a land of Tibet

We're in our coracle on the Yangtze Dri chu on our way to Tongtaling! Our Footprint Tibet handbook indicates it is of the Geluk lineage and was founded by Kusho Tongta. The reliquary containing his remains is here. Reliquaries are stupas containing the embalmed remains or relics of highly regarded spiritual masters. As we know the embalming wouldn't be done for the benefit of the lama in the hereafter as in some cultures but for the benefit of the practitioners who followed who would be helped by this connection to the master's energy. In some cases the reliquary would also be fashioned into a sculpture of the lama for the same reason. I thought I'd mention a bit of the lore of the wheel of rebirth in the poem as it is a very basic part of Buddhism and hence all the lineages. I think the figure, Yama the lord of death that stands behind the wheel , serves a similar purpose to the analogy of the human life's being as difficult to obtain as for a turtle to put it's head through a ring in the ocean. Basically, he illustrates that death is inevitable , human life is precious but impermanent and it's therefore important to concentrate make the best use of every moment. He's also the guide through the state of suffering back to the way that progresses toward the escape. One of the stories of the origin of Yama is rather terrifying though! At one time in Tibet a hermit was absorbed in contemplation in a cave and was about to escape the suffering of existence when a group of robbers barged in with a bull they'd stolen. They cut the bull's head off and were about to divide up the meat when they noticed him. Afraid they would be caught they seized him and cut off his head . What they didn't realize was that the hermit , so close to achieving his aim, had developed tremendous shamanic powers! He grabbed the cow's head and slammed it onto his body and in a rage at having been cheated of his attainment grabbed them all, cut their heads off , and made a necklace out of them. Then he rampaged about the countryside terrorizing Tibetans until he was subdued by the Bodhisattva Manjughosa Jamyang of whom we know already! There's lots of other wondrous images here including those of the Four Guardian Kings the Gyelchen Zhi with Dhritarastra to the East, Virudhaka to the South, Virupaksa to the West, and Vaishravana to the North. They actually are energetic presences in Tibet and, like the Gadong and Nechung oracles communicate through an oracle who serves in this capacity for all four! An fairly recent account of this not long before the invasion of the Chinese army indicates that it can be seen which of the Guardian Kings is communicating by the weapons and accessory items the oracle uses. It is very tiring for the oracle though even with the protection of the physical form that these beings provide as they are enormously powerful. 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 the Yangtze Dri chu on our way to Tongtaling! Our Footprint Tibet handbook indicates it is of the Geluk lineage and was founded by Kusho Tongta. The reliquary containing his remains is here. Reliquaries are stupas containing the embalmed remains or relics of highly regarded spiritual masters. As we know the embalming wouldn't be done for the benefit of the lama in the hereafter as in some cultures but for the benefit of the practitioners who followed who would be helped by this connection to the master's energy. In some cases the reliquary would also be fashioned into a sculpture of the lama for the same reason. I thought I'd mention a bit of the lore of the wheel of rebirth in the poem as it is a very basic part of Buddhism and hence all the lineages. I think the figure, Yama the lord of death that stands behind the wheel , serves a similar purpose to the analogy of the human life's being as difficult to obtain as for a turtle to put it's head through a ring in the ocean. Basically, he illustrates that death is inevitable , human life is precious but impermanent and it's therefore important to concentrate make the best use of every moment. He's also the guide through the state of suffering back to the way that progresses toward the escape. One of the stories of the origin of Yama is rather terrifying though! At one time in Tibet a hermit was absorbed in contemplation in a cave and was about to escape the suffering of existence when a group of robbers barged in with a bull they'd stolen. They cut the bull's head off and were about to divide up the meat when they noticed him. Afraid they would be caught they seized him and cut off his head . What they didn't realize was that the hermit , so close to achieving his aim, had developed tremendous shamanic powers! He grabbed the cow's head and slammed it onto his body and in a rage at having been cheated of his attainment grabbed them all, cut their heads off , and made a necklace out of them. Then he rampaged about the countryside terrorizing Tibetans until he was subdued by the Bodhisattva Manjughosa Jamyang of whom we know already! There's lots of other wondrous images here including those of the Four Guardian Kings the Gyelchen Zhi with Dhritarastra to the East, Virudhaka to the South, Virupaksa to the West, and Vaishravana to the North. They actually are energetic presences in Tibet and, like the Gadong and Nechung oracles communicate through an oracle who serves in this capacity for all four! An fairly recent account of this not long before the invasion of the Chinese army indicates that it can be seen which of the Guardian Kings is communicating by the weapons and accessory items the oracle uses. It is very tiring for the oracle though even with the protection of the physical form that these beings provide as they are enormously powerful. 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!)