Today's event for BIA is over, after a misty, rainy morning followed by a sunlit afternoon we passed the day inside - an extremely overcrowded room expected to house 150 is crammed to the gills with over 360 in attendance, many of them in wheelchairs or carrying crutches, the blind being led by volunteers to their seats as we rapidly run out of space. There is absolutely no room to move as I carefully place my feet, trying to maneuver through the crowd, each time I find a safe spot, it is quickly taken by a needy participant, and I must move again, though for the throng of smiling and beaming folks who have come for this event, trying to find a place for themselves and their chair, this is normal daily routine.
Fast forward 9 hours later - The attendees have all gone home to their lives, and yet something has changed. In me perhaps, is the most noticeable as these past few days have continuously churned the wheels of my consciousness, playing back memories of what I have previously thought about life and creating new chapters, pages filled with insight and new experiences. For me, this event has been eye opening and heart warming to say the least - to be so close, and to see and feel first hand what is happening here in Nepal with BIA is so powerful. These people are living lives of great misfortune, heavy burdens and difficulties at every turn, and yet they are so incredibly bright eyed; warm smiles and greetings to everyone they meet, their faces full of color and life. What I witnessed today was an example of overcoming what we believe to be impossible, and starting a brand new way of looking at what it means to be handicapped - in a city famous for its poor and impoverished I am seeing a beam of light emerge from Chogyal Rinpoche's project, and the results are simply incredible.
This project is teaching those who have no means to fend for themselves tools, skills, and a system to get them into a trade that will allow them to be self reliant, sustainable, and bring purpose and hope to their lives. Be it through Thanka painting, sculpture, to the newer projects started just today from this event, like organic farming, bamboo construction and fabrication of prosthetic limbs and appendages - Rinpoche is a ball of energy and determination, creating over 150 new jobs today, starting several new projects and getting more people involved in an afternoon than I could in a year of planning. With local radio and magazines present and sponsoring the event, it was touching to see the local Nepalese support for what is happening here, this is something that is really catching on in a big way.
What a powerful day - I find myself drained of energy yet charged up and excited at the same time. My arms are beyond exhausted from filming and shooting all day, and my face is literally sore from smiling so much as everywhere I turned there was another face smiling back at me, wishing me good day, excited to be present and simply wanting to say hello. These people are courageous, hard working, vibrant human beings and I was honored to have spent the day with them. They have shown me true dedication and determination, they have pledged themselves to a better life and they are following through with their promises, giving it their all, regardless of if they walked in, or were carried in by volunteers - they each made the effort to be present and to support each other; and the project that has empowered so many already. Coming by the busloads, wheeled in from the streets, families, children, all trying for a better life - all given hope and inspiration by BIA; Bodhisattvas In Action, a fitting name for such a wonderful program. As the name would imply, these people are making the true great leap, choosing to create a brighter life for themselves and their families, taking true action and forcing themselves to break the mold of what society, and themselves have thought for so long to be true and unchangeable.
Fast forward 9 hours later - The attendees have all gone home to their lives, and yet something has changed. In me perhaps, is the most noticeable as these past few days have continuously churned the wheels of my consciousness, playing back memories of what I have previously thought about life and creating new chapters, pages filled with insight and new experiences. For me, this event has been eye opening and heart warming to say the least - to be so close, and to see and feel first hand what is happening here in Nepal with BIA is so powerful. These people are living lives of great misfortune, heavy burdens and difficulties at every turn, and yet they are so incredibly bright eyed; warm smiles and greetings to everyone they meet, their faces full of color and life. What I witnessed today was an example of overcoming what we believe to be impossible, and starting a brand new way of looking at what it means to be handicapped - in a city famous for its poor and impoverished I am seeing a beam of light emerge from Chogyal Rinpoche's project, and the results are simply incredible.
This project is teaching those who have no means to fend for themselves tools, skills, and a system to get them into a trade that will allow them to be self reliant, sustainable, and bring purpose and hope to their lives. Be it through Thanka painting, sculpture, to the newer projects started just today from this event, like organic farming, bamboo construction and fabrication of prosthetic limbs and appendages - Rinpoche is a ball of energy and determination, creating over 150 new jobs today, starting several new projects and getting more people involved in an afternoon than I could in a year of planning. With local radio and magazines present and sponsoring the event, it was touching to see the local Nepalese support for what is happening here, this is something that is really catching on in a big way.
What a powerful day - I find myself drained of energy yet charged up and excited at the same time. My arms are beyond exhausted from filming and shooting all day, and my face is literally sore from smiling so much as everywhere I turned there was another face smiling back at me, wishing me good day, excited to be present and simply wanting to say hello. These people are courageous, hard working, vibrant human beings and I was honored to have spent the day with them. They have shown me true dedication and determination, they have pledged themselves to a better life and they are following through with their promises, giving it their all, regardless of if they walked in, or were carried in by volunteers - they each made the effort to be present and to support each other; and the project that has empowered so many already. Coming by the busloads, wheeled in from the streets, families, children, all trying for a better life - all given hope and inspiration by BIA; Bodhisattvas In Action, a fitting name for such a wonderful program. As the name would imply, these people are making the true great leap, choosing to create a brighter life for themselves and their families, taking true action and forcing themselves to break the mold of what society, and themselves have thought for so long to be true and unchangeable.
