a land of Tibet

We're in our coracle on Yu chu on the way to Wamda Tsawa Dzogang! Our Footprint Tibet handbook describes it as being above the Yu chu on rocky spur. There are lots of trees here so unlike many other areas of Tibet where the dwellings are packed earth or brick, here they are made of wood. The monastery of Tsawa Dzogang Sangakling located in Wamda, a Geluk monastery that is described as having resulted from the conversion of the Bon monasteries in the vicinity. Actually, Tibetans used the wisdom of the Bon faith to work with the powerful spirits. This was usually done by requesting their aid as oracles and guardians of the teachings. Yeshe Tsogyel Padmasambhava were first to begin this practice; presumably they left guidance as to how to accomplish this shamanic task! As I mentioned, the story of the poem actually occurred recently sometime in the early twentieth century probably a few decades before the invasion of the Chinese army. The spirits establish the authenticity of an oracle in ways which can be rather frightening but which are harmless to the person. In this case the person actually pushed the hilts of a couple of ritual swords into the ground then leaned on them with their full body weight on closed eyelids. The spirit completely protected the individual thus demonstrating that they were indeed genuine! In the case of the Nechung as we know from the Dalai Lama's book the costume is so heavy that it would be impossible for the average person to move about with the tremendous force that the oracle exhibits. There's a lot more to add but as usual two as one we'll add to the notes later beautiful one!


	Through My Eyes * We're in our coracle on Yu chu on the way to Wamda Tsawa Dzogang! Our Footprint Tibet handbook describes it as being above the Yu chu on rocky spur. There are lots of trees here so unlike many other areas of Tibet where the dwellings are packed earth or brick, here they are made of wood. The monastery of Tsawa Dzogang Sangakling located in Wamda, a Geluk monastery that is described as having resulted from the conversion of the Bon monasteries in the vicinity. Actually, Tibetans used the wisdom of the Bon faith to work with the powerful spirits. This was usually done by requesting their aid as oracles and guardians of the teachings. Yeshe Tsogyel Padmasambhava were first to begin this practice; presumably they left guidance as to how to accomplish this shamanic task! As I mentioned, the story of the poem actually occurred recently sometime in the early twentieth century probably a few decades before the invasion of the Chinese army. The spirits establish the authenticity of an oracle in ways which can be rather frightening but which are harmless to the person. In this case the person actually pushed the hilts of a couple of ritual swords into the ground then leaned on them with their full body weight on closed eyelids. The spirit completely protected the individual thus demonstrating that they were indeed genuine! In the case of the Nechung as we know from the Dalai Lama's book the costume is so heavy that it would be impossible for the average person to move about with the tremendous force that the oracle exhibits. There's a lot more to add but as usual two as one we'll add to the notes later beautiful one! * courtesy of A Luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show productions. The information for the sketches is courtesy of the Footprint Tibet handbook by Gyurme Dorje. ( please click here to return to my spinning for you!)