma, other sentient beings, and, of course, time. But I'm happy to finally begin what I've wanted to do for years now, and partly because there are two times in life -- when on retreat or on pilgrimage -- when a Buddhist can say, "If I die during this retreat, or this pilgrimage, I will definitely be fine," because the activity is so auspicious and meritorious. Of course, a practicing Buddhist might just wake up every morning and say, with gratitude and total surrender, "It's a good day to die."

Awaiting Monday morning, then, with anticipation...
LKC