PARO to THIMPHU, BHUTAN: SEPARATION FROM SELF


I look at my name and I don’t recognize it anymore. Is separation from self a thing?

On plane from New Delhi to Kathmandhu to my final destination, Paro.

Landing in Paro, like no other landing in the world.

The clouds lay on the mountaintops.

Very first picture taken from the college’s library window: Buddha (Point) in the far distance.

Every morning before entering the faculty hall, I glance at Buddha…

This is from one morning when I sat on the canteen patio and worked. It was hard to focus. Couldn’t stop staring at this view.

July/August 2024

THIMPHU, BHUTAN STREET ART: FOUR HARMONIOUS FRIENDS

You can see this story depicted in murals all over Bhutan 🇧🇹- on walls, on the back of trucks, as monuments…
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The story of the Four Harmonious Friends is derived from the Jataka Tales of the Buddha. It tells of how the four animals work together to grow a seed into a tree that produces fruit they can all enjoy:
The bird finds a seed and plants it
The rabbit waters it
The monkey fertilizes it
The elephant protects it
The friends work together to reach the fruit
The image is said to represent interdependence and the importance of helping each other. It’s believed that displaying the image can increase harmony among people, and prevent discord and separation between family and friends. It can also serve as a reminder that people’s different strengths and weaknesses can complement each other, allowing them to achieve things they couldn’t accomplish alone.

August 2024

THIMPHU, BHUTAN: WALKING BUDDHA

It was an overcast, rainy day, but as I waited for the bus to pick me up at the stadium, I saw the face of Buddha between the trees, so with plenty of time to spare, I headed across the street to the park to get a better look…

A 45 feet tall statue of a Buddha walking was inaugurated on 13 April 2012. It actually symbolized the celebration of the 84th Birth Anniversary of Thailand’s King, in addition to the wedding anniversary of His Majesty the King of Bhutan. It is also believed to have been constructed for all people to pursue happiness.

It is located in The Coronation and Centenary Park, which was built to honor the new king, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, after his father abdicated the throne. Its inauguration was in September 2006.

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An excerpt from “Daily Readings from the Buddha’s Words of Wisdom”:

NEW YORK CITY & BROOKLYN (WILLIAMSBURG,) NEW YORK STREET ART: CURB YOUR EGO

𝒲𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝑒𝑔𝑜 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝒻𝒾𝓉𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑔𝒶𝓇𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉.
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~
𝒢𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒶𝓂𝒶 𝐵𝓊𝒹𝒹𝒽𝒶
🙏

ORLANDO, FLORIDA STREET ART: NATIVE TRANQUILITY

8feb19. Orlando, FL

BUCHAREST, ROMANIA 🇷🇴 GRAFFITI: BUDDHA SMILES

7aug17 Bucharest, Romania 

OSAKA (BENTENCHO), JAPAN: BE IN THE PRESENT

“Bring awareness to each act. Walking on the road, walk fully alert; eating, eat with awareness. Whatsoever you are doing, don’t let the past and the future interfere. Be in the present. That’s what awareness is all about.” ~Osho

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11jul16. Osaka, Japan.

TOKYO, JAPAN: TEN-NOJI DAIBUTSU

Originally created in 1690 by Ota Kyuemon. 

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14jun16. Tokyo, Japan.

NARA, JAPAN: DEER BUDDHA, …

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7jun16. Nara, Japan.

NARA, JAPAN: A SINGLE FLOWER CLEARLY

“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” ~ Buddha

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7jun16. Nara, Japan.