This here is the beginning, it's still early morning, of the annual village festival. Half spiritual affair, half fate. And of course, at the helm as ever, is my wonderful host, Kencho.
The festival is an intense three days, starting with offerings to cleanse the village of evil spirits. Before I came on this journey, most of my readings had been about the original Buddha himself and his spirituality, his lifelong journey, his reaching of enlightenment and his philosophy and such. And although, of course, that is very prevalent here, the interesting thing is that the day-to-day activities that I see all the time and even festivals like this annual ceremony aren't about that at all.
They're all about what I would consider is almost like an animist belief. It's all about the appeasement of spirits and gods that come from the sky and the ground and effigies and devils and demons and it's all that sort of stuff. And I had just no idea about that.
It's so much more complicated than I'd ever given it credit for. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh I never got near my target on this journey, but by coming back to Laia, I feel I have got much closer to Kencho and I think I have understood something else. Life doesn't have to be all about achieving your goals, come what may. If the pass hadn't been blocked, I would have missed out on so much here in Laia.
But as it is, I have come to realize just what a remarkable community this really is. My Lord, you've all looked after me so well. I've got to know you. Amman, what can I say? Thank you for everything.
You are so lovely. Thank you so much. And Kencho, give me a hug. I don't know what to say. I don't know what to say.
I don't know what to say. I don't know what to say. I don't know what to say.
I don't know what to say. I don't know what to say. I have learned so much from you. You don't come any further, Kencho.
It's all very muddy here. You stay here. But thank you so much. You really have changed me as a person.
You've made me think so much about my life. And for that, I'm really very grateful. Thank you all. No, no, no, no, you stay.
Stay, stay. Stay, stay, stay, stay.