I meet up with Jane, a mom of an art student.  We had a yummy vegan lunch on the top floor of the Jiming Temple which was built in the Southern Dynasties by Liang wu-ti.  The existing temple was built in the Ming Dynasty overlooking Xuanwu Lake.   Behind the temple there is a section of the palace wall called Taicheng.   We decided to walk the great wall to the next temple at Jiuhua Hill Park.  It was a chilly afternoon and very few people were out, making it quiet and relaxing to chat about Buddhism, art, food, and just plain girl talk.   Strolling on the top of the wall was picturesque to say the least.  As we walked along looking down we saw a statue of a golden Buddha nestled between the wall and the hill, in the private quarters of the monestary.  It was nice  to see monks in saffoon robes  going about their daily life, without noticing us.

Leaving the wall we walked up the hill to the temple.  As we meandered through the magnolia trees in the park, there was a lovely voice coming from someone singing  in the distance.  At the top we saw the temple and a pagoda roofed gazebo where we found a beautiful woman standing in front of a monstrous bell, as she sang she would periodically clap the bell.  The sounds were ever so harmonious.  Jane was curious and we stood and listened.  I figured the woman was centering her chi with the melody she was creating.  We sat down and the woman came over and sat with us and we had the most wonderful spiritual conversation about praying, God,  how Buddhism is accepting of all people.  This wise woman is a painter and a writer, just like me!  We agreed that our meeting was not by chance.  I told her my story of Andy and the happy Buddha, she smiled and bowed with prayer hands graciously and said there is a little Buddha in everyone.   Her kindness was delightful.  Sun Yu Fen said she would bring me a copy of her writings to our school this week as a gift.  Jane had never been around a Buddhist or really spoke about spiritualism and was so happy to translate.  We walked down the stairs  to the temple, hearing rhythmic chanting.   It was prayers for dead ancestors.   I was in the right place, it was a good day.  I said a sweet prayer for Andy and June. We left the temple with free books in hand and headed down the street.  A beggar came up asking for coins, Jane pulled away.  I stopped, found a coin in my coat pocket and placed it in his bowl.  I told her it was alright.  Giving to the man in need is always good, because when you walk away, you shouldn’t  feel bad.  I know to give will show compassion and I will not have a bad feeling.  She seemed okay with my answer and we moved on.  She pointed out a vegan shop to buy some vegetarian food to take home.  She got a cookbook and I got a package of fake duck.  I saw a Tibetan Buddhist shop and of course had to go in.  I explained to Jane about the Tibetan singing bowls and bought a small prayer wheel.  I asked for any books in English and after much raffling around the store manager found the only one, a very lovely book on Tibetan Buddhism and gave it to me free of charge.  It was such a spiritually blessed day.  Home we went, Jane now wanting to learn to cook with vegan meats and I very thankful for sweet encounters.