What a day

birthday
As nice as it would have been to have the rest of my kids and Grandchildren with me on my Birthday yesterday, I know I will be celebrating it with them this weekend.
But my actual Birthday yesterday, was nothing short of extraordinary.
My Wife and little girl made the whole day so joyful and peaceful. I was loved, hugged, kissed and given gifts. Special foods were prepared, and the most delicious Birthday cake was baked.
Then, on top of all that, I was visited by three Monks in the evening who joined us for dinner and to celebrate!
We ate, we talked, we laughed. The love that I felt from everyone in my home nearly brought me to tears several times.
After all of that, I was informed that the Monks wanted to give a special blessing for me.
The three of us sat down on cushions on the floor, while the Monks sat on the couch. Bhante Sujatha unwound a string (Pirith nuula) that we passed along to each other, each holding a place on the string as a symbol of our connectedness.
We were then asked to gently close our eyes so that Bhante may lead us in a brief meditation, followed by a chanting of blessings.
After about fifteen minutes, Bhante’s guided meditation stopped. There was a brief silence, then, gently the chanting began.
For those of you who have not experienced Buddhist Monks chanting, especially up close and personal, it is something that defies explanation.
While not able to understand one single word of what they chanted, immensely powerful feelings of love and compassion flooded over us. With our eyes still closed in meditation, I felt so loved and protected. I often felt my face smiling, then I felt tears well up. I felt at peace and ease, so blessed and fortunate.
The tones of their chants reverberated through the walls, through my bones and muscles.
I wish that you all could have been here with me!
Below is a recording of the chanting I was blessed with yesterday. It is about eighteen minutes long.
If you have the time, please find a quite place for yourself, sit down, close your eyes, and listen to this.

I started my day yesterday with no expectations, and what a day it turned out to be!
Thank you so much to my Family. Thank you to all my friends who sent me their love, blessing and good wishes.
And thank you so much to these blessed Monks, who share their love so unconditionally with the whole World, and offered such a special blessing to me and my Family last night.

Buddham Saranam Gacchami, Dhammam Saranam Gacchami, Sangham Saranam Gacchami

May you be well, happy and peaceful.