Lama gave me my getsul (novice monk) vows At leksheyling near Kathmandu. He also gave me the Vajrakilaya empowerment and Phowa practice transmission.

Rinpoche gave me my Gelong (full monks) vows at Bokar monastery at mirik, near Darjeeling. He very kindly presented me with the Namjar monks patchwork robe and the monks alms bowl.

Standing at the gate to Auschwitz 1. The saying over the gateway translates as,
“work will set you free”. Free as we now know meant death.

In the centre of Auschwitz 1, a bright sunny day, but dark memories!

Standing near some of the ruined buildings of Birkenau, which the Nazis tried to destroy as the war was coming to an end.

Standing alone at the spot in Birkenau where so many little children were taken from the train, and sent to their death. I felt numb standing here, lost for words.

Here I am walking up what was called “the road to heaven”. Victims taken from the train were sent immediately up this road to take what they were told was going to be a shower.

Behind the barbed wire of Birkenau are some of the remaining buildings where people who did survive the gas chambers, lived in hell.

View from my hotel window in Kolkata, on my day of arrival. A typical Kolkata street, hot and dusty.

On the road from Gangtok, back to Siliguri you pass many monkeys, a wonderful sight. Sikkim really is a land of monks and monkeys.

My long time student Dr Catherine Meilak, requesting transmission of the “Guru Yoga” sadhana. It is both a blessing and a privilege to have the opportunity be able to pass on and preserve such valuable teachings.

Utilising both Kapala and Dorje in the Transmission of the “Guru Yoga” sadhana from the Longchen Nyinthig tradition. The wisdom and compassion of Padmasambhava passing from teacher to student.

A very special energy radiates between teacher and student after a mind/body based transmission takes place. The effects of which continue to deepen over time.

Performing a Tibetan buddhist blessing for my 4 month old granddaughter “Annie” she of course knows nothing about Buddhism, which is the best way to understand it!

8th March 2022

As soon as I get up from my meditation cushion

my cat “fat face” moves in
sometimes he sits and thinks
sometimes he just sits
sometimes he does neither

I am working a lot with the Enso brushwork, representing form and emptiness, as found in the heart sutra. The enso circle must be done in one stroke, with no thoughts arising. You are not looking for perfection, It should just be done in the state of mu shin, no mind.

This picture was a gift, painted for me by my student Dr Catherine, as a visual support while I work with the medicine Buddha in combating my cancer. She had already received a transmission of the “Medicine Buddha sadhana” from me, so was able to empower the picture with the mantra as she worked.
As I stand next to the picture, I can feel the energy of the medicine Buddha radiating out. Just by looking at the image of the medicine Buddha, you can benefit from his compassionate healing energy Even more so by repeating his mantra

TEYATA OM BHEKANZE BHEKANZE
MAHA BHEKANZE RADZA SAMUDGATE SOHA

I have done this enso with added Japanese kanji characters (done in flowing style) for the words Time and Destroyer. The text underneath reads. “I am the world destroying time Engaged here in annihilating all beings” This is from verse 32, chapter 11 of the Bhagavad gita.

My first professional band I played with. It was 1965 I  was 17. I am second from the right in glasses

The transatlantic recording band l played on their first album this was 1969 I was 21. I am on the far right. No not the old guy in the chair