The faces of children have always been my favorite thing to photograph, the interplay between us, the back and forth, seeing their eyes light up in that single frozen moment in time stays with me forever. In this instant we have shared such a personal and intimate space, ingrained like a memory of deep inspiration playing at my heart strings like a harp.
These children have nothing, less than nothing, but the worth of their lives cannot be measured in belongings or a roof over their heads. They come at each and every day of their lives with a sense of hope, I cannot begin to imagine how they do this, but it seems to be the case no matter where I go. In Nepal, after the earthquake I witnessed intense and powerful images of hope and human spirit in surroundings that were pitifully inhumane, beyond poor and destitute. Here again, in Gaya, for the second year SABA has organized a blanket offering to the poor and we see it again, filthy faces shining back at me with smiles that could melt the polar ice caps. Eyes glowing with spirit and curiosity. Families tied together by love and the need to survive, dwindling spirits are vanquished instantly as I come by and they beg for a photograph. Such simple pleasures bringing forth such hope and basic joy, and one cannot help but get swept up in the moment. But the moment fades, and we need to remind ourselves of why we are here in Bodh Gaya. We are here because this is a place to make powerful wishes, wishes that have meaning and benefit all beings. Wishes that can help to make the world a better place, to relieve those who suffer endlessly on a daily basis. Wishes that could help to change lives in an instant. Wishes that push us out of our carefully protected personal space and closed off worlds to see what the rest of the world really sees and feels. The reality is that for so many the agony and suffering is unbearable to even begin to try and fathom for us. And yet, they beam back at me, several generations in a single frame, holding each other tight, playfully jostling back and forth as they veer to make it into the photo. The photos are perhaps intense, grainy, twisted, stretched and torn, but that is just the way I perceived this event today. I don’t mean to cause offense or disturb, the point is that even in the harshest of conditions, with the crowd smashing to and fro like a great tornado, I have been touched deeply by these children’s raw hearts, how exposed and peaceful they were willing to be for me, a perfect stranger carrying around a camera surrounded by utter mayhem and chaos. These children can teach us volumes about the human spirit. These children show us that we need not feel pity, but that we should be learning from them, to see how they are capable of being so happy with so little. We need to make strong wishes that their lives and all those sentient beings in this world may one day live without suffering. Is this not what the Buddha taught? Is this not what Karmapa teaches us? Taking a break from the Temple's chanting and ceremony things suddenly become crystal clear. Make wishes for all beings, make wishes to ease the suffering of those who are in pain, all around the world, for kalpas in the past and future, yourselves included. Reject pity, invoke humility, garner hope and let your heart open. Let your Buddha nature shine. Make wishes with all your heart. Make wishes for us all, for the power of your wishes are so immense and unfathomable in their potential that if we all can make them together, there is nothing we cannot do.
Posted for The Kagyu Monlam
These children have nothing, less than nothing, but the worth of their lives cannot be measured in belongings or a roof over their heads. They come at each and every day of their lives with a sense of hope, I cannot begin to imagine how they do this, but it seems to be the case no matter where I go. In Nepal, after the earthquake I witnessed intense and powerful images of hope and human spirit in surroundings that were pitifully inhumane, beyond poor and destitute. Here again, in Gaya, for the second year SABA has organized a blanket offering to the poor and we see it again, filthy faces shining back at me with smiles that could melt the polar ice caps. Eyes glowing with spirit and curiosity. Families tied together by love and the need to survive, dwindling spirits are vanquished instantly as I come by and they beg for a photograph. Such simple pleasures bringing forth such hope and basic joy, and one cannot help but get swept up in the moment. But the moment fades, and we need to remind ourselves of why we are here in Bodh Gaya. We are here because this is a place to make powerful wishes, wishes that have meaning and benefit all beings. Wishes that can help to make the world a better place, to relieve those who suffer endlessly on a daily basis. Wishes that could help to change lives in an instant. Wishes that push us out of our carefully protected personal space and closed off worlds to see what the rest of the world really sees and feels. The reality is that for so many the agony and suffering is unbearable to even begin to try and fathom for us. And yet, they beam back at me, several generations in a single frame, holding each other tight, playfully jostling back and forth as they veer to make it into the photo. The photos are perhaps intense, grainy, twisted, stretched and torn, but that is just the way I perceived this event today. I don’t mean to cause offense or disturb, the point is that even in the harshest of conditions, with the crowd smashing to and fro like a great tornado, I have been touched deeply by these children’s raw hearts, how exposed and peaceful they were willing to be for me, a perfect stranger carrying around a camera surrounded by utter mayhem and chaos. These children can teach us volumes about the human spirit. These children show us that we need not feel pity, but that we should be learning from them, to see how they are capable of being so happy with so little. We need to make strong wishes that their lives and all those sentient beings in this world may one day live without suffering. Is this not what the Buddha taught? Is this not what Karmapa teaches us? Taking a break from the Temple's chanting and ceremony things suddenly become crystal clear. Make wishes for all beings, make wishes to ease the suffering of those who are in pain, all around the world, for kalpas in the past and future, yourselves included. Reject pity, invoke humility, garner hope and let your heart open. Let your Buddha nature shine. Make wishes with all your heart. Make wishes for us all, for the power of your wishes are so immense and unfathomable in their potential that if we all can make them together, there is nothing we cannot do.
Posted for The Kagyu Monlam
