Suriyavamsa - newly installed President of Triratna Highlands in Scotland - is marking the start of his time in that position by making a Dharma Walk from Inverness to Glasgow (that’s 165 miles or so!). And he’s blogging it for us from his trusty Blackberry… + follow above to get updates from the road!
Down and out in Killin
Sunday was an easy day in Aberfeldy with a Sutra of Golden Light Puja at the end of the day, hunched in my little tent, as a way of catching up with all my lonesome recollections and confessions.
On my way through town on Monday morning I met the ex-Uttara in Aberfeldy’s Co-op supermarket where he now works and we talked of the people we know. He was one of my first Buddhist teachers and I am grateful to him and others who were there with a Buddhist practice and a Buddhist Centre in Sauchiehall Street when I turned up 31 years ago.
The walk took me up and along the side of the glen, through woods and over sheep pasture, with great views of castles, villages and eventually the great shimmering Loch Tay (the sun was shining) and Ben Lawers and neighbouring mountains rising in the north. This is the kind of country - summer sun on hill farms with flowery meadows, ash, beech, hazel and birch and here and there the sacred rowan. And sheep of course. And no new prefab sheds or malls to be seen. Like where I grew up, really.
Then it was a long walk along a B-road as I realised it would be just possible to walk all the way. But the pains in my thigh came on stronger and stronger and I only managed to reach Killin with the help of neurofen, paracetamol and intense entreaties to mother Tara.
At Killin I booked into the first hotel I came to - the Falls of Dochart. Oh, the bliss of civilised conveniences - someone bringing you food and drink - tea and biscuits and mineral water from the mini bar in your room with a little kettle boiling away at the flick of a switch - and a sweet, hot bath. My legs still sing gratefully to me.
I can’t walk on painkillers, I decided that I must return to Glasgow for rest and repair and start from Killin again later for the last 5-6 days of walking.
Photos: Near to parardise, German cyclists racing ahead of me on the road to Killin, Looking up Loch Tay - Queen’s View (Victoria, of course) over Loch Tay.
Days 1 & 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Days 5 & 6 | Days 7 & 8
Down and out in Killin
Sunday was an easy day in Aberfeldy with a Sutra of Golden Light Puja at the end of the day, hunched in my little tent, as a way of catching up with all my lonesome recollections and confessions.
On my way through town on Monday morning I met the ex-Uttara in Aberfeldy’s Co-op supermarket where he now works and we talked of the people we know. He was one of my first Buddhist teachers and I am grateful to him and others who were there with a Buddhist practice and a Buddhist Centre in Sauchiehall Street when I turned up 31 years ago.
The walk took me up and along the side of the glen, through woods and over sheep pasture, with great views of castles, villages and eventually the great shimmering Loch Tay (the sun was shining) and Ben Lawers and neighbouring mountains rising in the north. This is the kind of country - summer sun on hill farms with flowery meadows, ash, beech, hazel and birch and here and there the sacred rowan. And sheep of course. And no new prefab sheds or malls to be seen. Like where I grew up, really.
Then it was a long walk along a B-road as I realised it would be just possible to walk all the way. But the pains in my thigh came on stronger and stronger and I only managed to reach Killin with the help of neurofen, paracetamol and intense entreaties to mother Tara.
At Killin I booked into the first hotel I came to - the Falls of Dochart. Oh, the bliss of civilised conveniences - someone bringing you food and drink - tea and biscuits and mineral water from the mini bar in your room with a little kettle boiling away at the flick of a switch - and a sweet, hot bath. My legs still sing gratefully to me.
I can’t walk on painkillers, I decided that I must return to Glasgow for rest and repair and start from Killin again later for the last 5-6 days of walking.
Photos: Near to parardise, German cyclists racing ahead of me on the road to Killin, Looking up Loch Tay - Queen’s View (Victoria, of course) over Loch Tay.
Days 1 & 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Days 5 & 6 | Days 7 & 8
