As a special treat, and very last minute, I was invited to come to Kathmandu by Chogyal Rinpoche to help his amazing foundation BIA (Bodhisattvas In Action), and I was extremely happy to be able to accept, hop on a plane a few hours later, and come lend a hand. What Rinpoche is doing is really quite extraordinary, and after having the pleasure of meeting him several times in the past I was thrilled when he asked me to take some photographs and shoot a short documentary about the event that will be taking place tomorrow.
His whole idea, if I may be so bold as to try and paraphrase his ingenuity and impressive positive outlook; is to help the disabled people of Nepal by empowering them with actual skills that help them to create sustainable lives, lives that they look forward to and have purpose, as for many a bleak and somber existence has been replaced with an amazing opportunity. These are often severely handicapped people, and instead of simply getting them a meal or medicine they are taken care of, sheltered and fed, all the while building their skills in traditional Thanka painting, sculpture, and other forms of art and creative expression - giving them the platform to build a life for themselves that will grow with them, not relying on donations for the rest of their lives, but becoming so much more. I had the opportunity to visit two of their workshops today and I was so touched and beyond impressed with their work, their energy and devotion, as well as the true and very real results that Rinpoche's program is creating, not a temporary fix, but a radical and new way of dealing with an ever growing problem that has long been swept under the rug. I am very excited to see what the event brings tomorrow...
Being back in Kathmandu is always such a wonderful experience for me, the feeling of coming home is unmistakable and seems to hit me the moment the wheels on the plane touch the ground, jolting me to the present moment where I begin to grow childlike excitement and giddiness as the reality that I am here finally settles in. The last time I was here was for Shamar Rinpoche's cremation, and needless to say I was beyond busy and didn't have a single moment to explore my favorite town on earth, so when we dropped some of Rinpoche's friends off in Bodha he made the wonderful suggestion that I enjoy the evening, take some time for myself, get in touch with the stupa again as I had when I was young - so I did.
The sun was beginning to set as I slowly began making my rounds of the stupa, as always at this hour it was crowded, full of life and bustle, for locals and visitors alike - this is a special place. And, much like the amazing people I had met this afternoon, those met with extreme hardship and the lack of normal faculties and opportunities - as they had inspired me to re-look at my life, to begin to see what amazing chances I've had, I am greeted with a feeling rounding the stupa that frees my spirit and opens my heart. Somehow the feeling of seeing the incredible project that Rinpoche has started brought to life, and ending the day amongst my childhood memories of Boudhanath rekindled, it makes me smile from within, a deep feeling of inspiration and purpose. The power of this place is magnetic - to be able to be here is a gift, pacing slowly under the shadow of the stupa, the simple wisps of sunlight gracefully ducking under the prayer flags, in crystalline contrast to the statues and paintings in the workshops created with so much more than just effort and time - the whole day becomes one breath of inspiration, it’s all connected.
It is under these Nepalese skies that I am home.
His whole idea, if I may be so bold as to try and paraphrase his ingenuity and impressive positive outlook; is to help the disabled people of Nepal by empowering them with actual skills that help them to create sustainable lives, lives that they look forward to and have purpose, as for many a bleak and somber existence has been replaced with an amazing opportunity. These are often severely handicapped people, and instead of simply getting them a meal or medicine they are taken care of, sheltered and fed, all the while building their skills in traditional Thanka painting, sculpture, and other forms of art and creative expression - giving them the platform to build a life for themselves that will grow with them, not relying on donations for the rest of their lives, but becoming so much more. I had the opportunity to visit two of their workshops today and I was so touched and beyond impressed with their work, their energy and devotion, as well as the true and very real results that Rinpoche's program is creating, not a temporary fix, but a radical and new way of dealing with an ever growing problem that has long been swept under the rug. I am very excited to see what the event brings tomorrow...
Being back in Kathmandu is always such a wonderful experience for me, the feeling of coming home is unmistakable and seems to hit me the moment the wheels on the plane touch the ground, jolting me to the present moment where I begin to grow childlike excitement and giddiness as the reality that I am here finally settles in. The last time I was here was for Shamar Rinpoche's cremation, and needless to say I was beyond busy and didn't have a single moment to explore my favorite town on earth, so when we dropped some of Rinpoche's friends off in Bodha he made the wonderful suggestion that I enjoy the evening, take some time for myself, get in touch with the stupa again as I had when I was young - so I did.
The sun was beginning to set as I slowly began making my rounds of the stupa, as always at this hour it was crowded, full of life and bustle, for locals and visitors alike - this is a special place. And, much like the amazing people I had met this afternoon, those met with extreme hardship and the lack of normal faculties and opportunities - as they had inspired me to re-look at my life, to begin to see what amazing chances I've had, I am greeted with a feeling rounding the stupa that frees my spirit and opens my heart. Somehow the feeling of seeing the incredible project that Rinpoche has started brought to life, and ending the day amongst my childhood memories of Boudhanath rekindled, it makes me smile from within, a deep feeling of inspiration and purpose. The power of this place is magnetic - to be able to be here is a gift, pacing slowly under the shadow of the stupa, the simple wisps of sunlight gracefully ducking under the prayer flags, in crystalline contrast to the statues and paintings in the workshops created with so much more than just effort and time - the whole day becomes one breath of inspiration, it’s all connected.
It is under these Nepalese skies that I am home.
