Ramblin' Rose

Sacred Circle

2012-01-22T14:44:00.000-05:00

Due to a confluence of energies and visions, several mandala exhibitions and programs are inhabiting the Emory campus this spring. From the ancient Tibetan tantric and meditation practices at the Carlos Museum to more contemporary art forms to plans for a living mandala planting near Cannon Chapel.

The latter idea grew out of a conversation the Dharamsala arts travelers had with His Holines the Karmapa in 2008.

A mandala by New York artist and Morehouse College alumnus Sanford Biggers forms the centerpiece of the Visual Arts gallery, providing a dynamic space for music and dance.

Everything, it seems, goes in a circular motion. My colleagues and I will be circumambulating these places and spaces to see what new visions unfold for us.

. . . Then so it shall be

2012-01-02T11:40:00.001-05:00

There is a ginkgo tree outside of my office on the Emory campus. I have the pleasure of seeing it change with the seasons and also collecting its leaves. In so doing, I observe the beauty of the oldest living tree in existence, one that has survived the ages--including drought, floods, global warming and even the ravages of Hiroshima. In Japan it is known as the "bearer of hope" due to its resilience and persistence. The elegance of the tree reminds us of the timelessness and power of nature.

The gingko nuts and leaves are sources of health, reputed to enhance circulation, memory, and general well being. In Asia, the tree is often associated with spirituality, planted near temples and shrines as a symbol of longevity, hope, resilience, and peace. Gingkos figure prominently in visual art and poetry throughout China, Japan, and Korea.

This year, I choose the gingko leaf as the image for my New Year's resolution, really more an intention or a statement of desire than an expectation. And I pair it with a phrase provided to me by my friend, collaborator, fellow artist, and spiritual advisor, Anna.

At the end of 2011, I relayed to Anna a wish that was brewing within me, and she replied quietly: ". . . . And so it shall be."

A poignant story she told accompanies this phrase, a reminder of the pleasures of surprises, hopes, and connections. I'm happy to share it with all who inquire over the coming year as offering insight into the possibilities of what might come to pass along this unpredictable journey through life.

Wonders of 2011

2011-12-29T10:38:00.012-05:00

There were many comings and goings, miracles and migrations, gatherings and reconnoiterings, celebrations and seasonings in 2011.

Here are just a few of them.

Bluff Drive

2011-10-22T23:30:00.002-04:00

Established 275 years ago, Isle of Hope celebrated its anniversary with a parade of vintage cars and golf carts, an art show, tours, and neighborliness. Young and old enjoyed the beauty of the day and the appreciation of the deep history of a place known for providing health as well as hope, home as well as happiness.

It was especially meaningful to enjoy the proceedings with my parents in their cottage and to be reunited with family and old friends.

I Love Paris in the Fall

2011-10-19T21:14:00.006-04:00

Paris in the fall is full of beauty, wonder, art, and life. In celebration of the publication of the Letters of Samuel Beckett, Volume II, my Emory colleagues and I re-discovered literary haunts on the Left Bank and a certain Parisienne savoir faire within ourselves.

There were a few parties and receptions as well!

Waking Up at Isle of Hope

2011-09-11T09:51:00.000-04:00

Serenity: currents of family, history, tides, and local passersby. All these and more make up the drama that unfolds each day on Bluff Drive at the Isle of Hope.

Summer Migrations

2011-08-12T07:14:00.008-04:00

After a summer of globe-trotting, it was wonderful to return to Florida to visit with family and friends.

A Whale of A Whale

2011-08-10T23:37:00.005-04:00

There are many legends associated with the sighting of a whale. One Costa Rican morning at Playa Flamingo we awoke to the sight of gatherings on the beach where clumps of early beach crowds had discerned a whale and her calf in the distance. Dark spots on the horizon captured our fascination as well.

But it was later in the day, on our return from a snorkeling expedition, that the boat crew on the Lazy Lizard detected some of those same kind of dark spots, but this time nearby. Cutting back the engines of the boat, we all waited quietly, seeking the presence of these awe-inspiring creatures. All the same, we were startled when the mother whale breeched within 30 yards or so of the boat. One of our fellow passengers had the presence of mind to catch the rapture of the moment.

And we all took that whale's appearance among us as a sign, an omen, a signifier that we were somehow, despite our differences, at one with her nature. The whale became part of us.

There is, one knows not what sweet mystery about this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seems to speak of some hidden soul beneath. . .
Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

Pura Vida

2011-08-10T23:25:00.008-04:00

Living life to its fullest, that is the loose translation of the common Costa Rican greeting pura vida. And there is something about the fullness of nature and beauty that inspires a complete immersion into this way of being. We ziplined, hiked, body surfed, dawdled along the beach, went snorkeling, and became nearly expert at stand up paddle boarding.

Oh, and did I mention, had more than our fair share of mojitos as we watched the color-filled sunset each evening? Could there be anything more to pura vida?

Am I Blue?

2011-08-10T22:51:00.019-04:00

I
You'd be, too--if you could be this beautiful. The Blue Morpho butterfly populates the mountain and rain forest regions of Costa Rica.
Its wings reflect the boundlessness of the skies; its grace the elegance of nature.

The first stop on our Costa Rican journey was at the Blue River Resort near the volcano. Here we recovered from the intensity of our recent move: The vividness of the Azul River, and the nearby waterfall, signifying that this country is as full of natural wonders as its reputation asserts.

The river and all its surroundings display a wide range of biodiversity.We even made friends with a baby Toucan who had been rescued by the botanical garden staff.

Moving--and Shaking!

2011-08-09T22:27:00.015-04:00

Words are limited; emotions are extreme. Many memories, and much work, make a beautiful and spacious house an abiding home. A few pictures can tell the real story.

Leaving our home after 20 years wasn't easy (or fun).

The memories will go with us wherever we may wander.

Peachtree Runners: Unite!

2011-07-09T23:02:00.004-04:00

Planning the expedition . . .

Documenting the moment . . . gathering with friends . . .

Celebrating the runners . . .

A July 4th with all of the usual suspects--and a few visitors from afar.

Doorway to the Future

2011-06-24T05:35:00.000-04:00

The children in Asia remind us of all we have in common with people across the world. Almost everyone under the age of 30 spoke English quite fluently. They also welcomed our presence in their midst. These young people provide the doorway to our shared future.

Fellow Travelers

2011-06-23T16:53:00.002-04:00

Group travel requires good will, patience, esprit de corps, and self understanding. Our group displayed all of these qualities and more. It was a pleasure to learn from my "Emory School" colleagues and from those we met along the way.

City Lights and Sights

2011-06-23T15:48:00.001-04:00

Hong Kong is where east meets west. A thriving multicultural city, our senses were stimulated by the vastness of the buildings, the variety of the cuisine, and the vibe in the air. Its universities are transitioning to a four-year curriculum, and their facilities are modern and innovative. We couldn't have asked for a more engaging time for a final stop on a whirlwind visit to Asia.

Food for Thought

2011-06-23T15:26:00.003-04:00

Our visit to Asia was full of thought, action, and multi-course meals. Every place we visited brought forward local favorites and tasteful presentations. It was also a tea lovers delight!

Just a Few Random Photos

2011-06-23T14:50:00.005-04:00

Cross-cultural friendship

DMZ

Climbing the Great Wall

Rickshaw ride

S. Korean classmate

Distinguished Korean alumni

Emory/Nanjing Orchestra debut

Seoul Notes

2011-06-23T14:47:00.000-04:00

The Korean Wrapping Cloth is a multiple-colored rectanglular shape used traditionally to wrap vessels and household items. The iconic cloth has now become embedded in artistic renderings of Korean culture. This particular one is a wall hanging, but others find their way onto scarves and tablecloths and jewelry. It captures well the aesthetic vibrancy of Korean culture.

After a day spent at the DMZ, we leave for Hong Kong early tomorrow morning, sure to be another fascinating piece in the puzzle of this alluring part of the world.

Seoul Sights

2011-06-16T11:00:00.006-04:00

This city is full of a rich array of sights and sounds--from skyscrapers to elegant birds. We visited both Yonsei and Ewah Universities today along with the Korean War Memorial. All are inspiring. The Koreans are especially grateful and gracious to Americans. Their technology systems are on full display in the subways, libraries, and street corners.

Black Sesame

2011-06-14T11:43:00.001-04:00

Tonight we had dinner ar Black Sesame. We were joined by Evan Osnos, China correspondent for The New Yorker. Dinner, conversation, probing ideas into the local consciousness filled our minds as well as stomachs.

All this after a full day of climbing part of The Great Wall, visiting the Ming Dynasty tomb, stopping by the jade factory, and a photo opp at the Bird's Nest. The air quality was poor today until a refreshing rainfall this evening. Tomorrow we're off to S. Korea.

My New Friend

2011-06-14T11:28:00.000-04:00

Beijing Warrior

China Times

2011-06-13T05:59:00.003-04:00

I've now been in China for almost a week--from Shanghai to Nanjing to Beijing. All connections, arrangements, and meetings have gone extrmely well. The weather has been hot--Atlanta style! In both Shanghai and Nanjing there was quite a bit of smog, but we can see the blue skies in Beijing.

The cities are modern, friendly, and busy with excellent infrastructure. We've met up with many incoming Emory students and alumni. And had some great sightseeing tours. Today alone we covered the Confucius Institute, a rickshaw tour, and the Forbidden City. It is inspiring to see so much history mixed with all of the modern technology and transportation systems. The high speed train from Shanghai to Nanjing was especially efficient and comfortable. All in all, a fabulous (if somewhat exhausting) trip.

Beijing Opera Star

2011-06-13T05:51:00.002-04:00

June rambles

2011-06-05T21:35:00.000-04:00

A year ago this time I was just arriving in India for an enchanted voyage. This year, in two days, I'll be heading to China--Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong--and then Seoul, South Korea. I hope to find ways to keep my loyal followers posted on my Asian encounters in a new part of the world for me.

Treetop Travels

2011-05-25T21:52:00.001-04:00

Drifting over the treetops of North Georgia one day in May.

Here and There

2011-03-27T20:42:00.001-04:00

There have been many comings and goings for our family over the past few weeks.

Rebecca has returned from India, and after a short visit home she is residing (for a while, at least) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ron accompanied her there on a road trip through the midwest. Ron and I met up with Doug and Heather in Hilton Head for a restful spring break. And Sean has departed for South America, first visiting Medillin, Colombia, where he is staying at the Black Sheep Hostel, and then he heads to Ecuador where he'll be working on an organic farm (Selvachi). Early reports are quite lively and full of anticipation. At the same time, my sister Lynn and her husband are touring parts of South America. No telling how much mileage we've covered with these various expeditions!

March Rambles

2011-03-27T11:47:00.008-04:00

Beach of a Moonlit Night

2011-02-05T18:57:00.013-05:00

On a moonlit night, a single button
lay fallen on the surf-tossed shore.

I picked it up,

not because I thought that I could use it,

but

I could not bring myself to toss it away;

I tucked it inside my sleeve.

On a moonlit night, a single button

lay fallen on the surf-tossed shore.

I picked it up,

not because I thought that I could use it,

but

I neither cast it to the moon

nor did I cast it to the waves;

I tucked it inside my sleeve.

On a moonlit night, this button that I found

entered my hand, and entered deep into

my heart.

This button I found on a moonlit night

how could I ever let it go?

– Nakahara Chuya

Commonplace Books

2011-02-05T18:36:00.006-05:00

In her book How to Live: or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer, Sarah Bakewell draws the comparison between Montaigne's essays and commonplace books or collections of "thematically arranged quotations and stories." He developed habits and skills as a young man, creating notebooks with snippets encountered in reading "setting them in creative juxtaposition." She also, in a related entry on the Paris Review blog, connects his writings to that of modern day bloggers:

"In his Essais (“Attempts”) . . . he wrote as if he were chatting to his readers: just two friends, whiling away an afternoon in conversation. . . . 'I cannot keep my subject still,” he said. “It goes along befuddled and staggering, with a natural drunkenness.' His writing followed the same wayward path.

In reading Montaigne, many thinkers and writers feels a sense of recogntion. Ralph Waldo Emerson felt this shock of familiarity the first time he picked up Montaigne in his father’s library: 'It seemed to me as if I had myself written the book, in some former life, so sincerely it spoke my thought and experience.”'

For Bakewell "the Montaignean willingness to follow thoughts where they lead, and to look for communication and reflections between people . . . flourishes most of all online, where writers reflect on their experience with more brio and experimentalism than ever before. Bloggers might be surprised to hear that they are keeping alive a tradition created more than four centuries ago. Montaigne, in turn, might not have expected to be remembered so long, least of all in the English language—yet he always believed that 'this great world is the mirror in which we must look at ourselves to recognize ourselves from the proper angle.'"

The View from Lazy Point

2011-01-21T09:17:00.001-05:00

From a review of this book in the New York Times by Dominique Browning.

"Safina asks us to reconsider the importance of that perennial question: 'What is the meaning of life?' Which, he believes, is the wrong question to be asking because 'it makes you look in the wrong places.' The right question is, 'Where is the meaning in life.' And the place to look is 'between.' In other words, we should look for the ways that all living creatures and all habitats are connected, look for what happens 'between' them. 'Relationships,' he insists, 'are the music life makes. Context creates meaning.

Safina returns again and again to this consideration of interconnectedness, and to the need for each person to cultivate a more considerate life: 'To advance compassion and yet survive in a world of appetites--that is our challenge.' He calls for reverence and caution . . . . 'Ecology, family, community, religion--these words all grope toward the same need: connection, belonging, purpose."

2011-01-04T21:54:00.001-05:00

It Felt Love

How
Did the rose
Ever open its heart
And give this world
All its
Beauty?
It felt the encouragement of light
Against its
Being,
Otherwise,
We all remain
Too
Frightened.

--Hafiz from The Gift Poems by Hafiz by Daniel Ladinsky

Shoshin

2011-01-01T10:23:00.031-05:00

For last year's words belong to last year's language

And next year's words await another voice.

And to make an end is to make a beginning.

--T.S. Eliot

There is a way of being and thinking in Zen Buddhism known as Shoshin or Beginner's Mind: A ready mind. Boundless. Always a beginner, that kind of mind not already made up, investigating, open to whatever occurs, curious. Seeking but not with expectation. Observing. Being ready for what arises in this moment.

It also suggests a kind of intimacy, an intimacy with oneself. According to Zen practice, each one of us has the nature of awakening. Beginner's Mind is about a kind of amazement, letting the fixed view go. To not know.

Of all of the suggested meanings for Shoshin, I am especially drawn to wholeheartedness. And boundless.

In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.

--Shunryu Suzuki

Shunryu Suzuki (1905-1971) was a direct spiritual descendant of the renowned 13th-century Zen master Dogen. His hugely influential Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind ranks with the great classics of Zen literature. Learn more about these ideas and practices by clicking on the title of book for a reading from it.

2011-01-01T00:10:00.007-05:00

And now let us welcome the new year,
full of things that have never been.

--Rainer Maria Rilke

Presence of the Season

2010-12-30T11:39:00.010-05:00

"I was after the presence of all time in one moment."

      --Barry Hannah

Thanks Giving

2010-12-04T10:32:00.012-05:00

There is much to savor, to enjoy, to praise--and to recover from. Here are a few of the highlights:

Welcome!

2010-11-03T20:20:00.000-04:00

You are There

2010-07-11T19:48:00.014-04:00

You are there.

You have always been

there.

Even when you thought

you were climbing

you had already arrived.

Even when you were

breathing hard,

you were at rest.

Even then it was clear

you were there.

Not in our nature

to know what

is journey and what

arrival.

Even if we knew

we would not admit.

Even if we lived

we would think

we were just

germinating.

To live is to be

uncertain.

Certainty comes

at the end.

"You Are There" by Erica Jong, from Love Comes First. © Penguin Group, 2009.

Watershed

2010-07-09T09:45:00.004-04:00

The celebration of an auspicious birthday requires the following: no work; all play. In that regard, I slept, read, walked, and saw "Ondine" with Ron, a mysterious movie about a water nymph (or not?) who inspires change . . .

I enjoyed Skyping with Rebecca, and later on dined at Watershed, where we ran into fellow revelers (of all ages) and were joined by Sean and Emma. Lots of nice gifts and cards, too! Several of my good friends also celebrated birthdays this week, including Marshall, Anna, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Any birthday is indeed a watershed moment. And for me, this year will be filled with more of the same as above, as well as meditation--naturally, while circumambulating-- on considerations the Dalai Lama suggests: compassion, altruism, and interdependence.

My travels for the coming months, while pursuing the start of an auspicious year, will further follow this journey into the peaks and valleys of experience: om mani padme hum.

2010-07-08T17:06:00.001-04:00

Another Peacthree!

2010-07-05T13:49:00.006-04:00

Ron has now run 30 sequential Peachtree Road Races. Or is it 31? In any event, once more he organized a massive effort of delivering friends and neighbors to the start line before dawn, where they all volunteered, then fell into their appropriate places. Beer and other liquid libations were the main menu items at the appointed meeting place, with his truck as the watering hole, for post-race festivities. Sean joined in the fun, completing the race despite limited advanced training. He was back at work at Leon's for a busy July 4th in Decatur, where the fireworks brought our long day (punctuated with numerous naps) to a loud close.

Phir Milenge

2010-06-28T22:58:00.010-04:00

Many thanks, India--and to all who made this such a meaningful journey: taxi-drivers, chai vendors, Buddhist monks, fellow travelers, friends and colleagues, and, most especially, the arts delegation, faculty facilitators, Geshe Lobsang, Tara Doyle--and Rebecca.

Phir Milenge: "Till we meet again."

Madrik Lhundup

2010-06-28T22:40:00.012-04:00

This Tibetan term refers to that experience in life when there is a natural convergence: things not prearranged spontaneously come into being.

So has it been with this journey from the moment the seed of an idea for it was planted in my being while staying at the World Buddhist Center in Delhi during my first trip to India back in December 2008. Since then every possibility has been further cultivated--from the support of colleagues to the logistics to the various meetings and travel plans. Along the way, as well, I met people who seemed to come from another life, such as a graduate of my high school as well as a resident of Isle of Hope--right in my pathway, there, in India.

All of these experiences have been embedded in my being for further meditation and contemplation. Truly life-changing.

Reunions

2010-06-28T22:07:00.024-04:00

Nothing like a family reunion to cure jet lag. (Thanks especially to Sean for making sure I arrived there and to Ron who chauffered my parents!). Cousins from near and far, along with a few aunts, uncles, mothers and fathers, and interlopers, showed up for the Barbee family reunion at Isle of Hope. Entertained by stories of "Toby the Terrapin"--who was hatched in the hand of William Jennings Bryant and trained by my great grandfather to "shake hands with the gentlemen and wink at the ladies"--we shared a common connection to one of the most beautiful places on earth. Always lovely to come back home, especially accompanied by my parents, after a long voyage. It was thrilling, also, to share so much about the entire India experience with the extended family.

For a video to learn more about Toby--and the potent powers of terrpin soup--as well as some Isle of Hope history here!

2010-06-28T22:05:00.001-04:00

Karmic Destiny

2010-06-25T09:21:00.010-04:00

"Since all phenomena are interrelated, the placing of the endless knot on a gift or greeting card is understood to establish an auspicious connection between the giver and the recipient. At the same time, the recipient is goaded to righteous karma, being reminded that future positive effects have their roots in the causes of the present. This is because the knot represents a connection, a link with our fates, binding us to our karmic destiny. Not surprisingly, this is one of the most favorite symbols in Tibetan Buddhism, and often occurs independently on its own.

Since the knot has no beginning or end it also symbolizes the infinite wisdom of the Buddha."

http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/symbols

Everything Auspicious

2010-06-25T09:02:00.015-04:00

Paraphrasing Donovan--and with respect to His Holiness the Dalai Lama:

Everything runs in a circular motion
Thought is like a little boat upon the sea.
Everybody is a part of everything anyway,
You can have everything if you let yourself be.

On my circumnavigation around the world, I have been contemplating the meaning of interdependence and circularity. Safe at home (and jet lagged!), I am preparing to go to my birthplace, the Isle of Hope, where I will see my parents and various other relatives. What goes around comes around: while driving there with Sean, I will be meditating on everything auspicious from this grand journey of life.

The entrance to Meditators Compound on the path above Dharamsala.

Homeward Bound!

2010-06-23T00:48:00.013-04:00

Sittin' in a railway station. Got a ticket for my destination . . .

Actually we sat in several railway stations yesterday on a marathon train ride from Shimla to Kalka on the Himalayan Queen then on the Shatabdi to Delhi--first carriage cooled by mountain air, second by AC. Altogether it was a day filled with sights and sounds and adventures, including the wild chaos of the Delhi train station and taxi driver negotiations. My guide and interpreter showed great skill at navigating these tracks and trains.

After a good night's rest, Rebecca and I hope to do a little shopping and meeting up with her friends before I begin the final leg of this journey (via Paris) around midnight tonight. You can view a video about Rebecca's life in Delhi here.

Meanwhile, Namaste India!

2010-06-23T00:40:00.003-04:00

Friends we met along the way.

Shimmering Shimla

2010-06-21T13:06:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, Rebecca and I spent most of the day traveling from Pragpur to Shimla on quite a twisting and rocky road. It took us almost 7 hours to go 225 kilometers. Nonetheless, Shimla is quite a worthy destination with cool breezes and panoramic views. Shimla served as the summer hill station for the British Raj. It has interesting Elizabethan-style architecture amidst Indian food stalls and bazaars. Today we took a long walk to the old Vicerol Lodge which now serves as home to the prestigious Indian Institute for Advanced Studies.

Tomorrow we head towards New Delhi by rail with hopes that our reservations on the Viceroy's 'toy train'--96 kilometers of narrow gauge line--come to pass.

On the rocky road (again)

2010-06-19T09:42:00.007-04:00

Leaving Dharamsala felt like saying good-bye to Nirvana. However, just a few hours drive down twisting mountain roads, Rebecca and I found this lovely Heritage Hotel, Judges Court, in Pragpur. We've taken two nice walks along the village paths and also enjoyed delicious meals on these elegant grounds. Tomorrow we head for Shimla, known for exquisite views and cool breezes.

Rooftop of the World

2010-06-18T12:15:00.003-04:00

Moon Peak

2010-06-17T12:19:00.011-04:00

Moon Peak soars above us. The name actually comes from Muni or Sakyamuni, the Buddha, referring to the silent sage or the silent peak. In the life of the Buddha, true silence leads to truth. We had a great view from Jimmy's Italian Restaurant, a quiet spot above the noisy streets of Dharamsala where commerce and spirituality intermingle.

Streets of Dharamsala

2010-06-17T12:18:00.008-04:00

On a relatively quiet afternoon. Also, you can view a video of life in our guest house starring one of my colleagues!

Om Mani Padme Hum

2010-06-17T06:46:00.004-04:00

2010-06-17T06:45:00.010-04:00

Today, throngs of laypeople and monks congregated at the monastery. The vibrations of their chants hovered over Dharamsala. I conducted several circumambulations within the interior walls of the temple. After lunch with Rebecca, we took a tour of the Tibetan Museum depicting the events and conditions of exile. Afterwards, I pursued circumambulations along the exterior path.

We have one more full day in Dharamsala, before traveling to new sites within India. The rest of the Emory group will be returning home on Saturday.

You can learn more about the Emory-Tibet Partnership from a Carlos Museum podcast with commentary by scholars and scientists on The Mindful Body through a look at a Tibetan image of a Buddha in a posture of meditation--and the implications for western medicine.

Hail to the Buddha nature that resides in the heart of all human beings.

May All Sentient Beings Find Happiness

2010-06-16T07:04:00.009-04:00

It is a common practice in Dharamsala to start or end the day with circumambulation along a pathway, clockwise, surrounding the temple. With each step one encounters pilgrims of all ages and backgrounds, prayer wheels kept in motion by the devout, wandering dogs, watchful monkeys, and

well-satisfied cows. The incline is steep in places but very elderly walkers climb it without pause. Along the way, the rhythmic chant of "om ma ne padma hum" inspires further reflection and meditation along life's way.

Circumambulation

2010-06-16T07:03:00.008-04:00

Follow my circumambulation path on video!

Norbulingka Tapko: Friendship

2010-06-14T07:24:00.007-04:00

Today we visited Norbulingka Art Institue where our friends DK and Tenzen Norbu, the master Thangka painter, work. They have come to Emory for the past two springs for Tibet Week. We were happy to make a reciprocal visit It was a pleasure to spend time with them on this beautiful site devoted to Tibetan art and handicrafts.

Himalayan Paradise

2010-06-14T07:23:00.006-04:00

Our colleague who oversees the Dharamsala study abroad program lives in a lovely spot just below Cafe Boom Boom the Fifth. She had us over for afternoon tea yesterday, along with some local artists and friends. I'll be able post some other pictures of our time together once I return. home. She resides in a beautiful home with breathtaking views.

Room With A View

2010-06-13T13:00:00.007-04:00

This is the view of the monastery and temple from my room. In the morning it is nice to conduct circumambulations along a path surrounding the temple. Many devout local Buddhists and visitors quietly meditate as they walk. It is peaceful space outside of the normal hustle and bustle of Dharamsala.

Seeking Enlightenment

2010-06-12T21:57:00.000-04:00

Partnership

2010-06-12T13:29:00.003-04:00

At the signing ceremony for relationship with The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives. Watch a video of this entire event!

Tashi Delek

2010-06-12T12:07:00.015-04:00

Tashi delek is a Tibetan greeting which means "blessings and good luck." Another translation is "May all auspicious signs come to this environment." Thus far on this journey we've had many auspicious signs.

After arriving at McLeod Gang in Upper Dharamsala, greeted by colleagues and friends at Pema Thang Guest House, the weary travelers had a good nights sleep. On Thursday we spent most of the afternoon and evening at the Sara campus where two Emory programs are in session: the Emory Tibet Science Initiative with Emory science faculty, at the invitation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (HHDL), teaching modern neuroscience and physics to the Buddhist monks; and the Emory Summer Study Abroad Program in Tibetan Culture for undergraduates. Both programs are extremely engaging, and we were quite pleased to join the proceedings.

All of us (students, faculty, staff, and monks) came together the following day for a special audience with His Holiness, who spent an unprecedented 90 minutes with us. I was privileged to bring special greetings on behalf of Emory. Luckily the proceedings were filmed, which I hope to be able to post at some point. In the presence of HHDL, we signed a joint agreement between Emory and the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, further establishing important partnerships.

Following these meaningful moments, we enjoyed a lunch kindly hosted by the Institute for Buddhist Dialectics. Our magnificent day was made even more complete by a special dance performance at TIPA, the Tibetan Institute for Performing Arts, then a delicious dinner.

Our friends, colleagues and hosts have been extremely gracious to us. And the weather has been most accommodating. We are looking forward to returning such auspicious hospitality when His Holiness and his entourage return to Emory next fall.

From Delhi to Dharamsala

2010-06-12T06:24:00.008-04:00

It's now been a full week since I left home. So much has happened that I'm at a loss to know where to start. Everything has gone exceedingly well. Even the usual travel difficulties have had good outcomes. Technology access, however, has been something of a challenge.

It will be impossible to summarize what we've been up to; nonetheless here's an attempt:

Arrival in Delhi: Rebecca met me and my colleagues at the airport in the middle of the night. After getting them sent on their way, we headed toward her flat. It was nice to see where and how she lives: "Very homely" as they say in India. She navigates the hustle and bustle of Delhi with great efficiency. We did a bit of shopping and wandering. Also I hosted an event for Emory alumni and incoming freshmen (and their parents) with the help of an alum who works in the U.S. embassy, which was great fun. The next day, along with one of my colleagues, we met with officials at the Embassy to get some advice regarding visas for visiting scholars and artists trying to get from India to the U.S. It, too, was very successful.

On Wednesday, we headed in a van from Delhi to Dharamsala with others in my group. It was a long and winding road, taking close to 12 hours. Originally we were scheduled to fly, but with rain and storms in the forecast, we spent the day on the road seeing much of northern India along the way.

Finally arriving in Dharamsala was like a long-planned dream coming true. I will write more along those lines in an upcoming entry. And at some point I'll figure out how to get photos from my iPhone to my iPad.

Ta do-ran-sha

2010-06-05T09:19:00.004-04:00

That's Tibetan for "it's time to go."

After some last minute packing, a quick trip to Pilates, and lunch with Ron and Sean, I'll be on my way. We have an Emory alumni event scheduled in New Delhi along with some meetings at the American Embassy, then it's off to the mountains where I'll be staying at Pema Thang Guest House as well as visiting various sites and dignitaries while exploring the meaning of emptiness and circumambulation in Buddhist thought and practice.

Contemplation

2010-06-02T21:07:00.007-04:00

Once again I am contemplating the condition of being a "between traveler" as referenced in an earlier post, now nearly two years ago.

In Tibetan Buddhism, the "between traveler" hovers between two worlds, navigating new territory, mapping a way into the next life. At such moments, we become able to seize great opportunities with heightened sensibilities.

Just a few more days before I leave for India, and a very busy time for me. Nonetheless, these thoughts are on my mind.

Thoughts Upon Preparing to Go to Dharamsala

2010-06-01T20:49:00.005-04:00

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.

Don't go back to sleep.

You must ask for what you really want.

Don't go back to sleep.

People are going back and forth across the doorsill

where the two worlds touch.

The door is round and open.

Don't go back to sleep.

From Essential Rumi

by Coleman Barks

A New Bike

2010-05-30T20:03:00.005-04:00

. . . and pursuing new pathways.

Brotherhood

2010-05-23T17:57:00.006-04:00

Some time in Florida last weekend with my parents and then a visit with Ron's brother, Doug, who until recently has been living in Papua, New Guinea, and other distant places. It's good to have him closer to home for awhile--along with the alligators, turtles, and snakes that populate his place on Merritt Island.

\

Our House

2010-05-09T16:48:00.014-04:00

Things have improved dramatically since the conditions described in the earlier posting, 'chaos theory.'

Check out this link for more information--or come by for the open house next weekend to see for yourself!

Mothers Day: A Walk in the Woods

2010-05-09T16:35:00.006-04:00

A cool crisp day, perfect for a light brunch followed by a walk in the woods with Ron, Sean, and Sunday, punctuated by a telephone call from Rebecca.

Music Metaphysics

2010-04-24T16:10:00.004-04:00

Another great experience with a "creativity conversation," this time as part of Robert Spano's 3-week residency at Emory. We talked about topics ranging from the sonata form to "thinking musically"--and even a bit about creativity. Learn more about the course the Maestro Spano co-taught: https://secure.web.emory.edu/blogs/harmonicexperience/

Chaos Theory

2010-04-14T22:30:00.011-04:00

There aren't many good excuses for neglecting one's blog. However, these pictures demonstrate the confused state of my mind and life right now. Everything is topsy-turvy, in the process of being staged and updated.

Someday, perhaps, life will be sane again.

Until then, chaos reigns!

Signs of Mystery--All Around Us

2010-03-08T17:46:00.003-05:00

Bo Bartlett | The Extraordinary Commonplace

"From the smallest particle to the largest galaxy the mystery is great and I am awed by it. I have no need to name it, to quantify it, to sum it up. If I attempt to address it in my work sometimes, it is not from a dogmatic point of reference, I am not searching for a theology or a science to explain the great mystery. An Artist romps around in the mystery like a child plays alone in his own backyard, imagining and making up his own rules and reality. An Artist romps around in the mystery like an animal roams the woods, curious and wide-eyed and alert. An Artist romps around in the mystery like an explorer traversing an unknown land, excited, careful and fully alive."

Bo Bartlett

The Long Winter

2010-03-01T21:31:00.003-05:00

Will spring ever arrive?

Imagine . . .

2010-03-01T20:53:00.006-05:00

"Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last you create what you will."

--George Bernard Shaw

FAQ

2010-02-08T18:11:00.003-05:00

Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language. Do not now look for the answers. They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them. It is a question of experiencing everything. At present you need to live the question. Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day.

Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

Forever Young

2010-01-29T10:06:00.013-05:00

Last weekend, some of us were blessed by spending time with my parents at the Cloisters at Sea Island in celebration of my mother's 90th birthday. As usual, my mother and father inspired us by their stories, energy, resilience, good humor, love, and curiosity. The birthday girl received cards and notes and gifts from family and friends, far and wide.

We presented Mother with a combined gift from the family, a bench in her honor for downtown Winter Park in the Rose Garden near the bench inscribed to our father in honor of his 90th birthday, five years ago. We want many people to sit on those benches and feel similarly inspired by their enduring beauty and youthfulness.

My First Flip Video

2010-01-16T22:18:00.002-05:00

Tea Reflections

2010-01-16T22:01:00.003-05:00

Drinking a daily cup of tea will surely starve the apothecary.
~Chinese Proverb

Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world.
~T'ien Yiheng

If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty.
~Japanese Proverb

Green tea is preferred to other beverages because of its subtlety. In order to appreciate it fully, the mind must be quiet and free from distracting thoughts.
~The Venerable Sonhae Sunim

Tea does our fancy aid, repress those vapours which the head invade, and keeps that palace of the soul serene.
~Edmund Waller, "Of Tea"

In the taste of a single cup of tea you will eventually discover the truth of all the ten thousand forms in the universe. It is difficult to put this taste into words, or even to catch a hint of it.
~The Venerable Kyongbong Sunim

Tea is liquid wisdom.
~Anonymous

Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings!
~Author Unknown

2010-01-13T20:37:00.007-05:00

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me lay an invincible summer."

--Albert Camus

Magic, Mystery, Miracles

2010-01-01T10:05:00.004-05:00

Magic:

"I don't want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes, magic!"

--Blanche DuBois from A Streetcar Named Desire

Mystery:

Philip Henslowe: Mr. Fennyman, allow me to explain about the theatre business. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.

Hugh Fennyman: So what do we do?
Philip Henslowe: Nothing. Strangely enough, it all turns out well.
Hugh Fennyman: How?
Philip Henslowe: I don't know. It's a mystery!

--From Shakespeare in Love

Miracles :

"There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle."

--Albert Einstein

Do you believe?

Do You Believe in Magic?

2009-12-31T21:56:00.000-05:00

Once in a Blue Moon

2009-12-31T10:30:00.005-05:00

Tomorrow in the offices the year on the stamps will be altered;
Tomorrow new diaries consulted, new calendars stand;
With such small adjustments life will again move forward
Implicating us all.
--Philip Larkin, "New Year Poem"

On My Son's Birthday

2009-12-26T21:15:00.005-05:00

Even after all this time
the sun never says to the Earth,
“You owe me.”
Look what happens
with a Love like that –
It lights the whole sky.

--Hafiz

Christmas Cheer

2009-12-25T22:34:00.001-05:00

Peaceful before, fun during--and the inevitable aftermath.

Winter Solstice: In the Bleak Midwinter

2009-12-23T11:01:00.000-05:00

Moments of Being

2009-12-21T21:29:00.008-05:00

Virginia Woolf asserts that moments of being are those flashes of awareness, revealing a pattern hidden behind the 'cotton wool of daily life': that we, "I mean all human beings--are connected with this; that the whole world is a work of art; that we are parts of the work of art." But the individual artist is not important in this work. Instead she says of all people, "We are the words; we are the music; we are the thing itself."

"God is in the Roses and the Thorns"

2009-12-10T07:58:00.001-05:00

'Tis the Season for Preparations

2009-11-27T13:01:00.012-05:00

This time of year calls for preparations of all sorts. A year ago we were preparing for Rebecca's trip to India, where she still abides. And I was preparing for my own journey there, which was full of wonder. This year it's the more traditional kinds of preparations, especially for the holidays. Thanksgiving was full of rest, good friends, and good cheer.

Things are already active on the cul-de-sac, our own neighborly social commons, as families

begin a series of annual migrations and transmigrations.

Late autumn meanderings

2009-11-27T12:50:00.024-05:00

My life lately has been full of all of the energies and anxieties that accompany any fulsomeness. And so I have neglected my blog with the inevitable excuses and rationalizations.

All I have to show for what I've been up to are some photographs that perhaps will capture the essence of some of the actions, emotions, accidents, and intentions.

Words of Tea Wisdom

2009-10-12T20:47:00.005-04:00

"Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future."
— Thich Nhat Hanh

Perception and Reflection

2009-10-11T15:45:00.008-04:00

The work of Anne Truitt is on exhibition at the Hirshhorn Museum. While in DC, in between meetings, I made a mad dash on the metro to get there. Well worth the effort.

About her works on paper, in her journal Daybook: The Journey of An Artist, Truitt writes, "I use only pencil and very little paint against a field of action I render at once active and inert. . . . In these paintings I set forth to see myself how they might appear, what might be called the tips of my conceptual icebergs in that I put down so little of all that they refer to. I try in them to show forth the forces I feel to be a reality behind, and more interesting than, phenomena."

Among other qualities, her works are characterized by their very poetic names: "Spring Dryad," "Morning Choice," "17th Summer," "Evensong," "First Requiem," all very quiet yet substantial.

Road to Dharmasala

2009-09-25T23:25:00.010-04:00

The Dalai Lama will be returning to Emory in just over a year. I'm hoping that when he comes, there may be an opportunity to participate in a 'creativity conversation' with him. Between now and then, I'm intending to go on a pilgrimmage. It will have several different dimensions, including perhaps an actual visit to Dharmasala, India, his home while in exile.

I've been thinking about this for a while. And it feels that this path for me has been pre-determined--by fate? by circumstances? by conditions? It's hard to know except that it feels inexorable, which is not the right word. Nonetheless it feels that way to me.

Probably I mean inevitable.

Learn more about the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative here.

"Wander Aimlessly About"

2009-09-06T21:13:00.008-04:00

A recent issue of The Smithsonian magazine is devoted to travel writing. In the introduction to this section, Jam Morris reminds us:

"When in 1922, the novelist E.M. forster set out to write a guidebook to the Egyptian city of Alexandria, his most memorable advice was 'to wander aimlessly about.' In that one famous phrase, he was admitting that the subjective means more than the objective."

Writing about travel, Morris further asserts, requires: "the alliance of knowledge and sensation, nature and intellect, sight and interpretation, instinct and logic."

I frequently am disappointed with myself when I visit a new place that I haven't done more research in preparation for the trip and that I haven't pursued a rigorous itinerary. However, I find I'm even more disappointed if I'm overly prepared and intentional. My approach to travel is pretty consistent with my primary philosophy of life: drift and intention. Only by allowing oneself to drift, it seems to me, can real intentionality become revealed.

True Journeys

2009-09-06T20:53:00.009-04:00

I'm aware that my blog of late has been primarily a place to post photographs from various ramblings, near and far. This is not such a bad thing as the photographs serve to invoke something of the memories and the experience of such ramblings. However, I really want more from this experience. And so, for now, while there's a lull in my recently intense travel schedule, I'll try to remember to post a bit of commentary: the purpose of which is to affirm that true journeys involve the inner life.

End of Summer

2009-09-03T21:11:00.010-04:00

Wonders to Behold:

A trip to L.A. followed by a visit in Florida: from the Getty Museum to the Grapefruit Spa.

Something: My Date with Paul McCartney

2009-08-16T17:05:00.009-04:00

Let it be, Let it Be!

2009-08-16T09:33:00.000-04:00

Form and substance

2009-08-05T13:05:00.004-04:00

Celebrating our 33rd anniversary with Henry Moore!