Boudhanath

O dear Shakyamuni Buddha, dear Tathagata, dear Bhagavan,seeing the truth of your Disenchantmentas solid and eminent as Boudhanath over Kathmandu,pointing at a regal constellation likea beggar child who believes it is close,I have yet to realize this Transcendence:someone’s lover lies in a stranger’s arms. O Siddhartha, if you strolled with me now,I would point out […]

The Problem with Original Enlightenment

Hongaku is a Japanese word that translates to “original enlightenment”.  This teaching, which states that all people, animals, and inanimate objects are already enlightened originated in medieval China, and first appears in the Avatamsaka (Flower Garland) Sutra. The teaching became popular in Japan during the Kamakura period (1185-1333) appearing in the Platform Sutra of Huineng […]

Dharamshala’s Cafe129: A Haven of Indo-Korean-Tibetan Friendship

Although I’ve visited India several times, I’ve never been to Dharamshala­ before. This cramped but beautiful city, which shot to international fame as a community for Tibetans, is home to a cozy new café called Café129. This beautiful establishment is under the stewardship of journalist-turned-restaurateur Yeonsuk Ka, who in the short span of less than […]

Vasudhara: Goddess of Abundance

Six Armed Vasudhara. From rywiki.tsadra.org Vasudhara (Tib. Norgyunma) is a goddess of wealth, fertility, and well-being. She blesses her worshipers with both material prosperity and spiritual wealth. Like most of the Mahayana goddesses, her heart is filled with compassion and loving-kindness toward all beings. She is the embodiment of the boundless generosity (dana), the first […]