Wish It, Post-it

An original message… beautiful!

There are many prayers and preparations being made at Namgyal Temple in Dharamsala today.  

Tomorrow is the great Buddhist celebration of Chökhor Düchen, the first turning of the Wheel of Dharma; the day of Buddha first teaching, The Four Noble Truths, given at Deer Park in Sarnath, India.  

Along with the recitation of mantras, the making of prayer flags and the serving of tea, there is a place at the temple where any visitor can leave a message of good wishes and continued birthday sentiments for His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama. Yellow Post-its are gathering in number for Dalai Lama to enjoy. They are written in Tibetan, English, French, German, and many languages; possibly as many languages as there are visitors here.  

It is said that all good wishes and actions, positive and negative, are multiplied 10 million times during this time. So, write on a Post-it in your heart, wish-it with along with us… join us on this special day!  

A sampling of messages found at Namgyal Temple today.

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Chökhor Düchen is one of the Four Great Festivals (düchen), during the Tibetan calendar year of 2010-2011, Iron Tiger Year 2137, 4^th Tibetan day of the month (western calendar date of July 15, 2010)  

Photograph by C. J. Schake – © Copyright 2010 – all rights reserved, quality prints available on request.  

We are not Alone.

Beauty found in the open street markets of Karnataka State, India.

So many others… so many situations in our world… Two Iranian women facing potential execution, the oil continues to surge from the ocean floor in the Gulf of Mexico putting people and nature at sustained and increasing danger, and even those who seem to have so much, but still suffer from their own confused actions not knowing how to move forward without fear.

What is our commonality?

“Like those who journey on the road, who halt and make a pause along the way, beings on the pathways of the world, all halt, and pause, and take their birth.”

What state of mind can we adopt? In what way can we find sense, solace or solution?

“Strive at first to meditate upon the sameness of yourself and others. In joy and sorrow all are equal. Thus be guardian of all, as of yourself.

The hand and other limbs are many and distinct, but all are one – one body to be kept and guarded. Likewise, different beings in their joys and sorrows are, like me, all one in wanting happiness.”

Connected through technology, more aware through communication, we are able to reach out and do something positive. By being informed we have an opportunity to care through our connectivity.

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References ‘Way of the Bodhisattva’, Shambhala Dragon Editions: “Like those who journey…” 8th Chapter on Meditation, Stanza 33; “Strive at first to meditate…” Stanzas 90 and 91

Photograph by C. J. Schake – © Copyright 2010 – all rights reserved, quality prints available on request.