Monday, November 16, 2009

print-club






My butoh dancer friend Yasuchika Konno has a new website up, and a new performance. You might want to see this. It is, at times, breathtaking.

another picture of the Dalai Lama in Niihama.


Junya, my beautiful brother from Tokushima, came over last night with one of his amazing friends, Olu, who he met in Oklahoma. Olu will be moving to Niihama January to work at an English conversation school. It was an honor hosting them.



And one of my last views of Terri. I miss her already.



the tree was cold and wet, which made the bark a wonderful purple. And i got to see Terri play. It was her first time to The Tree.




I took some purikura (tiny little sticker photos) for my students. We do purikura exchange.
you can see more here.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Development


Here is a new painting I'm doing on commission.
Terri, Chris, Ty and I went sailing.



Here is Emily and Terri at a birthday party.
The Yanagi's visited my tiny painting show.

And here I am with some of my students.

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Dalai Lama in Matsuyama

The Dalai Lama spoke to a few thousand people for two-and-a-half-hours in Matusyama yesterday. Actually it was more like three hours because he stayed after for questions.

It was so funny, at the beginning he asked in Tibetan (translated into Japanese) “Who here speaks English?” Only a few people raised their hands. Then he asked the question again in perfect English and many more people raised their hands. He laughed, sat back, thought for a minute, and then said, “When I get asked a question, sometimes the question itself gives me an entirely new perspective, or a new way of looking at things.” That was the little sermon he gave the English speakers. He also said in English at the end, “If you think anything I said today was useful, please think about it again. If you don't think it was useful, you can just forget it, no problem!”

The rest of his talk was in Tibetan and Japanese. Every once in a while he would use English to clarify a certain word for the translator, so it would be “blah blah blah interdependence blah blah blah basic mental state blah blah...” That was kind of fun...

But I tell ya, The Dalai Lama has such a powerful presence. He walks out on stage and spends time looking at and smiling at every person, he laughs and waves, then he prostrates to the Buddha. After that, we are all in love, and everything he does, whether its scratching his nose or adjusting his hat, makes us laugh or smile. Especially when he remembers something and giggles to himself, we all giggle. He pulls it out of us and leaves us in a state of cheerful, playful, joy. I can only imagine how amazing it was for the Japanese people who could understand the translation! I just went to see him though, so the little bit of English at the beginning and end was an unexpected gift.

This morning I remembered many dreams, and today I felt clear and energetic all day.

Monday, November 02, 2009

Dalai Lama Consecration




The Dalai Lama came to Niihama today to consecrate a new stupa! Here he is walking into the temple courtyard. Emily and I got to participate in this event and meet him afterwards! It was...



Everyone chanted the Heart Sutra with the Dalai Lama as part of the consecration. The Heart Sutra, (which represents the heart of buddhism and the heart of existence, "Emptiness is none other than Form, Form is none other than Emptiness") they say was expounded by Avalokiteshvara itself, (the bodhisattva of compassion). The Dalai Lama, if you forgot, is believed to an embodiment of this very deity, so I found it interesting to be able to chant the heart sutra with it's original author. =)



After the consecration he invited the monks up for a group photo. It was adorable! He also went around and met everyone who participated. The Dalai Lama held my hand, looked into my eyes, and said,
"Hah, where are you from? Europe?"
"America." I replied. He then looked into Emily.
"And you?" he asked.
"Yes, America."
"I see."
It was amazing. I am so happy.



Consecration: first he unveiled the stupa, and placed a kata (holy scarf) around it.
Then, while the Dalai Lama chanted, a monk put a buddha and relic (tiny bone) into the stupa.
This was the first stupa inJapan to have a hand-delivered relic from the Dalai Lama.

Consecration.
I can't wait to see him again tomorrow!!! I am so lucky!!!



Sunday, November 01, 2009

banana


May all beings be Free and in Love.



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