Orange County Buddhist Church  

    My wife and I were fortunate in being able to travel to China last month (May).  And able is the key word here.  I finally found out what it means to be 65, even though I didn’t turn 65 until we got back a couple days ago.  Trying to climb the Great Wall is a heart-thumping experience, I must say, not simply because it is a visual and historical experience, but also because it is a physical one.  By the time we got to the third tower from the “entrance,” we were thoroughly exhausted.  One of the members of our tour group had a mild (she was able to continue with the tour, if not the climb) case of heat exhaustion.  I forgot to say that the temperature was in the low 90s and the humidity ditto.  But she was 76!  And in better shape than most of us.  I can only hope I make it to 76, let alone with her health!  On the other hand, my wife and I were able to climb one more tower higher than everyone else in our group or were the only ones foolish enough to try!  We would encourage anyone intending to go to China to go at as young and in as good physical condition as you can.  Do not wait.  It’s a huge country, with a lot of climbing needed; of stairs, if not of mountains.  And bring a lot of dollar bills.

    There is a lot more to say about our trip, but this essay is late.  If you read this before June 10^th, come to the service, where I’ll speak more about it.

Gassho,
Donkon Jaan, 
Rev. John Doami

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