August 10th through 15th
This was our first trip to Moab and it was great. We met our kind benefactors, Colette and Tom, when we were in Yachats, Oregon. What started as an innocent question by Colette in Yachats turned into her taking on the task of organizing and sponsoring our trip to Moab. Apparently Colette has a reputation for helping those in need, from stray cats, dogs, a buffaloe, children, and now wandering monks. When she called her husband to tell him she is “bringing the monks home,” he replied, “of course you are.” As it turned out they did a great job and so many wonderful people came together to make our visit a memorable one.
I think I am going to call Moab the land of the healthy and hardy people. It seemed that everyone one there either rides, bikes, hikes, jogs, or eat organic and meditate. I was introduced to this healthy group by receiving vice-like, bone-crushing handshake from Tom (has to be one of the strongest 67 year olds I have ever met). Then there is Jose, king of the river guides, solid as a rock and peaceful as a dove. Jose of Griffith Expeditions and Karla of Canyonlands Field Institute even hosted us for a day of river rafting on the Colorado River (Westwater run). That was a sight, monks in shorts, ball caps, and sun glasses! Allyson was kind enough to take some pictures and I have them posted.
Marc, the master of the conch shell (he can hit some notes!), made this great video slide show of our visit. You can view it by clicking on this link -
6 Comments
I’m a little confused — there’s a picture of the blog’s oiginator in the welcome blurb, but there’s also a picture of Lo Song, the American monk. Is he also involved in creating the blog, or is that just a random picture of one of you precious holy people?
A few of you visited Sacramento, I don’t know, a few years ago: it was a high point of this life, without any doubt! It’s wonderful to be able to be in touch a little, as I’m disabled & therefore without a car & can’t travel to different places in California to catch up with you all…
I did write a sonnet about a moment that I spent with the old master of that group, which, as this form of western verse is complex but short (only 14 lines), and as it may be of some use to some student or seeker who find him or herself having difficulties conceptualizing emptiness… I sent a copy to Thubten Dharye Ling with permission to use or not use it in any way which might help anyone, and I humbly make the same gift to you:
DCLXVII
One awesome day, a Geshe held my hand
And gazed into my eyes, and we both smiled;
That day I was truly to understand
How by our words we all have been beguiled
I later thought I must have smiled so wide
I shut my eyes — but could not duplicate
The feat: no move of mine conspired to hide
His holy form, but such I must relate:
He disappeared, became unmanifest
And in his place was only Emptiness
But think it not devoid, o student, lest
Its beauty seeking eyes might fail to bless:
So full of Essence! Waiting, all diffuse
In rainblow particles, for Light to use!
With Great Respect and Many Many Blessings,
Analee
Hello Analee,
Thank you for sharing your wonderful words. To answer your question, Venerable Logsang is still the tour leader and is traveling with us. He did have to leave the tour briefly to take a trip to the monastery in India but has rejoined us.
So, are both the pictures at the top of the site of the same person? I try don’t have an eye for faces, but they seem so different to me. Forgive my confusion…
The top person is me – Chophel. The bottom person is Venerable Lobsang.
Dearest Chopel & Friends, Oh we all enjoyed your visit SOOOO much!!! You are a powerful reminder of our connection with the Spirit! And for me personally – to blow the Conch while you slid the mandala sand into the Colorado river was a moment I will always cherish. NOW I know why the Conch is an auspicious symbol … it felt like a sound-bridge between this world and the Buddah realms … THANK you for your encouragement! ALL Our Love!!!
Gosh it’s good to see you guys, even if it is ‘just’ photos and videos…
Um, now I have a question: From the Boddhisatvic perspective, one is not actually praying for liberation from all manifestation after the close of this life, but actually for manifestation in a realm perhaps finer than this yet close enough to maintain concern for and have an impact on the progress of souls incarnate on 3D Earth and other dimensions and locations — would that be correct?
I humbly thank you in advance for your time and concern in reading this query and your energy in responding,
Love, Light, Laughter and Beauty,
Analee