It was a steep climb up to the chorten yesterday and we took the local shortcut and got directions and thumbs up along the path and from the workers in the fields, who seemed a little surprised to see us but happy to help.
We hit the road and chose to arrive from above and drop down upon it as the final incline looked too steep and slippery for weak and already stressed ankles and knees.
We unexpectedly met a former student of Ian’s who was going up with his grandfather just before we started to descend onto the chorten ground and were saddened to hear his news of recent life events.
The chorten was well maintained and bathed in light as we arrived but the only flags flying were upright white ones. We tied two sets together for Joyce and Shirley. They were great friends in life and it seemed fitting to honour them together in the same place even though their departures were more than a decade apart. United in spirit again.
Not sure how acceptable it is to climb up and stand on the chorten itself like that, but our options were limited and the only person who wandered by going down that steep slippery path seemed chuffed to see what we were doing and kept looking back and smiling. She was certainly more sure footed than us and we decided then and there to retreat by the same route we entered.
Next we hung a single set of prayer flags below those we had raised for Joyce and Shirley.
Each set has five colours twice so I thought that was very fitting for us. For me, it seemed like Lisa, Virginia, Anthony, Ian and I. We too are connected across distances and time and have that long friendship bond that Shirley and Joyce modelled so well. One set of five colors for each of them as a way of honouring their legacy. My mum would have loved the symmetry of the numbers in all of that.
As it turned out on arrival we just happened to have three sets of flags left having flown one on each pass getting this far and there are no more passes to cross until we return now. In addition, all of them face towards Australia and are overlooking water as they should be. The wind up there will be able to flap the flags and release the prayers. RIP
We will look up and see the chorten as we drive out today for sure.
Final note : The whole mountain was shrouded in cloud cover as we drove out this morning. The rain the farmers have been praying for has arrived. We couldn’t see the chorten let alone the splash of colour we added but I’m happy for the farmers. There were grave concerns about this year’s rice crop so great outcome for all.
Rangjung we love you.
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