around the world again

Today is Saint Patrick's Day. See all the Irish people.

I am just in time to see the river turn green. Some how this looks like something the Joker from Batman would do.

That me at the green river.

I am not sure if this isn't a form of envirormental destruction. Some how I have a hard time believing that green die is benefitual to the river's eco-system. Any way we do it once a year on St. Paddy's day.

See real Irish people not Mexican. Many cultures live in Chicago.
Saint Paddy's Day

I went downtown today to see the Chicago river. Everyday on Saint Patrick's (Paddy's) Day the city dies the river green. As I got to the river I could not tell if I got to the river too early, to late or was I just in time. The water looks green to me but it always looks green.

There was a something going on in downtown Chicago. I figured it was the Saint paddy's day parade.

I notice that a lot of Mexican people where there. I thought Mexicans must really enjoy this holiday.

I did not see any Irish people. I thought that was strange.

I figured it was really a protest rally. It has something to to with the passing of new immergration laws.

Are Mexicans Irish?

India and Thailand have their cold seasons. So do we in Chicago.

After surviving Thailand's cold season, here I am. The cold season in Chiang Mai is closer to the summer in San Francisco. Would you like ice with that?

Downtown Chicago.

Many cultures and ethic groups live in Chicago.
Chicago in the winter.

Which of these is a Buddha image?

This is a Buddha image.

This is not a Buddha image.

These are Buddha Images.

This is not a Buddha image.

This is not a Buddha image.

In the Buddha's life time he did not allow images to be made of him. It was only after several hundreds of years that Buddha images started being made.

So Images of the Buddha are not images of the Buddha but images of the ideal of the Buddha.

The Wheel was used to represents Buddhism before human images were allowed. The Fat, happy Chinese monk that most westeners think is a Buddha Image, is not. He represent good fortune and prosperity in Mahayana Buddhism.

Buddhism

Ring the bell. Many temples have bells and gongs and things to ring. But not every temple does.

These are Buddha images one for each day.

This is not a buddha image but is a guarding. Nice snake, nice snake.

This is an ancient temple. Its still in use.

This is a Buddha Image.

Buddhism is an older religion then Christistanity. But we in the West often get information about Buddhism that is misinformed.

Elizaberth the Queen of England. It would not be polite to call her Queen. The late Pope John Paul. We would not say, Hay John come here. Hay Pope...

Buddha is a title. It means the enlighten one. It's not someones name. That why it is more polite to say The Buddha when speaking of Gautama Siddharta.

The Buddha's original name was Siddhartha. It meant one who had accomplished his aim. Gautama was Siddhartha's family name. Siddhartha was known all over the world as The Buddha, the Enlightened. He was also known by the name of Sakhya Muni, which meant an ascetic of the Sakhya tribe.