United under a tree of enlightenment and a binding love and devotion; a grand assembly we have become. But first will come the light. Amidst luminous rays of early morning brilliance it has now begun. Streaming through the trees it comes unlike any other, glamorous and velvety, shocking in its raw subtleties, a brilliant glow wafting through the air so rich you can taste it; It is the golden light of Gaya. This is my fourth Monlam and every year I am adamant to find new ways of expression, perspective and angular experimentation to convey my deep feelings about this place. It is not just the place; Great Masters spread amongst wild masses of flowers, jewels and shimmering glimmering sights gathered before me a great banquet of inspiration. Colors coming only from dreams and legends. Having only my wits and a bit of patience in my bag of tricks I venture into this world of abundance hoping only to be able to bring with me some semblance of documentary showing the great power, beauty, grace, humility, devotion, joy, depth and reverence I will have experienced by week’s end. This is my mission. This is why I am here. To share what I see. To show my heart’s innermosts through the doorway of the eyes into the soul. To bring my world to you. To share what brings us all together, no matter how far or near we may be. Monlam is upon us, and while I may have been here before this all feels new to me again. And so it begins once more, this splendid voyage of discovery through the mist and glowing golden glow that is Monlam. It begins as it always does for me, with the ever lucent light of Gaya leading the way.
The Kagyu Monlam
