IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Lamlash, ISLE OF ARRAN, KA27 8GB

The Buddhist Centre for World Peace and Health on Holy Island off Arran is adjacent to the jetty where the little ferry from Lamlash docks. The Buddhist community here have several other retreats around the island. See http://holyisle.org/index This view is from the slopes of Mullach Beag on the path across the top of the island. Note how the wavelets on the sea are running perpendicular to the island's coast rather than breaking parallel to it, this was because there was so little wind and that which there was, was pushing the water between Holy Island and its larger neighbour, Arran, through the channel between them. Later the sea became glassy calm with no breath of wind - see Image]

The house is now a Tibetan Retreat.

This is a view from the little ferry which plies between Lamlash and Holy Island of the Centre for World Peace and Health http://holyisle.org/index/the-centre on that island. Run by the Samye Ling Buddhists, visitors can stay at the centre by pre-arrangement and attend courses there. During the recent inclement weather (of late March 2013) Holy Island was without electricity for eight days, though I would guess that the residents here were better equipped to deal with such deprivations than most.

Stupas are Buddhist reliquaries or shrines. This row of stupas can be found as one enters Holy Island on alighting from the little ferry from Lamlash. Holy Island was bought by the Samyé Ling Buddhist Community on 18th of April 1992. They run a retreat and courses here which are open to people "of all faiths or none", and it is certainly a peaceful spot for such a project. The Buddhists welcome visitors to the island provided that while there they stick to the five golden rules: To respect life and refrain from killing To respect other people's property and refrain from stealing To speak the truth and refrain from lying To encourage health and refrain from intoxicants (including alcohol, cigarettes and drugs) To respect others and refrain from sexual activity that causes harm See http://holyisle.org/index

According to the Holy Island Retreat website http://holyisle.org/index "A stupa is a symbol of the enlightened mind of the Buddha. Its function is to restore, balance and transform negative energies to heal both our planet and ourselves" - which can be no bad thing. There are apparently eight "great stupas" each representing great events in the Buddha's life. I would imagine that these are the eight seen here. Each of the eight stupas has a slightly different design - I know that the one furthest from the camera here represents "Nirvana" as it has the most distinctive shape. The eight great stupas are as follows, which may be the order in which they are seen in this image receding from the camera: Heaped Lotuses Enlightenment Many Doors Descent from the God Realm Great Miracles Reconciliation Complete Victory Nirvana

The jetty on Holy Island leads to this walled approach to the island. The little ferry from Lamlash can be seen approaching the jetty.

Lamlash village across the bay. The highest peak in the distance is Goatfell.

Originating from the Hebridean Isle of Eriskay, these ponies that bear the island's name are the last surviving remnants of the original native ponies. They share Holy Island with two other rare breeds, Soay sheep (see Image]) and Saanen goats (see Image] and Image])

The houses of Lamlash on Arran on the other side of Lamlash Bay.