spent in an electronic digital shop just round the corner from our ONE Hotel offered so much good stuff in terms of boom boxes and headsets and at such good prices too! We managed to find mobile microphone loudspeaker systems that we had been searching for to take with us on our pilgrimages.
Te biggest bonus that strikes any visitor however is the incredible politeness and good manners of everyone you meet. Taiwanese ladies have a graceful, gentle demeanour that
is quite endearing. I am
inspired to learn to speak at least conversational Taiwanese Mandarin before my next visit! Rinpoche and Kunchuk were determined to take us to Sun Moon Lake – to an extent that we wondered if there was a deeply spiritual dimension to this popular tourist place that they did not want to reveal to us. Sun Moon Lake, they informed us, is actually man-made, built during the days of the Japanese occupation. When we got there, we were greeted by a light shower that lasted for about five minutes. It was as if the place was welcoming us and we felt the beautiful energy of the lake even as we breathed in the peaceful serenity of the distant mountains. Te hills were covered in a soft mist on the day we arrive. It was beautiful. Te waters were a deep emerald colour, clean and drinkable. We did not leave until dusk, and just as we walked to the car, once again a light rain fell for a few minutes. It is like the lake was saying goodbye. We arrived back in Taichung in time to eat yet another hot pot dinner, this time at an old traditional place that resembled an old tea house inn. Te vegetables here were exceptionally fresh, and the meats sliced so thin they cooked in just a few seconds. The great variety of soups made each restaurant distinctive; this plus the special flavour of their sauces is what makes this kind of dinner so distinctive. One can eat just the proteins and vegetables cooked in soups, so good for a diabetic like me. I found it easy to control my diet.
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Khenpo Delek Rinpoche is truly an amazing lama who is so accomplished and knowledgeable about all the puja rituals needed. He knows exactly what prayers to perform for every type of situation and I feel very blessed to have him in my life. Here is one of my favourite photographs taken at his centre in Taichung recently - with Rinpoche on his throne, holding his beloved dog Raj, flanked by Kunchok, Hanni and me.
The next day, Rinpoche and
Kunchuk la arranged to do the special puja ritual to help me get well. It seems as if they needed me to go to Sun Moon Lake before they could perform the elaborate prayer session that comprised Protector practices followed by a special ritual offering to the river nagas of this Earth, a kind of appeasement ritual to ward off further illness and to help me recover. I guess this is one of the great blessings of my life, that there is someone as highly qualified as Khenpo Delek Rinpoche in my life who is also knowledgeable and experienced in doing the kind of prayers that need to be done. Watching him sitting on his throne in his Gompa performing the elaborate rituals with such relaxed confidence made me feel very fortunate indeed. There were two other monks they had invited to assist him and Kunchuk la. Tey were there to help with blowing the horns and the conch shell, while Hanni played the drum.
Tere were just the four of us, me, my husband, Hanni and Emillie, so it was a very intimate puja. We left Taichung the next morning
and arrived home in the early evening on a Saturday.
The next day I felt better, and
today, three days later, I am already feeling more energized. At last I can say I am no longer feeling lethargic. My sugar levels are steadily coming down, which is such a major relief. I am told by the doctor that it is so vital to bring my base level readings down to ensure the diabetes is truly well under control. I also need to be disciplined about my food intake; so it does require a lifestyle change of sorts.
Look at things this way. If it were not
Diabetes, it could be Heart problems or worse, Cancer, or Alzheimers. Of all the old people’s diseases, I guess at least one can manage Diabetes… so giving up carbs, and sweets is a very small price to pay. Tus I count my blessings.
NOVEMBER 2015 | FENGSHUIWORLD 37
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