Ginger

A young vendor sells fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) rhizomes along a side street in Kathmandu, Nepal. See Kathmandu Produce for a sampling of other tasty items offered for sale by street vendors in this fascinating city. [NOTE: From the same box of old slides that produced Om Mani Padme Hum and Climbing on the Ponies].

Fetching Water in Kathmandu

I spent some time in Kathmandu in the late 1990's doing project evaluations for the Biodiversity Conservation Network, a US-AID funded consortium of the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and the World Resources Institute (see Scenes From Kathmandu). In the few spare moments that I had, I would walk around the city and take pictures. This one is from a neighborhood near the Boudhanath Stupa. Lady in red (center background) draws water in what, judging from the statues and stupas, looks like a very auspicious spot. Om Mani Padme Hum.

Kathmandu Produce

Colorful, tasty things for sale on the side streets of Kathmandu.  Another image from the same box of slides that produced Climbing on the Ponies, Om Mani Padme Hum, and Scenes from Kathmandu.

Om Mani Padme Hum

Prayer wheels at the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal. Each wheel is inscribed with the Sanskrit characters for the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, which is usually translated as "jewel in the lotus". The mantra is associated with Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and by reciting the mantra - or turning the prayer wheels to "broadcast" the characters which express it - waves of compassion emanate in all directions. Generating considerable merit for the practitioner. And purifying bad kharma. [NOTE: Apart from what the words mean, the sounds of reciting this six syllable mantra are said to resonant vibrations that help "tune" a human being toward enlightenment].

Mandalas

I keep getting drawn back to that old box of slides from my trip to Nepal.  This tiny stall hidden down a back alley in Kathmandu was selling beautiful mandalas. Microcosms representing various divine powers at work in the universe.  Sacred spaces separated and protected from the ever-changing. Vast Buddhafields. [NOTE: I wanted to buy one of these, but the owner of the stall was nowhere to be found. Talk about non-attachment].   

A Doorway in Nepal

Took this one afternoon while wandering through the streets of Kathmandu (see Scenes from Kathmandu). Certainly one of the most brightly-painted and auspicious portals I have ever encountered.  

Climbing on the Ponies

Happens all over the world.  Even with priceless ancient statues. Two little boys climbing on the carved horses at a Buddhist shrine in Kathmandu. The stone saddles on the horses were worn smooth from constant use.

Scenes from Kathmandu

In the late 1990's, I did some some project evaluations for the Biodiversity Conservation Network.  Some of these projects, e.g. Asian one-horned rhinos in Royal Chitwan National Park and sustainable exploitation of jatamansi (Nardostachys grandiflora) in Jumla, had me based in Kathmandu, Nepal.  [NOTE: These images have been scanned from slides.]