As the monks approached, Tara realized she would need a more fitting vessel than the small bottle she had brought for Winston’ s ashes.
Sydney had brought several feathers to offer the monks and shared one with Tara, suggesting she sprinkle Winston’ s ashes onto it.
Tara reflects,“ Just as I opened the container, the bottle literally flipped out of my hand and landed on the ground, but face up without a speck of ash spilled. Everyone around us gasped, but when we realized all the ashes were safe and sound, there was a moment of shared amazement at what we had just witnessed!”
Tara quickly picked up the container and sprinkled the ashes across the feather just as Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara was approaching. She made eye contact with him, knelt and extended the feather to him, and said,“ Thank you— bless you.”
He smiled, took the feather from her hand, and placed it in the center of the bouquet he was carrying.
Blair, Sydney, and Tara were deeply moved by the many things they experienced in the monks’ presence. Tara concludes,“ Nothing affected me more than feeling the collective energy and longing of the thousands who had gathered to witness these holy warriors share their message of peace and hope for our fractured world.”
To learn more about The Ancient Sacred Buddhist Scripture Stupas( Dhammacetiya) and Walk for Peace, visit: dhammacetiya. com. •
LEFT: Winston and his feather. NEXT PAGE: Tara Conrad joins the crowd welcoming the venerable monks to the Charlotte area.
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