Samye Ling - Langholm - Carlisle - Kendal

We had a good night's rest, at Samye Ling's "Pure Lands" retreat centre ( samyeling.org ). In the Buddhist tradition, a mind of perfect sincerity inhabits "pure lands." We had breakfast, and were introduced to the community's new Stupa. It's a large stupa, so it's possible to go inside with a group. Here the community bid farewell to members who have passed away, chant and meditate.

Akong Tulku Rinpoche met us here, took our torch and circumnavigated the stupa three times. He blessed our torch, and told us some stories of the Buddha. One story is that in a previous incarnation, the Buddha brought water to an arid land. This story is commemorated by a fountain being drawn off from a pool of water in the stupa grounds. We bid a fond farewell to Samye Ling, and continued down the road to Langholm, onwards to Carlisle and into England...

Travelling through Carlisle, we seemed to avoid the effect of the historic cursing stone which is convroversally in residence there. From Carlisle the run got off to an ambitious start as Sarah from Italy attempted to run down the M6 motorway until she was caught up by Dhavala and put back on the right path: the A6.

From here to Kendal the run had no meetings with dignitaries or schools scheduled, but did pass through some fine scenery, as the A6 wove through the rugged hilly edges of the Lake District. The sheep were impressed. We passed through the very small but quaint Shap (a very Lake District name) to Penrith, a larger town where we had an alfresco car park lunch at a supermarket. By tea time we reached Kendal, a picturesque town of stone and slate buildings in the southern corner of the Lake District. We booked at the humble town centre youth hostel to a friendly reception.

Distance: 125km

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