Thoughts from Asia, minor grumblings, and random reactions

So far I am really happy with the way the blog has been going. It's seems that the readers are also enjoying themselves and for that I thank you...after all it's for you to enjoy.

I have now gotten myself settled in. I have an apartment but will be moving in the next month or so and I have 2 more weeks of teaching english during the holiday. Then the fall term starts September 1st. In the interim I plan on travelling to a few places and I think I will begin planning these excusions in the next few days. As Biggie said "and if you don't know now you know..." Those in the loop know a little more details about what has been happening but this is not the time or place to discuss it publicly...not to mention it's a long story and will probably make me a bit annoyed and worked up if I start thinking about it!!

Things are a little strained, but can you imagine? Living in a strange land on another continent, with an entirely different culture and way of life. I mean it's even 12 hours time difference from what I am used to...literally night and day!! Not to mention the language barrier. But it's all good, we all deal with it in our own ways, the most important of them being acceptance.

All of my friends seem to be getting a kick out of me being a little G'd up here and have been asking about it. The funny thing is that EVERYONE stares at you here, so I figured I might as well embrace it a little. The other thing is that right before I left America I watched the Ressurection film about Tupac and honestly it had a bit of an effect. I have always loved him as an artist...but I felt that the movie gave a lot of insight to him as a person and a look into the true meaning of Thug Life. So I guess I have decided to embrace a little thug life myself. LOL for those who really know what that means, cool....those who don't are going to hate and draw their own conclusions anyway. Lastly it is just my way of clowning around. Sometimes it gets a bit stressed around here, and you need a way to blow off some steam...what can I say?


I finally have a phone, which is great, and I can't wait to get into my new place. They have amazing phones here, models I have never seen in the US. Like the razor phone from Motorola..they have a version 3 here. The funny thing it costs more than a moped...go figure.

Ricky asked about people riding bikes...not too many people do it around here. There are cars (a few), taxis (muy), motorcycle cabs and people that have these hybrid moto trikes that are usually used to haul things around.

It's funny because I could probably write for hours about things that you see here that you don't see in the US. For example the people who sell produce on the street...if they are selling a small product they usually can sell it out of a wagon or the back of a trike, but there are people who sell watermelons who just have a huge stock and camp out until they are all sold. There is a family that has been outside of my building for the last week...they have sleeping bags, booze, tea, a little table and lamps. It's pretty bizarre, especially when you are walking home at night and they are asleep with their goods.





Joan asked about this picture, and I figured I would answer. Although these animals are generally considered auspicious by tibetans, there are meditation manuals on shamatha meditation that use these animals to symbolize the stages of mental development as one progresses in meditation.

Before beginning mental training and in the beginning stages the mind is compared to a raging elephant...almost impossible to control, going where it pleases and generally obtuse.

As you train the mind in calm abiding, it will become like a monkey...it still runs all over the place and is difficult to control, but if you give it an object of focus you may be able to hold its attention for a brief amount of time. This is equivalent to shamatha with a focus such as the breath or an image.

Next is the rabbit. The mind has achieved some stability in calm abiding but still needs the right conditions, such as a quiet place to practice and an absence of distractions otherwise it will bolt and run off...much like a disturbed rabbit. However you may experience brief moments of calm when there is nothing to bother you.

Lastly the mind is like a bird...free to fly without limitations. This is the realization of Mahamudra or Dzogchen where the mind has no boundaries and constantly stays in the presence of calm abiding and its true nature.

Of course if you look at the diagrams there are many stages and the last 2 animals do not appear for a pretty long time. The animals first appear colored all black, and as the stages progress become white until they are fully "pure".

This is only my own recollection and is extremely poor at best. Since I really don't have any qualifications to explain this I urge you to consult a qualified source such as a Lama for more information. All mistakes or inaccuracies are purely my own fault. I really don't have any idea what I am talking about, but like a parrot I can sometimes recite things that I have heard in the past...but it's better to talk to someone who has some sort of experience and credentials.

In regards to practice, I have been trying to find time to do the formal stuff, but just being here is a practice in patience and tolerance at the very least...and I am not always succesful. But when I have been able to sit down and do some formal meditation it has been really great, I think there are different vibes here in China/Tibet , this holy place I have the privaledge of residing in. I really can't wait to get out of the city into some rural areas and feel the energy there!

Anyway, more to come...I have a new batch of pictures ready to post, but I will wait until next time to share them. Until then stay tuned true believers.