“When I was young, I loved to go to the local Travel Agent’s office where they would give me copies of their old brochures. I would take them home and cut out the photographs of these distant, exotic places - Europe, Asia, or the Caribbean - and then tape these pictures to my wall and imagine what it would be like to visit. But I grew up poor in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and my parents and grandparents could only dream of taking vacations like these.

Buddhists believe that our ancestors, even if they have died, are still alive in us - that our bodies are not ours alone but a “living continuation of our mother, father, grandparents and great-grandparents.” That “my” eyes are “our” eyes, that what “I” see, “they” see. That what I experience affects them.

I am fortunate now to have the opportunity to visit many of these distant places that I dreamt of as a child. And when I travel it brings me joy to know that it is not me alone who has the chance to see these places, it is my ancestors as well.”