Long life

The retreat is complete and I am now on the road again, ready to place the last 4 Taras. White Tara merged with Tara protecting from Untimely Death and I am taking this Tara to Holy Island, Arran.

Holy Island is a very special place; once the home of a Celtic Christian hermit, St Molaise, it has a long history of spiritual practice and protection. It was bought by the Buddhists a few years ago, after the owner of the island had a vision from Mary instructing her to sell the island to the Buddhists. Lama Yeshe, meanwhile, Abbot of Samye Ling, Retreat Master and now Director of the Holy Island project, had a vision whilst in retreat in the States of an island that he would once be custodian for. When he visited Holy Island, he recognised it as the island he had seen in his vision.

Down at the south end of the island, the former lighthouse cottages have been converted to a women's retreat centre. The first group of women ever to do the traditional 3-year, 3-month long retreat recently completed their time and the centre is currently hosting individuals doing shorter retreats until the next big one in 2010. High up on the hillside above the women's retreat, a special cabin has been built for His Holiness Karmapa - who has expressed a particular wish to do retreat there. This is the destination for this particular Tara.

En route, I am spending a little time in Edinburgh, arriving (by chance if you believe such things) in time for Akong Rinpoche's weekend of teaching, talks, visits and empowerments to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of Samye Ling. There will be a Green Tara and Medicine Buddha empowerment - which should re-charge the spiritual battery big style!!

All told, this feels like the final leg of the journey - and with just 4 more Taras to place, the end is in sight. May all beings benefit!