There’s so much going on, everything just mixes together and it can be hard to differentiate between it all. For me, much of the time is spent waiting - in a bus, taxi, hotel lobby, or backstage greenroom - until the moment to spring into action, usually having no clue where we are going or what will happen next. Indonesia was no exception. It was a humid blur of crowded temples with beautiful golden Buddhas and overflowing tents bursting with people. Seaside life release ceremonies and consecration pujas. Two monlams; in Jakarta and Batam. Karmapa giving teachings, speeches and blessings, and even an empowerment to top it off. We saw parades of flowers and offering ceremonies, took in all the unique beauty of their statues and shrine decorations, saw our fair share of vibrantly decorated halls and gala dinners, traveled from Indonesia to Singapore by boat, and Karmapa presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for a new temple overlooking the ocean. Every day was full beyond belief. One event included masters from Mahayana, Theravada and Karmapa, who passed through an enormous crowd of thousands, in a blessing line, each in their own custom and style, a beautiful display of the three schools working together. We got to know the culture, history and customs of the people of Indonesia, whom I can say totally blew me away with their kindness, careful planning, and amazing generosity. And yes, we also spent an enormous amount of time in a bus, 20 plus monks and Karmapa’s team, snaking our way through traffic from place to place with a police escort, lights on and sirens blaring. It was totally wild, and I loved every second of it.
Karmapa was invited by one of the main figures of Mahayana Buddhism in Indonesia, this event being extremely important as he presented Karmapa to his thousands upon thousands of disciples everywhere we went in the most dignified and respectful way. Karmapa gave refuge, taught about the meaning of Monlam and prayer, and even gave a short teaching in Chinese, which I had no idea he could do. After one of the Monlams, we heard the center was so touched by his presence that they decided to continue doing the Monlam prayers once a month, just like he had done with them. It was extremely touching. I cannot imagine a more powerful, exciting, exhausting, and humbling experience. I couldn’t ask for more, and I couldn’t imagine living my life in any other way.
It was quite difficult to choose which photos to share, as so much happened in such a concentrated, and short amount of time. I have complied our adventure into 108 photos, a mere inkling of the scope that we saw and experienced in our 10 days in Indonesia. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did making them. Please check them all, it was a magical journey and I wouldn’t want you to miss anything!
