Well, again I am waiting for Trieu to get home from work. This time, though, I’m feeling silly for complaining about wedding planning (see last post, below), because all our plans are about to go up in flames. Literally. This morning, our wedding site, Pema Osel Ling, was evacuated because of a huge fire that started in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Looking at the (highly highly inadequate) map on the San Jose Mercury News, it looks like POL is inside the red circle of destruction.
Now, I should be feeling worried about all the people whose houses have burned, etc. etc. But instead I just feel absolute terror because our wedding (yes, our wedding that we already sent invitations to, got a caterer for, etc.), is probably going to have to be shifted in a major sort of way. Crap!!! (to put it mildly).
May 22, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Oh no!!!
May 23, 2008 at 12:10 am
That really sucks, for everyone involved.
Here is the only news I got that actually mentions that POL is burning:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=415294&page=5
May 23, 2008 at 11:02 am
I found your blog googling for information on how POL is doing. I hope your wedding plans work out! A friend sent me this from POL:
As many of you know, there is a serious fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Pema Osel Ling. Please pray for the well being of all the people and animals in the area and for the safety of the fire fighters. Eureka Canyon has been evacuated so all our friends at POL and our neighbors seem to be safe. Please also pray for the preservation of the dwellings of animals and humans, and for our sacred Dharma Center—the Land of Lotus Light, Pema Osel Ling.
Whatever your lineage, please lend your prayers. Recitations of The Seven Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche or Sampa Nyur Drupma or The Prayer to Guru Rinpoche to Clear Away Obstacles on the Path (“Du Sum Sangye Guru Rinpoche……”) or The Vajra Guru Mantra will all be very helpful.
Also included here is a prayer to Guru Rinpoche for pacifying the elements which Bhakha Tulku originally translated when Tsultrim Allione requested him to–during a time when Colorado was having serious fires.
Thank you very much! May all beings be Safe, May all beings Benefit.
Elemental Prayer
From Sampa Lhundrupma Prayer
(For any danger connected to the elements)
SA CHHU ME LUNG JUNG WAI BAR CHË KYIY
When obstacles of the elements, earth, water, fire & wind arise
GYU LÜ NYEN CHING JIK PAI DÜ JUNG TS’HE
if it becomes dangerous for both humans, animals and their dwelling places,
YÏ NYIY T’HE TS’HOM MË PAR SOLWA DEP
pray intensely to Guru Rinpoche without doubt.
ORGYEN JUNG WA ZHI YI LHA MOR CHEY
He is Padmasambhava, surrounded by the four element goddesses,
JUNG WA RANG SAR ZHI WAR T’HE TS’HOM MË
who will definitely pacify all dangers.
ORGYEN PEMA JUNG NAY LA SOL WA DEP
I pray to the Guru, Lotus Born.
SAM PA LHÜN GYIY DRUP PAR JIN GYIY LOB
May you fulfill our wishes spontaneously!
This prayer will definitely make a difference if you can repeat it at least 108 times.
I translated this prayer by Tsultrim’s request, due to the fire danger in Colorado.
Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche (From the Seven Chapter Invocation to Guru Rinpoche, a Northern Terma of Rigdzin Gö Dem)
May 23, 2008 at 11:20 am
If the latest fire map from mercurynews.com is correct, your wedding is safe! The three year retreat area on the right side of Eureka Canyon Road, not so good…
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&msa=0&msid=102777535042488518720.00044dd25ae1b131a56cd&ll=37.02558,-121.879578&spn=0.740056,0.720978&z=10&source=embed
May 30, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Hello,
I found your website while googling. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. We had our wedding at POL. I can’t imagine Peter’s food being described as you have done so. We had 230 guests and catered the most expensive dinner, and 5 other meals. Everthing was amazing and a few of our friends are planning a wedding there in 09 because the food was so delicious. Maybe you prefer different food or it was a bad day but our experiences were great. Also the fire barely affected the property and they are confident they can hae it repaired by the time you are getting married. I hope this helps. I just wanted you to know we had a wonderful experience there and are confident you will too.