Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Tonto (Johnny Depp) wearing crow crown, petting Silver (played by Silver an 11 yr old quarter horse - upstaging everyone), a white spirit horse, The Lone Ranger, film, Northgate, Seattle, Washington, USA

Tibetan Buddhist Lamas complete prayers, open Kalachakra pavilion, Thangkas of Padmasambhava, Shri Kalachakra, Lord Buddha, mandala, offerings, monk, Kalachakra for World Peace, Washington D.C., USA

Eyes wide shut, with that expression! Debra Fitzgerald shows off a small fabric art from her collection, quilt surrounded by eggs, Lake Otis, Anchorage, Alaska, USA

His Holiness Dagchen Sakya circles the Hevajra colored sand mandala to close it by drawing lines with his vajra through the sand, wearing the Sashu hat, assistant monk, Sakya Lamdre, Tharlam Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal

Wearing the Sashu, Tibetan Lamas His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya and his grandson HE Asanga Sakya Rinpoche conclusion of prayers, ringing vajra handled bells, Tharlam Monastery, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal

Western students from France, Italy, and the USA, handing blessed tsampa to the crowd, over and around a barrier, Long Life Empowerment, Tharlam Monastery Courtyard and Stage, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal

A red fox hiding on a rocky outcropping watches a springbok running with rabbits, decorative painting by Linda Lane, 1983, Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Initiation Line at the end of the day, Amitayus - Hayagriva Long Life Blessing and Initiation, Tharlam Monastery Courtyard, Stage, tent, housing, temples, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal

Tibetan Buddhist monks and lamas leaning up at the end of the Amitayus - Hayagriva Long Life Blessing and Initiation, young monks folding up the long ceremonial khatags, overseen by two senior Tibetan Buddhist monks, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal

Exorcised little wooden room, pink window curtain, transparent panel, closet, square of light, chairs, Rosie at the door (she won't come in), Seattle, Washington, USA

Laura created a small shrine with a blessed statue in the little box like wooden room – she sat in front of a small portable table and began the clearing and offering prayers to ask the troublesome spirit to roll on, or communicate and get it to recognize that it had other less disturbing options.

Nobody had asked her to perform the ritual with bell and religious scepter, just one day after a series of unfortunate events and bad dreams she asked her peachy faced roommate if anyone was known to practice magic in the house. Yes, sadly she was told, that was why the prior roommates, a gay couple had to move on. Appling for the cozy little room Goths wearing all black clothes moved in and did black magic rituals in the little room, including such delights as peeing on the walls.

The women tried everything to get rid of these unwelcome pests - roommates with their rhythmic midnight chants dutifully doing the devils work. Finally sick of the bad feelings the once happy lesbian couple moved out to their own more organic rhythms – a farm instead. Curiously the new farmers in the dell left behind their white pet rabbit in an enormous gamey smelling cage which dominated the dining room from one full moon to the next.

Among the most recent people to live in the room included a thin dark haired young woman. After a nasty New Year’s Eve party at her boyfriend’s house he moved into her small room without signing a contract or making any agreement. His reason was the scar now tearing his face. The police had also attended that party when his roommate attacked him unprovoked and he ran screaming from the house -- his face decorated with 3 deep bloody gouges in his left cheek. He was a big guy – he was covered with scratches on his neck and chest – his roommate simply went mad and attacked him biting his nose, scratching and tearing through his clothes with her long false fingernails.

The young couple soon moved out due to embarrassment over their own behavior citing the lack of space in the tiny room. The dark haired girl turned on Laura in a similar way – one morning this roommate began hurling insults as they prepared breakfast side by side in the kitchen. Again, for no reason, ugly behavior unprovoked with a strong emotional back, like a manic depressive with villainous language spoken too early in the morning.

A new roommate’s adopted wild breed pit bull attacked the other dogs. Soon the room was again empty.

Laura’s dreams repeated. It began like an itch, like an arthritic ache –bound in the dense dream state – a black and white rotating entity came over the hill. She saw the spinning ball rolled down the hill behind their house. Same dream the turning ball came over the hill towards their rental red house with 3 doors. She awoke drained as if she’d been fighting all night. She was covered in sweat. Ominous, oddly dull, boring – the repeating shape drained her. In the morning she learned about the black practices and set out to remove the looming energy from the house.

This flashback - Laura thought about dealing with forces beyond others experience, such fond memories of former times at the red house, before Sun Hill.

Spider in space, hanging on a sea of blue sky, Meadowbrook Park, Wedgwood, Seattle, Washington, USA

Buddhist Books, A Saint in Seattle (Dezhung Rinpoche), Journey to Enlightenment (Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche), Sky Dancer (Yeshi Tsogyal), Seattle, Washington, USA

Stay back 50ft, snow removal with snow grators, 6 wheeled tractors plowing snow from city streets, cloudy day, mid-winter, Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Sunday, July 21, 2013

In use, a old green metal shoe shine chair, awning, public park, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

(You discover directly) that your own immediate self-awareness is just this (and nothing else), and that it has an inherent self-clarity, which is entirely un-fabricated.

When you are introduced in this way through this exceedingly powerful method for entering into the practice,

still it is not understood or it is wrongly understood or it is understood in a one-sided manner only.

Since it is not understood correctly just as it is in itself, there come into existence inconceivable numbers of philosophical ideas and assertions

Marvelous clouds over the Great Wish Fullfilling Stupa on the east side, Boudha, sunset, Kathmandu, Nepal

Small gold statue of Lady Tara, enlighted female, holding a flower among roses, Our Lady Rocks, water fountain, A Garden for the Buddha, Tibetan Buddhist, Seattle, Washington, USA

Entrance to the cabin, American Flag, logs, copper, river rock, trees, garage door, second floor deck, Alderbrook Golf Course, Union, Washington, Pacific Northwest, USA

My Uncle Roger and Auntie Marilyn driving their jeep through the Alderbrook Golf and Yacht club, to a local restaurant for dinner, Union, Washington, USA

A neighbour standing on the deck taking in the view, wagon wheel lamp, patio furniture, through the sliding glass doors at Auntie's log cabin, Alderbrook Golf Course, Union, Washington, USA

Peggys livingroom lights, Zen style living room, Seattle, Washington, USA

Canadian First Nations representative in traditional jacket welcomes Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche (on the throne) to the long house, reception for Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, photo of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, totems, Lotus Speech, Vancouver BC, Canada

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Cooling down on a hot summer day, water drops on the window, open curtain, blue umbrella, patio table, chairs, Japanese lantern, lawn, garden, Seattle, Washington, USA

Framing a view of the Olympic Mountains from my auntie's golfcart, golf ball screen, Alderbrook Golf Course, Union, Washington, USA

Blue sky reflection in a stone lined pond, spruce trees, fence, road, view of the Hood Canal, Olympic Mountains, Alderbrook golf course, Union, Washington, USA

Groomsman Adam Fisher dressed in vintage 1970's garments, mustache, purple shirt, Jessie and Chris's wedding, Tail Waggin' Lane, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA

Orthodox Church of All Russian Saints, as it comes into view between trees, from the south on El Camino Real, Burlingame, California, USA