Happy Holi!

Yes, I know, Holi is a Hindu festival that started yesterday, but yesterday I was busy writing about the Tibetan Butter Lamp Festival. Luckily the Holi festival also continues through today, March 9th, 2012, so it's all good. In my opinion, the colorful scenes of people celebrating with reckless abandon during Holi are too fantastic to miss, so I just had to write about it. :)  

The festival of Holi celebrates faith in Lord Vishnu so strong it led to the burning and defeat of the demoness Holika. Holi also signifies the end of winter and prepares merrymakers for the abundance of the spring harvest. The reason for the orgy of colors from the colored powders thrown about is said to have originated from the fondness Lord Krishna (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) had for playing tricks on village maidens by dowsing them with water and colors. These days the colorful celebration also represents a melting away of social norms and restrictions, so that everyone, rich, poor, men, women, young, old, can shed their inhibitions and celebrate the festival together as Hindus.    

Please enjoy this great photo gallery I found showing just a glimpse of the vibrant Holi festivities across India. You can find out more about the who, what, where, when, and why of Holi (as well as safety information) in this article from About.com India Travel. There is also an extensive article about Holi on Wikipedia, which cautions about the chemicals contained in the synthetically dyed powders used during the festival, and suggests some natural and traditional alternatives.  

Have you experienced the excitement of a Holi festival in India (or elsewhere)? Please tell us about it in the comments!

May all beings be happy!

Chunga Choepa (Tibetan butter lamp festival)

Although I am not near enough to a community who celebrates the amazing and colorful Chunga Choepa, or Tibetan butter lamp festival, I wanted to know more about it. And what better way to learn about something than sharing with others? Because this festival is held according to the lunar calendar (i.e. the 15th day of the first lunar month), I am a little confused as to whether the butter lamp festival is today, March 8th or March 19th, 2012. 

But no matter- whenever it is, Chunga Choepa (also called Chotrul Duchen) is an important festival which celebrates miracles performed by the Buddha and his oratory victory in a debate with cynics. There is music, dancing, and blessings are given. But the highlights of the festival are the amazingly huge sculptures that monks create out of, that's right . . . yak butter! These sculptures are indeed something to behold, and feature a myriad of designs such as flowers, animals, and people that are realistically portrayed through the use of carefully carved and richly colored yak butter. When finished, the sculptures are displayed on the main Barkhor district of Lhasa and illuminated with butter lamps. People from all over the city come to witness this awesome display, and stay out all night to enjoy the festivities. The butter sculptures slowly melt in the heat, demonstrating the impermanence of all things. 

Having been to a Tibetan Buddhist temple in the midwest, I have seen an example of these amazing works of art. I can't imagine beholding a whole street-full of them all at once- it must be absolutely breathtaking. If you have been to Lhasa during this time or otherwise participated in a Tibetan Butter Lamp festival, please share your experience in the comments!    

You can find more about the Tibetan butter lamp festival here. Also, check out this very interesting article about the 'Festival of the Butter Gods' and the important role that yak butter plays in the lives of the Tibetan people. (Note: It is unclear from the article whether the 'Festival of the Butter Gods' and 'Chunga Choepa' are the same- if you know, please speak up in the comments!) 

For the dates of other Buddhist holidays in 2012, click here.    

I hope you enjoyed this post. May all beings be happy!

A springtime walk

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day, and so I thought I would take advantage of it by taking a nice, long walk. While I prefer to walk in the woods or on hiking trails, I had to make do with strolling through some nearby housing developments. But that doesn't mean that there wasn't anything worth seeing. Below are some pictures that I took on my little trek, mementos of this beautiful day. I hope you enjoy them.

Springtime buds, possibly Magnolia

 Male flowers illuminated by sunshine (possibly Red maple, or Acer rubrum)

Unsure of the identity of these early tree flowers. Perhaps I will go back when the leaves are out!

Seeds emerging from a pod of what looks like a milkweed, but I am unsure of the species.

Ornamental crab apples that have overwintered 

 Tiny weed Veronica persica, or Persian speedwell, growing along a sidewalk

 Mini daffodils (genus Narcissus) near a mailbox

Flowers from a garden shrub Chaenomeles speciosa or 'Japanese quince'

I hope you have enjoyed these photos- please let me know if you know the names of any of the plants I have not labeled. 

Have a wonderful day, May all beings be happy!

Middle Way Minimalism: Living Simply

Take just one look at the content of trending and popular blogs, and it is easy to see that there is a revolution brewing. People from industrialized nations are fighting to get out of debt and digging themselves out from under years worth of clutter. They have rejected rampant consumerism and embraced minimalism and sustainability. People are blogging about minimalist wardrobes, 'minsumerism', tiny houses, even owning less than 100 things.

And it's all very exciting. But is it just a backlash- or even a fad? Fantasizing about white, empty walls and scooping up all one's < 100 belongings to 'backpack across Europe' has been equated to lifestyle porn. It looks good, sounds good, and seems oh-so-sexy. But just like the fallacy that money can buy happiness, striving for a house of empty surfaces (sorry kids, no artwork on the fridge), empty schedules (so I can meditate, dammit!), or a (comfortably?) nomadic lifestyle just sound like weird personality quirks, not bliss. 

People struggling with body image issues are told not to compare themselves to others, and that the number on the scale does not define self-worth. I think the same thing applies to the number of possessions one owns. Moreover, I really don't see how going from extreme consumerism to a self-imposed 'monk'-like existence helps achieve what people really want, and that is freedom. Instead it seems that the costly wastefulness of materialism has been replaced with a heavy egoism dependent on having 'less'.

That being said, there is no denying that the minimalist movement has benefited many people. Just the aforementioned shedding of crushing debt has been one 'miracle' facilitated by minimalist thinking. Other advantages include less time cleaning, shopping, searching, and fixing, and much more time for loved ones, special hobbies, and oh yeah, living.

The key is balance. Instead of focusing on how much (or how much less), I personally plan to focus on what is 'enough'. While terms like 'minimalist' can be helpful and descriptive, I believe that applying such words as self-labels can make us feel burdened by yet another expectation, when the outcome implied by that label may not be what we actually want. That's where the term 'Living Simply' comes in, because it is open and individual- it can mean what you want it to mean. My goal is to live a happier, richer life using a simple 'Middle Way' approach - without becoming attached to the concept of 'less', or caught up in terms defined by someone else.

What does 'Living Simply' mean to you? Could this help individuals live happier, richer lives? What do you think of the term 'minimalism' and the current popular interest in this topic? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

May all beings be happy!

 

Goals for living simply, spring 2012

One of my major objectives is to simplify my life so that I have more time to enjoy with loved ones and doing activities I care most about.

I wouldn't exactly describe my current lifestyle as extravagant. As a 'recovering' grad student, shopping sprees and a big houseful of expensive gadgets aren't really part of the picture.

But over the past few years I still accumulated a lot of stuff (thank you Goodwill) and bought things 'just because I could'. I would forgo valuable and fun experiences like spiritual retreats and dance classes because 'I couldn't afford it', yet still buy stuff. 

It took some time to evolve, but I finally became aware of how stuff was becoming a problem. Just like the "donate, shop, donate" cycle they joke about on the signs around their store, I donated at least two carloads of stuff to Goodwill. I organized my personal paperwork and got rid of most of it. I sold some books and downsized my wardrobe.

But, after having a fantastically difficult time moving followed by an interesting period of my husband and I trying to 'merge' our stuff, I've realized that this simplifying thing is still a work in progress. Moreover, once my love of freedom became greater than my attachment to possessions, I also wanted to simplify other aspects of my life, such as the commitments I have and my online presence. 

My long-term goals are to:

only own items that I need, cherish, and enjoy

spend a minimum amount of time cleaning and taking care of items

have more cash for savings, travel, and experiences

have more time for doing the things I love

have more time for the people I love.

My short-term goals are to:

downsize my wardrobe to quality, wearable items

use the cosmetics, lotions, and creams I own, and replace most of them with homemade treatments

downsize kitchenware to things I actually use

continue organizing kitchen, especially utensils

sell books and antiques to local dealers and shops

go through paperwork once again, organize what I need and shred what I don't

reduce number of friends on facebook to the people I am closest to (this will be in phases)

spend less time on facebook and checking email

text less

take a trip and pack light.

My progress since moving to the east coast:

Downsized my wardrobe, kitchenware, books, and miscellaneous items

Decluttered the master bedroom, with the help of my amazing husband

Decluttered and organized the pantry and kitchen cupboards, also with the help of my husband :)

Two phases of facebook reducing (and adding appropriate contacts to linked in)

Slowly getting through excess cosmetics and toiletries 

Eliminated cell phone data and texting plans

And last but not least: Shopping only when I actually need something, not when I am bored or stressed.

Granted, there are two things that have made progress toward a simpler life easier 1) our apartment is small and 2) money is tight. But money was tight before, so this progress does reflect a change in mindset, both in my husband and myself. I should print out this post and keep this part in my wallet as a reminder to save and simplify, in case there is ever anything in it to spend :) 

In the meantime, I will try to post additional progress when I can. 

Has living a simpler life become important to you? What strategies do you use to live a simpler life? What are your goals?

May all beings be happy!

An 'extra' day, another decision (or two)

Well, I guess we won't see February 29th for another four years, which is how long we'll have to wait for an 'extra' day. 

Today the weather on the east coast was pretty dreary, and so I can't say that I spent this 'special' day as I would have preferred- on a leisurely walk or exploring a new park. 

But I did make a decision- actually two. In life there are situations that we do not enjoy, but somehow have to bear. However, there is a difference between just gritting our teeth and letting an unpleasant situation take over our lives. Last night I was really upset about a major snag in getting my dissertation deposited, due to a situation beyond my control. I was reminded by my husband that it might not happen when I want it to (now!), but it'll happen. Up to this point my obligations have been met, and so now is a great time to finally let go, calm down, and give myself permission to think about something else. 

And he's right. We can develop attachments to situations, even if they are unpleasant- sometimes especially so. As strange as this is, when we step back to view our obsession, we realize that we were ensnared by self-centered thinking. As per my own experience, viewing adverse circumstances this way can quickly snowball into feelings of resentment and anger- even when the situation I am reacting to has been resolved.

The Buddha taught that attachment and the delusion that we are a separate entity with control over the world around us are a great source of suffering. Only by correcting this delusion and eliminating our self-centered desire for things to be just as we please can we face life's adversity with courage and grace.

I have decided: 1) However unpleasant a situation, I will deal with it as best I can. The circumstance will eventually pass and doesn't define me. 2) The minute an unpleasant situation is resolved is the time to let it go. I think that choosing important goals and working towards them a little bit each day might also serve as a distraction to prevent any adverse situation taking over my life.

Of course making these types of decisions is easier than becoming ever-mindful of them, but refusing to be jerked around by attachment and delusion is another step to living a happy, authentic, and fearless life.

Can you relate to this post? What is your strategy of dealing with unpleasant situations?

May all beings be happy!

Losar Tashi Delek!

Since moving to the east coast, I have only recently been involved in a local sangha, or Buddhist community. Soon after beginning my journey along the Buddhist path four and a half years ago, I wanted to learn about and participate in Buddhist festivals. Although I have learned more about Buddhist festivals since then, I have participated in very few. But despite not really belonging to a community to celebrate with, this year I am trying to at least observe and acknowledge Buddhist festivals from various traditions. 

For example, today is Losar, also known as Tibetan New Year. This is a time of year is very important to Buddhists in Tibet, where the effects of any action (good or bad) is said to be multiplied 100,000 times. This belief means that prayer and spiritual practice become even more important than usual, and therefore play a central role in Losar activities. From what I've read there are also many different festivals during Losar, some of which date back to the pre-Buddhist 'Bon' religion. Tibetans also watch and participate in numerous folk activities, such as wrestling, horse racing, and Tibetan drama (read more here and here).

Being thousands of miles from what is no doubt a vibrant and amazing event, I decided to commemorate this Losar by hanging Tibetan prayer flags. These colorful flags inscribed with blessings and prayers are traditionally attached to the tops of poles, where the wind is believed to carry blessings on the flags promoting peace, strength, compassion, and wisdom to sentient beings far and wide. Blessings continue to be released from the flags as they decay and are torn apart by the wind.  (Read more from Wikipedia)

Tibetan prayer flags are placed on poles and in doorways during auspicious and celebratory days, such as birthdays and festivals. Tibetan prayer flags are also traditionally replaced during Losar with new ones, another reason for me to hang ours in the doorway of our apartment! I hope you enjoy the photo I've added below.

Losar Tashi Delek! May all beings be happy!