Stupa Fun

Babita, one of my friends, came by today. She met Tenzin. Instant connection.  We decided to go for a walk to the Stupa and then around it a few times. Tenzin's face lit up like a light bulb when i told him.  The child loves the Stupa.  He kept asking: "How many times around?"  I was not sure why he was so excited until we reached.  (normally i try to be serious when doing Cora.  It is hard to be this way when a 6 year old keeps challenging you to run as fast as you can, to take ad-hoc pictures of strangers, to grab powdered incense while the shopkeeper turns his back and then throw it into the air as quickly as you can, to chase the birds and try and catch a few while they are flying toward the stupa and to do karate and wrestle whilst weaving your way through monks.  I learn a lot from this little one.  I think he is a keeper.) oh and yes................ IT WAS FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I cant wait to go again.

30 January 2010

I decided to inaugurate my painting stand with my first ever fully fledged Thangka painting.  I figured it would sit there for a while until i was more accustomed to the art.  Yesterday Tenzin visited me.  When he saw the stand his eyes lit up excitedly, he asked me for a book and some color pencils.  I couldn't refuse.  :)

Today I woke at 5:00am.  It was still dark outside and very cold.  I took a micro to Charbhil visit the little Stupa there to meet some friends.  We were en-route to Kakani in Nuwakot.  Here are some pictures:

Langtang Mountain Range 

You Cant See Me.

YOU CANT SEE ME!!!!!!!!  He screamed, in John-Cena-like overtones, as he jumped out right in front of me fingers spread, out of the sheer darkness into my only visible portion of the monastary.  I had just opened my eyes from the meditation and was coming back to my senses.  What a rush.  It was one of the little monks, about 10 of age, who, minutes before, had been intently chanting the preceeding mantras.  There were no lights in Kathmandu tonight, so we did the practice in darkness.  Given the nature of the liturgy, it was quite intense.  After this wrestling fans' display and the look of fear that was clearly on my face, we burst out with bouts of laughter as the situation was hilarious given its contrast.

The practice is called Chod.  I started it a few days ago after meeting a wise old man.  Its a tantric practice and invovles some esoteric activity.  You can read about it here http://www.bodhicitta.net/Chod.htm and / or watch more.

Today was day three.  On day two, one of the monks was banging on a big drum in front of me as the others played their mini drums (damaru) and chanted the mantras.  I had opened my eyes for a little while to catch him wallop the monk next to him on the head with the drum stick, and in perfect rythym too. :) His peer was teasing him by trying to grab a hold of the drum stick while his friend was banging the drum.  It must have been sore, because he let out a loud scream and put his head on his attackers lap in surrender.  The big drum banging monk went on with his syncopation in perfect timing as if nothing had happened.  I saw a few of the other monks let out a chuckle.  It was hilarious.  Were my eyes closed, i would not have even noticed the mini commotion.

On day one, we had to make a circle outside in the light of the moon.  Around 20 monks gathered, ranging from ages 7 to 50. Each had a traditional drum (damaru) in one hand and a thigh bone trumpet in the other.  I was not familiar with the excerise so i opted to stand outside the circle.  We started with the blow of the trumpet, the banging of the drum and then the dancing.  It was beautiful, drums, trumpets, dancing and chanting, all in perfect harmony. It was very intense. But on one acount, whilst the dancing proceeded, I noticed one of the monks had a packet of crisps in his pocket and was secretly eating it, whilst the others were engaging in rigorous practice.  To his surprise, his friend to the left, noticed the packet and started reaching out to steal his chips.  He managed to get a few and a fight ensued whilst the both of them were trying to keep rythym with the rest of the group.  I hosed myself.

Today i walked down the Boudha main road in search for cotton canvas.  I managed to pick up some pieces of wood, a few nails, screws and a hinge as well.  I decided to embark on a mini project, a paint stand.  Here is a before picture:

Here is the after picture:  

Thats it from me tonight.  I see you.  I hope you see me too.

Walk to Pashupatinath

It was 1:00pm.  We were lazing around.  Sharmila thought we should have a picnic at Pashupathi.  So we went walking:

Bittersweet

In my hallucination
I saw my beloved's flower garden
In my vertigo, in my dizziness
In my drunken haze
Whirling and dancing like a spinning wheel

I saw myself as the source of existence
I was there in the beginning
And I was the spirit of love
Now I am sober
There is only the hangover
And the memory of love
And only the sorrow

I yearn for happiness
I ask for help
I want mercy
And my love says:

Look at me and hear me
Because I am here
Just for that

I am your moon and your moonlight too
I am your flower garden and your water too
I have come all this way, eager for you
Without shoes or shawl

I want you to laugh
To kill all your worries
To love you
To nourish you

Oh sweet bitterness
I will soothe you and heal you
I will bring you roses
I, too, have been covered with thorns

~Rumi

Please oh please

The oil from this lamp, it is fading
And i know that the darkness surrounds
I've been keeping it safe for the burning
But the flame has been burning me down

Come and catch one more glimpse at the sweetest of flames
Come and see all your eyes have to see
One day soon i'll be gone like the ending of day
One day soon dawns the ending of me

I am good.  I am great.  I am someone indeed.
Magnificent, please come and see.  Let me
live let me live off the offerings you give
to the warm hearted image of me.

I am dark.  I am gross.  I am evil indeed.
I am bad to the bone. Come and see.  Let me breathe,
im in need of your harshest of words, of your
violent perceptions of me.

The oil from this lamp, it is fading
And i fear the darkness surrounds
Whatever my thoughts are about me,
this flame has been burning them down.

Come and save one more spark from this fire
Come and see me for all I can be;
I'm afraid, my dear love, of being one with this space,
with the emptiness inside of me.

On Meeting

Night makes the stars seem bright.  Clouds may cover the mystery, but nothing is hidden from the great expanse.  Kajol eyes tell a story, half hidden by doubting glances.  Still nothing is unseen to the one who loves completely.

There is a resonance deep within. There is a subtle space of perfect union.  There is freedom not yet known to the senses.  But Oh, lets not go there.  Its too risky.  What  if???  Lets stay here in this colorful illsuion for a while.  Lets tease each other with our careless words.  Lets play some more with thoughts and ideas and neglect.  Lets add more mass to a massive mind while we forget our inner sky.

A lifetime, maybe two or three.  Who knows??  Although separation means suffering, although heads may clash and these narrow walls get closer;  still there is some meaning in frivolous occupation.  But is there?  I dont know, sometimes the mind seems so content with artifacts and ornaments of yesterday; it will so readily exchange the now for yesterdays longing and tomorrows fear.

Never here.  Never now.  Like a withered old man with inflated memories and the crippling thought of impending death.

The way of seeing (part 1)

"Art is the way of seeing."  The silence became louder as this truth resounded in the space between us.  Two Beings joined together by this simple joy.  I knew this encounter would change something in me forever......

The sun shone bright above, leaving shadows of neo-classical carvings on the parched earth below. Fascinated by the architecture of the place, I roamed from room to room, from pillar to post.  So many things to see.  The building, Sita Bhavan, once a Rana palace, was supposedly built for the second wife of the Prince.  It is now being used by Bal Mandir, the childrens home that i have been spending some of my time in, and by the Nepal Association of fine arts.  An interesting convergence of painters, sculptors, children and aspiring artisans.

The time was 11:30am.  I did not know this then, but next few hours would leave a lasting imprint on me forever.  Two exhibitions were being held concurrently.  The Nepal-Korea art exhibition and a painting exhibition on Emotion.  The Nepal-Korea exhibition included:

A sketch art exhibition by artist Kim, Jae Un:


A natural dye exhibition by Jeon Hee Kwan entitled "Karma":




Last was an exhibition by Lee Gyeong Hyeong entitled "Plastic Cocoon":




I met both artists Lee Gyeong hyeong and Jeon Hee Kwan and was touched by their humility and their love and passion for people.  It was a blessed encounter.

I left the exhibition feeling energized and walked down the dimly lit corridor into a room on the left.  There was an exhibition on emotions: