Mountain Girl

On the 10 of march 2009, yesterday, for the first time in my life I participated to a Peace march, with my Tibetan friend from Temple. It was held in Den Hague for the 50th anniversary of the uprising of the Tibetan people against the Chinese occupation. An uprising that has cost many Tibetans lives, the escape of the young Dalai Lama in 1959, the destruction of many monasteries, the imprisonment of thousands people, the slaughter of one of most peaceful country in the world. A country, Tibet "the roof of the world", that lived in the deep faith of Gandhian non violence principles and the compassionate Love of a Buddha. A country who wholeheartedly since centuries embraced the Middle way.

"Peace is in every step" is one of teaching of Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Naht Hanh.
It is with this inner mantra that yesterday I joined the march and prayed with each step I made, from the center of Den Haag to the Chinese Embassy.
I prayed for this people whose only fault was to be neighbor of the totalitarian and abusive power of China.
I prayed for the Tibetans who were abused, tortured, condemned, imprisoned and killed by the Chinese force.
I prayed for the survivors and refugees all over the world, who can't go back to Tibet and have to live in exile with the deep longing to return to their home Land.
I prayed for those who are in exile within Tibet, forced to comply to Chinese domination, punished in any possible way if they engage in their ancient and birthright spiritual rituals, when they display or even possess any photos of the Dalai Lama. The list is long and bone-wrenching.

I prayed for all the women and children who lost their husband, son, brother, father in a war of repression that leaves so many innocent to grief. May all the Taras, Bodhisattvas of Tibetan traditions and the Holy Mother hold them in the Love and compassion and bestow Grace upon their broken heart.

I prayed for every human being whose human rights are abused and taken away.
I prayed for all the people in prison whose heart may never loose faith.

I prayed with utter soberness and humility for my friend T. who through his direct experience pierced my heart to bleed and opened my eyes to the suffering of the imprisoned.

Labels: Friends, painting, Tibet

There is nothing more soothing then watching your breath.
Then if you add the powerful healing and compassionate energy to it, it becomes the most exquisite meditation.
When you are not only lost in yourself and in the space between your breaths, the vastness of creation, the emptiness, natural state of the mind, the divinity of each moment, but you include all and everything.

When you can simply calm yourself with each in breathe, allowing a wave to reach deep in every cells of your being, bringing with it a sense of peace and tranquility, softening every part that may be hard or in pain, gently caressing it with tender love, you are well on your way.

You then breathe out and smile to yourself, extending your smile to each and everyone of your loved one and the one who hurt you, to every sentient being, to the wealthy and the poor, to the suffering and the dying with a wave of compassionate and sweet love.

Thich Nhat Hanh the sweet Vietnamese Buddhist Zen monk wrote this poem and it is one of my favorite meditation.

About Thich Nhat Hanh

You can continue the meditation with "dwelling in the present moment," letting the essence of this truth hit you deeply.
" I know it is a wonderful moment."
Whether I suffer or in joy this is a wonderful moment because I am here, because I can celebrate whatever it is, because I feel it. I am breathing and I am alive and I can smile, despite and however hard it may be.
The Buddha in me is inviting me to smile, to let the sacredness of the moment be the only thing there is, to be mindful of all and everything.

I found an amazing dance meditation that goes together with this text.
Click on this wonderful heart dance you tube video.

And if you can do this with a group of friends it can bring such a joyful feeling of gratitude. We sang it together with our friends at Driek's birthday, no recording available though.



About Tashi I will speak more later. For now I will say that his delightful paintings and arts have been a source of inspiration for many silent and creative moments with myself and tons of smiles.

Labels: Friends, painting, poetry