Happy Wesak
Have you ever been to Mt. Shasta on Wesak (Vesak)?
I was never called to this annual - shall we call it a spiritual pilgrimage - but those who have return with incredible stories.
The journey coincides with the Full Flower Moon in May, Flower of Life Symbolism, and the birth of Buddha.
Full Moon 20° Scorpio
Wesak is celebrated each year on this full moon.
Flower Moon - Flower of Life Symbolism
Wesak or Vesak, also known as Buddha Purnima and Buddha Day,
is a holiday observed traditionally by Buddhists on different days.
Celebrates Buddha's birthday and falls on or around the full moon in Scorpio
The historic site of Buddha's birthplace in Nepal faces a serious threat from air pollution, scientists and officials have warned. Recent data collected from air quality monitoring stations in five places across the country show Lumbini is highly polluted.The warnings have come amid expanding industrialization near the sacred site.It is already located in a pollution hotspot on the Gangetic plains.
For the month of January, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Lumbini, in southwest Nepal, was measured at 173.035 micrograms per cubic metre. The reading for the neighboring town of Chitwan was 113.32 and the capital, Kathmandu, which is known for its high pollution levels, was at 109.82.
There's no way to escape blogging about the ongoing political upheavals that keep many engaged and others wondering if and when they will end. You know the answer ... they will continue on until the end with or without Trump as president.
Screaming at us on the news yesterday was Trump firing James Comey. It was predictable as Comey moves forward with the investigation of Russian connections to the November 2016 United States presidential election. Something always seemed wrong about the timing of the Hillary Clinton email fiasco shortly before the election. Was Comey coerced? What was going on behind the scenes? Will we ever know the truth? In the history of the Trump administration this story will stand out ... among others.
James Comey ...
The abruptness and timing of Mr Comey's dismissal, to put it mildly, is highly suspicious. Just over a week ago, the FBI director talked about his agency's investigation into Russian meddling in the US presidential election - and possible Russian ties to the Trump campaign - before a Senate committee. He was scheduled to appear before Congress again to discuss "worldwide threats" on Thursday.
Mr Trump has been tweeting almost non-stop about how the allegations are a "hoax" and the investigations are a "taxpayer funded charade".
Now the man overseeing that investigation has been shown the door - by Mr Trump himself.
What's the latest on the Russia investigation and where does fired FBI Director James Comey fit in? President Donald Trump's decision to terminate Comey sent shockwaves through Washington on Tuesday, with many senior Democrats accusing the White House of undermining the agency's investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to prevent Hillary Clinton's election. There are, in fact, multiple ongoing storylines and investigations related to Russia so it's worth taking a moment to break them out individually and see how Comey's ouster intersects with them.
