Around The Stupa
Round & Round everything moves
Surrounded by the circle of life
The sound of movement reverberates in all directions
It is everywhere
The scraping of feet
The flapping of birds flying in circles
The barking of dogs
The echo of bells and the clapping of hands hang in the air
The conversation of life and laughs
Blends in with the repeating of mantras
All as the rickety prayer wheels turn and squeak
The Stupa
A place where all backgrounds of life converge
As layers of life separate and merge
A sea of monk’s robes streams out from surrounding monasteries
As beggars and cripples sit stationary with outstretched hands
Some people turn a blind eye to the blind
While others give compassionately give
A pregnant dog lies on the ground
As other dogs roam around
Locals, Tourists, Pilgrims, Street kids, Buddhists,
Hindus, Business men and Short Tibetan Grandmothers
All circumambulate
Under the all-seeing protective eyes of the Stupa
With different needs
Everyone walks at different speeds
Some go fast and some go slow
But even when you’re walking alone
Everyone moves together as one
With every step, offerings are made
Butter lamps are burned
Prostrations are made
And Selfie’s are taken
People eat from roof top restaurants
And gaze down at life in motion
As shops sell souvenirs
Malas are held and fingered
Heads are gently placed against walls and monuments
Wishes are made in the same breaths that mantras are recited
Smoke from the burning incense permeates the air
As it blesses those that walk through it
People sit in silence on benches
From the early morning until late
People come to circumambulate