Sit!

Last day of 2013. If I was to make a resolution, it would be to intensify my sitting practice. More sitting, deeper sitting, more spacious sitting. Best way I know to deal with the three marks of existence, i.e. impermanence, suffering, and emptiness. Happy New Year everyone. A bow of gratitude (see Bow of Gratitude) to all who have visited thus i have seen. [NOTE: Calligraphy by Shodo Harada Roshi (thx, Dennis].

On The Way Out

2013 is on the way out. A rich year providing many opportunities and insights. Image above shows the tatami mats, shōji screens, shoe rack, han (see Life Slips Quickly By), and Kuanyin statue on the way out of EHZC. Of course, these mats go both ways, and the view above is identical to what you see looking back over your shoulder, e.g. to make sure you closed the door tightly, after entering EHZC. Years are like that, too. You have to leave one to enter the next.

Thanaka

The beige paste smeared on the faces of many women and children in Myanmar (see More Myanmar) is made from the grated bark of the thanaka tree (Limonia acidissima L., RUTACEAE). The paste is made by grinding a small piece of Limonia stem (shown above) on a circular stone called a kyauk pyin. [NOTE: Image is from a roadside market outside of Monywa in Sagaing Division].

Festivities

With all of the festivities yesterday, I wasn't able to post anything. I am also nursing a horrible cold. Snif, snif. Happy holidays to everyone. [NOTE: The cat in the background is named "Colby"].

Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung

So, we spent the morning in Monywa visiting Bodhi TahTaung (see Bodhi Tahtaung) and viewing the giant Standing Buddha statue (see Lakyun Setkyar Buddha). And then, Kyaw Thin Latt from WCS (see Growth Bands), who was leading the excursion and is a devout Buddhist, suggested that we visit the Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung monastery. This is where the Venerable Sayadaw U Narada was abbot when all the bodhi trees were planted and the giant statues were built. I thought this was a fantastic idea. Next thing I knew, we were in the bedroom of the deceased abbot sitting on the floor with the head monk flipping through photo albums of the statue construction and looking at pictures of all of the dignitaries (e.g. Senior General Than Shwe) that had visited.  I still can't believe this happened (thx, Latt).   

Sleeping Dog

Slow pan around the Miao village of Wudong (see Wudong) in Guizhou, China. I filmed this mid-morning when everyone was out working in their fields. Village was mostly abandoned. Good time for a dog to get some sleep. 

In Press (Finally)

Well, it's been five months since I first posted about the rattan book (See Almost A Book), but the good news is that the third set of proofs have been corrected, all is well, and Systematics, Ecology and Management of Rattans in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam will soon be printed in Hanoi by The Agriculture Publishing House. The volume is a joint publication between the WWF and NYBG, with a generous subvention from IKEA; it will be published in English, Vietnamese, Khmer, and Lao. For me, the best part is that under the ISBN number on the back cover it says "Not For Sale". The volume will be made available to communities, researchers, development workers, and other interested parties free of charge. 

Taking Refuge

This from Mohnyin Thambuddhei Paya (see Thambuddhei Paya and Thambuddhei Paya II). The giant king cobra, Mucalinda, rose up to protect Buddha from the elements after his enlightenment.  Appropriate place for two pigeons to escape the blazing afternoon sun in Monywa. Taking refuge in Buddha. 

Three Jumps to Tikon

Open Google Earth and enter "N25.49504 E95.02445" in the Search bar. You will zoom to northern Myanmar in the Naga Self-Administered Zone (formerly Sagaing Division) and see something like the image shown above. The yellow line in the upper left is the border with India. The coordinates you entered are indicated by the little grey box.

If you zoom in a little bit, a little strip of road will come into view and a red dot that says "Tigun" will appear (see above). Note that the village is really spelled "Tikon" and that the red dot is not located near the little strip of road.

If you zoom in a few more clicks, the village of Tikon will come into surprisingly clear focus. A small village of 13 household embedded in a sea of forest. Under the grey square with the coordinates is the school house where we stayed for a week. For the next jump, go here. A bit hard to get to, but what a great place once you do.

For The Time Being

Ruth Ozeki visited EHZC yesterday. She sat two periods of zazen, gave a reading from her terrific new book, A Tale for the Time Being, led a lively discussion, and signed books.  Ozeki is a novelist, a filmaker, a Zen Priest (ordained by Zoketsu Norman Fischer in 2010), and a fascinating, really nice person. Her visit on Sunday was much appreciated and enjoyed (thx, Ruth). [NOTE: Go here for the official book trailer for A Tale for the Time Being].