Ablaze are our hearts so full to the brim, overflowing like jewels from a chest full beyond its limits of pure gold.
Eyes sparkling, faces full of life and joy, there is something in the air that has completely taken over the space and transformed us along with it into something else entirely. Transfixed on the stage, breath abated and slow, the silence in between words is like a great thunderous clap shaking the walls in a tremendous downpour of open space. Each syllable is carefully placed and decided upon, the power of each phrase hitting me like a giant mallet, striking me deeply and shaking my humble ideas and simple personal concepts. Karmapa’s speech is like a lightning bolt, precise like a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting all excess and bringing a shining point of clarity to an otherwise fuzzy and customarily out of focus mindstream. His Holiness is quite literally ablaze - he was unlike anything I have ever felt or seen before, the full weight of his presence is still with me hours later as I am trying to decompile and reflect on what I have seen and heard. Brilliant light seemed to be everywhere, on every surface and each fold of robe or hand gesture, bringing a sense of polished porcelain and glimmering color to every inch of my surroundings. I am being carried away in a shower of light, the joy I have felt today seems endless, boundless, taking refuge with His Holiness has touched me deeply even though I have had the opportunity to do so before. Something about the way he sat on his throne, a commanding and vajra-like presence, his careful speech and ever open mind and heart, his words were so powerful and clear, every syllable placed exactly and deliberately. I felt completely alone in a room full of thousands of people, he was speaking to all of us, to all beings, to all things, though I am sure I am not alone in feeling like he was speaking to each one of us, directly to the heart.
Imagery is meant to reflect emotion - each moment that passes carries with it a rainbow of colors and shades, fleeting glimpses met with timeless feelings, a constant evolution of the moment of now. Even a slight change in light, in angle or perspective, in proximity or depth has a drastic and immediate effect on what your eyes and emotions conjure for your mind. I am in a constant search of moments that are special, unique, worlds apart from what is happening just before or right afterwards. A single moment sandwiched between all others, color and light bouncing all around me in a great and vivid display. Today was an exception even in a place such as this, where things of great importance and marvelous surprises happen often. I am rarely affected by things deemed supernatural, I like to keep both my mind and feelings based on reality and tangible, touchable, physical things, but I cannot argue with what I have experienced today nor disprove its valor or truth. While some things must be explained with words, some simply cannot be, at least with my limited abilities or lack thereof. Karmapa was more alive, intense, open, hilarious, jovial, warm, deeply thoughtful, and otherwise erupting with the brightest light imaginable, more than anything these eyes have seen before. We all took refuge today, some for the first time, others replenishing their wishes once again. While I have taken refuge before I feel like this was my first time, fresh air in my lungs, weights lifted off my shoulders, opening my eyes for the first time to see the twinkling stars and bright lights of humanity. If imagery reflects emotion, and light brings out the dark, then a great abundance of light brings great dispersion of shadow and doubt, illuminating within. Taking refuge in a room full of light has brought great happiness to an overly exhausted soul in need of replenishment. Every moment is special, every moment is unique, now is all we have and is so very precious. In this great hall full of light - now will do just fine.
