California is plumb full of hiking trails. Today we drove 90 minutes to the Land of Medicine Buddha, fifteen minutes south of Santa Cruz, a Buddhist retreat carved into the Santa Cruz mountains, a hop, step, and a jump beyond the little town of Soquel.
After paying our respects to one of the seated Buddhas and taking a spin at the prayer wheel, we opted for the six mile loop, a trail that took
us up the side of a mountain, then three miles later, a sloping descent to a canyon nestled by redwood trees and a barely surviving stream, which we hope will become much healthier in the days to come.
There were plenty of places in the forest to stop and meditate…
and donate…
We found our way up the mountainside, past a stupa under construction, and the headwaters of Six Mile Loop, which began by taking us straight up the mountain. I was already regretting signing up for six miles, thinking that this initial climb was as steep as I could manage. I stopped several times to catch my breath, rest my legs, then continue up.
We met several hikers along the loop, some almost as old as we are, many with dogs. In the living quarters of the Buddhist retreat there are several rooms labeled “dog friendly, as dogs, being sentient beings, are treated with respect and are provided with food and comfort.
No doubt the several butterflies and hummingbirds (not pictured) that flitted around the grounds were treated with similar respect, as is all living beings.
profitable land
safety of the family
deceased family members going to heaven
those alive living longer and healthier lives
aspirations being fulfilled
no flood, fire, or similar disaster
losses and failures being avoided for the whole family
family members being freed from nightmares
being protected by celestial beings wherever they go
frequently encountering holy connections.
And while we don’t know or understand what “Ksitigarbha Pure Land” means, these people who love the land and all living beings, who are compassionate and loving, are all we need to know.
Several redwood trees had fallen, requiring us to climb over their carcasses. Erosion in the banks underneath the trees hint at the next ones to take the plunge.
Opossums are honored as well as the rare and nearly extinct “telephone booth.”
We walked mostly in silence, taking in the spiritual benefits of being in such a lovely place on such a beautiful day, recognizing how fortunate we are to be alive, to be able to witness such beauty, to have our health, and to have each other.
