The fullness to the brim, the overwhelming sensation of warmth and closeness, the feeling that you are wearing rose colored glasses that you can’t seem to take off - the imprinted and everlasting expression of color and love, light and heat, space and time.
I have spent a day in the sun, packed beyond reason with people, claustrophobic and chaotic, a melting pot of culture, language and tradition on the verge of explosion and disintegration, but I couldn’t be happier, or even try to explain what happier might look like. This precious world, this world full of light and color, today sports a natural rose hue, a silky velvet texture, engulfed in light and softness. I am unable to explain this colorful feeling, though it is all over everything I see, in all directions, emitting warmth and glow to all things. Even in the midst of chaos and mayhem, in the middle of a churning swarm of people all excitedly anxious pushing and shoving, with lines extending for seemingly miles never-ending, I find the eye of the storm to be of such peace and splendor. This rare single moment when things make sense, even in the middle of unknowns, ups and downs of extreme nature, battling fatigue unlike anything one could imagine, when the next moment will change again, these single rose colored moments seem to make everything worth while. The only way I know to explain such feelings is to show them, to let one’s eyes decipher by themselves, words sometimes cannot do justice to the purity of color, light and shadow. Karmapa today was beyond incredible, casting this rose hue on all who passed, inspiring me to my core with energy that seemed to come out of nowhere. Understanding this impact can only be shown, not told, and I can only hope that I can do it justice in the simplest sense and meaning.
Today we had the empowerment of Amitayus, as well as a Tenshuk Mandala offering, and the Karma Dupgyud Choeling Monastery was completely full and spilling out in all directions with locals and monks, lamas and Rinpoches. The lines for blessing stretched forever, the amount of items prepared for the Tenshuk was baffling as I have never seen so many in one sitting before, so much beautiful brocade, gold statues and shimmering golden colored cloth wrapped around precious Dharma texts, literally piles of them everywhere. More people than I could count in the courtyard assembled for the afternoon’s empowerment, the morning was packed with the offering lines. Once again the regal and impressive Chime Rinpoche handled the task of making the main offerings to Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, his small stature having no effect on his abilities and poise. Karmapa stood firm on his throne, letting all and everyone pass to receive blessing like he had all the time in the world. As many became frustrated or started to push and get excited, he never swayed, his face beaming with compassion and calm, taking each and every moment to look each passerby in the eyes and to make them understand he was there for them. For the blessing he walked out into the crowd to bless each person individually. He was literally glowing gold today, unstoppable, unwavering, undeniably glowing on us all. He wore the black crown and the hat of Gampopa, off and on again, he was an amazing display of energy and determination at all times. Clutching the Dorje to his chest, such a look of peace on his face, in this moment I was also aglow, watching from afar I could feel it deeply in my heart, and it has been permanently etched into my mind.
Honestly, with this kind of environment it is easy to get flustered and overwhelmed, normally I would be, but today I was like on a cloud, the world with its wondrous tint of rose and gold, everything shining and inviting. Even the light in the passing afternoon took on a golden glow, casting its rays all over everyone. The world is aglow, my heart is aglow, Karmapa is aglow. The sun beats down on us, but we all have such deep smiles in our hearts. This precious world is all we have, and this precious world keeps gently reminding us that it is indeed so very precious, that each and every moment is special, that each and every opportunity can be seized to open one’s heart to the maximum. Each and every moment can be what you make of it. Each and every moment can be made of rose and gold if we want it to. Today in the great presence of Karmapa, in this amazing landscape that seems to be taken right from a fairytale, with our dharma family gathered from all around, even the bombarding craziness of 1000 people cannot take away my rose colored shades.
I have spent a day in the sun, packed beyond reason with people, claustrophobic and chaotic, a melting pot of culture, language and tradition on the verge of explosion and disintegration, but I couldn’t be happier, or even try to explain what happier might look like. This precious world, this world full of light and color, today sports a natural rose hue, a silky velvet texture, engulfed in light and softness. I am unable to explain this colorful feeling, though it is all over everything I see, in all directions, emitting warmth and glow to all things. Even in the midst of chaos and mayhem, in the middle of a churning swarm of people all excitedly anxious pushing and shoving, with lines extending for seemingly miles never-ending, I find the eye of the storm to be of such peace and splendor. This rare single moment when things make sense, even in the middle of unknowns, ups and downs of extreme nature, battling fatigue unlike anything one could imagine, when the next moment will change again, these single rose colored moments seem to make everything worth while. The only way I know to explain such feelings is to show them, to let one’s eyes decipher by themselves, words sometimes cannot do justice to the purity of color, light and shadow. Karmapa today was beyond incredible, casting this rose hue on all who passed, inspiring me to my core with energy that seemed to come out of nowhere. Understanding this impact can only be shown, not told, and I can only hope that I can do it justice in the simplest sense and meaning.
Today we had the empowerment of Amitayus, as well as a Tenshuk Mandala offering, and the Karma Dupgyud Choeling Monastery was completely full and spilling out in all directions with locals and monks, lamas and Rinpoches. The lines for blessing stretched forever, the amount of items prepared for the Tenshuk was baffling as I have never seen so many in one sitting before, so much beautiful brocade, gold statues and shimmering golden colored cloth wrapped around precious Dharma texts, literally piles of them everywhere. More people than I could count in the courtyard assembled for the afternoon’s empowerment, the morning was packed with the offering lines. Once again the regal and impressive Chime Rinpoche handled the task of making the main offerings to Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, his small stature having no effect on his abilities and poise. Karmapa stood firm on his throne, letting all and everyone pass to receive blessing like he had all the time in the world. As many became frustrated or started to push and get excited, he never swayed, his face beaming with compassion and calm, taking each and every moment to look each passerby in the eyes and to make them understand he was there for them. For the blessing he walked out into the crowd to bless each person individually. He was literally glowing gold today, unstoppable, unwavering, undeniably glowing on us all. He wore the black crown and the hat of Gampopa, off and on again, he was an amazing display of energy and determination at all times. Clutching the Dorje to his chest, such a look of peace on his face, in this moment I was also aglow, watching from afar I could feel it deeply in my heart, and it has been permanently etched into my mind.
Honestly, with this kind of environment it is easy to get flustered and overwhelmed, normally I would be, but today I was like on a cloud, the world with its wondrous tint of rose and gold, everything shining and inviting. Even the light in the passing afternoon took on a golden glow, casting its rays all over everyone. The world is aglow, my heart is aglow, Karmapa is aglow. The sun beats down on us, but we all have such deep smiles in our hearts. This precious world is all we have, and this precious world keeps gently reminding us that it is indeed so very precious, that each and every moment is special, that each and every opportunity can be seized to open one’s heart to the maximum. Each and every moment can be what you make of it. Each and every moment can be made of rose and gold if we want it to. Today in the great presence of Karmapa, in this amazing landscape that seems to be taken right from a fairytale, with our dharma family gathered from all around, even the bombarding craziness of 1000 people cannot take away my rose colored shades.
