Bored

So my parents brought me to Angkor Wat and all I saw was a bunch of crumbling old buildings and dumb roots. Saw this little guy as I was taking pictures, fascinated by everything, in the ruins of Ta Prohm (see Ta Prohm and Ta Prohm II).

D.T. Suzuki with Kitten

Have always loved this photo. Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki, in robes, with a little kitten pawing his rakusu. [NOTE: There are so many teachings in this image].

Entrance to Minh Maung

Another image from my Sunday exploration out from Hue. Above shows the beautiful, stately, and decidedly auspicious entrance to the Tomb of Minh Maung (see Tomb of Minh Maung). Must be incredible when the Plumeria trees are in flower.

Aung San and Suu Kyi

Warm and dry coffee shop at Mile 25 camp after walking 10 miles in the rain from the village of Tikon (see Faces of Tikon). Hot tea and cookies were delicious. I gave my rain pants to the policeman (U Htee Zard) who had steadied me down all of the slippery clay slopes along the way in this coffee shop. I was particularly pleased to see the nice portrait of Bogyoke Aung San and daughter Suu Kyi displayed in such a prominent position.

Sarah Neufeld

Just discovered Sarah Neufeld (thx, Zöe Keating). Neufeld is a Canadian violinist who is best known as a member of the Grammy-winning indie collective Arcade Fire. In August of 2013, she released her first solo album, Hero Brother. The New York Times calls it "calmly ravishing" and featured a video of the track "Forcelessness" in a T Magazine piece about the beauty of violin and modern dance. Stop your Friday for a moment and view the video (and read the article) here. Full screen with a little volume. Mesmerizing. Spacious.

[NOTE: Hero Brother was recorded in Berlin by pianist and producer, Nils Frahm (see Nils Frahm), in a number of different locations with site-specific acoustics, e.g. an abandoned geodesic dome and an underground parking garage].

HH Dalai Lama in U.S. Senate

His Holiness the Dalai Lama offers the opening prayer in the U.S. Senate today. Among his words, from Shantideva’s Way of the Bodhisattva: “As long as space remains, and as long as sentient beings remain, until then may I too remain and help dispel the misery of the world”.

And, perhaps of greater relevance to the U.S. Senate, from the Pali Dhammapada: "All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him".

[NOTE: The Dhammapada is thought to contain the authentic teachings of the Buddha himself, spoken by him, memorized, and then compiled in the 3rd century B.C. for oral transmission].

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Two signs from Xijiang (see Xijiang Landscape and Morning in Miao Land) in Guizhou, China.

Buddhas and Buddhas and Buddhas

Assortment of plaster buddhas at Mohnyin Tambuddhei Paya (see Thambuddei Paya and Thambuddhei Paya II) in Monywa, Sagaing Region, Myanmar. I made a small donation to the temple and one of these little guys was placed along the wall in my honor. For the benefit of all beings. [NOTES: Plans are bring made for a return trip to northern Myanmar in May].

Truong Tien Bridge

Truong Tien bridge crossing the Perfume River in Hue. Orchid flowers are said to fall in the river during the autumn giving the water a light fragrance. The bridge was constructed in 1899 by Gustave Eiffel, the French engineer/architecture better known for building that tower in Paris. The Citadel flag tower, at 37 m the largest in Vietnam, is shown at the upper left. Love the houseboat cruising under the bridge. [NOTE: I am not convinced that the water in this section of the river smells like orchids during the autumn].   

Thibault Ledecq

Image above shows my dear friend Thibault Ledecq in a forest outside of the village of Ban Sopphuane in Bolikhamxay Province, Laos. Thibault managed the WWF rattan project in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam for six years, facilitated the collabotation between NYBG and WWF, and was the motive force behind the rattan book (see Finally, It's A Book). Thank you, Thibault.