flowers to 2011

Some flowers from or to the past year,

& good wishes for 2012.

Read that an acre of rainforest is lost every second.

Perhaps 2012 will move towards some necessary changes.

It's urgent in many directions, isn't it?

the eden project

ornaments

Found a small clear (plastic) pagoda in Burma.

Around it are several tiny glass figures - a centaur, mermaid,

minotaur etc, that I got in a miniature shop in Mexico.

(I make little tableaus that I fiddle with while on the phone)

Right is a piece of coral with hand-like ends.

I didn't have a christmas tree etc ~ how about you?

podcast about rainforests

all that

All that glitters is probably gold, at Shwedagon pagoda,

there are lots of shiny & reflective surfaces as well.

The halo has flashing neon spot lights, for instance.

& the mirrors are cut with subtle angle changes.

Sunrise & sunset work their magic.

I think the place can be enjoyed on so many levels,

& doesn't demand a religious mind set.

Wouldn't you like to go as gently as a dandelion, into 2012

?

happy holiday

There seem to be several kinds of devotional practices

at Burmese temples

apart from sitting, meditating, praying, chanting..

It also looked like there were people who truly enjoyed just

being there, in a beautiful temple where this aspect of

consciousness had been the focus for ages.

The polished marble floors reflect it all, there are multiple

perspectives: everything adds to the experience.

Enjoy the holidays wherever you find your self!

eat some chocolate

photos

At some temples in Burma there were professional

photographers; groups & families would line up, clearly not

used to the idea. I love to get them too.. innocent.

Cameras & mobile phones are not as

widespread as elsewhere.

hearts

tons of gold

They say there is 5 tons of gold in the very large

central pagoda at Shwedagon .

It's so strong.

Could be the relics it's said to contain.

Adyashanti on the concept of spiritual awakening

tons

Thai temples have lots of gold too, but this one in Yangon

has really a lot. It's not all gold leaf.

When it's real gold you know it: a really pure effect

despite all the stuff associated with the getting of it,

historically speaking ~ greed, avarice, envy et al.

The pigeons have their own take on it.

Hiroshi Sugimoto

I saw these statues in Kyoto, but cameras were forbidden.

It was like being in one of the heaven worlds.