Profound, brilliant glory

---

The Colorado lure continues as I've moved on to Red Feather Lakes, home of the Shambhala Mountain Center where meditation, reading and simple work tasks are the way of life. For six(ish) weeks I’m living in a community of hundreds as a fall volunteer given the task to take down canvas tents in preparation for the winter. Colorado winter at 8,000ft is too harsh for the tents to withstand so each spring and fall volunteers show up to take on the challenge (it is, however, quite unchallenging so far) of setting up or taking down the small housing tents and the large community gathering tents.

The center owns over 600 acres of undeveloped, stunning subalpine land with a maze of trails and paths throughout. The evenings and weekends offer ample freedom to explore, wander and find overlooks for watching the sun set. Yesterday, Gale (my tentmate), Sylvain (my friend) and I hiked to a rock overlook and spotted a juvenile black bear across the valley. The wind was in our favor and the bear had no idea we were around so we watched it eat, walk about and relax behind a stump. A few days prior I took a drive into town and passed a marshy swamp with a large moose not 30 feet away! My music and muffler caught his attention but he continued to graze and drink while I snapped pictures in that annoying touristy way. My first moose sighting out west -- I was pretty pumped.

---

Photos

colours
Intricate painting on the Stupa

home sweet padma 53 home
Gale and I (and as of late a small mouse) stay here