Meditation Informs Healing Facilitation

Mercury Retrograde and ramifications (astrology)

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Mercury is retrograde, now through the end of the month. Here are a lot of words about this curious little trickster:

Hinode captures Mercury transit (nasa.gov)

Astrology has been creeping back into the mainstream media for decades. For instance, people joke around about their horoscopes, or they wonder about the affects of the full Moon – whether tides, human behavior, criminal activity or hormonal cycles; if these influences are true, then astrology is apart of our daily lives, whether we know it or not. We are influenced by sun spots and eclipses as well as the gravitational and possibly electro-magnetic fields of the planets. (Not to mention the lineages of mytho-poetic knowledge, passed down from generation to generation regarding the planet’s stories, and their effects upon humankind.) This includes Mercury, the fastest moving planet, which is zipping around the Sun at about thirty miles per second. Due to Mercury’s rapid orbit, it tends to go retrograde several times a year. Here are some thoughts on this potentially challenging trickster going “backwards in the sky,” according to our perspective.

The planet Mercury is associated with many aspects of life, and as technology continues its hyper-driven march into the 21st century, more and more gadgets will be falling under Mercury’s influence. Electronics, especially having to do with communication (email, phones, computers, servers, PDAs, etc); local travel (cars, buses, traffic, reservations, etc); personal communication – discussions, authentic listening and even letters and packages; siblings and relatives – brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins; education especially K – 12th grade although higher institutions are not immune to Mercury Rx; and the central and peripheral nervous systems in the body – everything just mentioned falls under Mercury’s persuasion. The only exception to this rule is that Uranus ( sometimes considered a “higher octave” of Mercury) shares some rulership with a few of these items. However, at the moment, the planet Uranus is also Retrograde, indicating additional delays and challenges.

People in the know might cringe if you tell them Mercury is about to go Retrograde. Or, they say, “Ohhhh… Mercury is Rx, that is why traffic was so bad…” Personally I do not believe this has to be the case. Considering I practice choice-centered, frequency-based astrology, nothing is written in stone. However, I would estimate that the majority of people in the U.S. are not aware of every Mercury Retrograde cycle, so whenever we do something that involves others, then we are easily subjected to their delays and potential absentmindedness, especially when we are all under Mercury Retrograde’s influence. Here is an example – we might normally mail a bill so that it arrives the day before it is due. However, if Mercury is retrograde, especially during several other heavy transiting aspects, then we should consider popping that bill (or letter or application) in the mail early.

Due to the omnipresent fickle nature of human communication, conversations might be a little more challenging when Mercury goes Rx – to truly listen to what the other person is saying, without judgment and to respond in a rational, clear and kind manner is already a task that requires mindfulness. What I mean is that we project so much onto certain individual’s words and body language, that if they are having a rough day (say they were stuck in traffic that does not normally exist), we can easily misinterpret what they are trying to get across. So take an extra deep breath while you are conversing, make sure you ask about anything unclear and try to follow the Dalai Lama’s suggestion about thinking before we speak so that our words are clear, kind and honest. In fact, I would recommend taking a deep breath whenever you think of it – couldn’t hurt, right?

In addition to what I just mentioned, here is what I recommend: schedule extra time for yourself when Mercury is Rx – leave a little early to drive to work, spend more time relaxing and resting down – pencil in meditation time if you have to, do whatever it is that you know helps you to calm your mind and ground your thinking process. We might be an additional 5 – 10 percent distracted – which is why there tends to be slightly more fender benders during these periods – so take extra time to ensure mental clarity, then we will not lock our keys in the car or forget the cake for our grandmother’s 90th birthday party (on taking a break from writing this draft, I passed a guy in the parking lot trying to unlock his truck with a coat-hanger…).

About one in seven individuals, including yours truly, are born with Mercury Retrograde in their birth charts. Supposedly, these people have an easier time coping with the semi-annual retrograde periods. From my own experience, when this little orb stations and then turns back in its course, I am generally tempted – distractions become stronger and a tendency to procrastinate gets strengthened. Now there could be several factors leading to this conclusion (for me personally) – but I believe one main “cause” of this is my Progressed Mercury is in my 8th house, which can be a challenging time of introspection on its own, and it is in Pisces – which is nice when Mercury is in this nebulous, mystical, fantasy-loving sign by itself. However, my chart already has a plethora of Piscean energy swimming about – leading to a tendency to give in to my mind’s yearning.

To me, the most important aspect of Mercury retrograde comes down to the choices we make – do I take a walk or watch that ball game? I feel the need to meditate, but… I have not seen this movie before… Or, I reaaaallly need to study, but I can look around the internet for a few more soccer videos. I think you get the point. Choices – do we take the path of self care and gentle-loving-kindness, which might mean we sacrifice something we were really yearning for (comfort foods, that second glass of wine, watching extra TV, being alone when we could be stretching ourselves in good company, etc). The take home message here is to get good rest, drink plenty of pure water and practice quality self-care. Literally – take a hike, go swimming, meditate, go to that yoga class you have been putting off, etc. Get your busy mind under control. And I will end with this final paragraph about the outer planets and retrogradation, if you are interested:

The outer planets (Jupiter through Pluto) are basically retrograde (Rx) a solid three to four months per year, with Jupiter having the shorter time and Pluto being Rx the longest. Mars is Rx about once every two years for about two months plus. Venus is Rx the least due to its orbit being closest in time to ours (225 days), but it still goes Rx for about six weeks, five times every eight years. Because Mercury races around the Sun (88 day orbit), it goes Rx three times a year, for about 21 days at a time. Therefore, if you count them up, there are eight possible planets which are able to be retrograde, however, all of these planets are Rx for a minority of time, anywhere from 7 % for Venus and 44 % of the time for Pluto. According to many authors, people with many planets retrograde in their horoscopes tend to be late bloomers. With my own chart having five Rx planets, I certainly fit this mold. In my limited experience, that is having done more than a few charts professionally, the most Rx planets I have seen in a horoscope is six (not counting Chiron). And on the opposite extreme, some people are born without any planets being Rx (quite rare).

Thanks for reading! Please see the Astrology page if you are interested in what I offer.

Transiting Saturn entering the 3rd house (astrology)

In this post: Transiting Saturn in the 2nd / 3rd houses. Very brief.

My first two weeks of school behind me. Wow is time sailing by.. It should be fine provided I do what they do in the Dharma Duplex (where I live) and practice. The path to Carnegie Hall or enlightenment is similar I think. Saturn (to slip some astrology into the koolaid) is about to move into my third house, which I can foresee really benefiting my drive to study and push academically. To explain, Saturn the planet of testing, practicality, tangible results, setting boundaries and following through on commitments / personal promises is moving into my 3rd house, which is generally associated with more of the superficial mind, however with its 9th house reciprocal affect, it certainly has to do with education on all levels, as well as neighbors, relatives, siblings and communication. So it is leaving my 2nd house behind and as a result, those issues are stronger and more stable now. My financial challenges should be lightening up if I make the appropriate choices (informed by Saturn’s progress through the 2nd house). Hooray!

New Beginnings and Astro update

I have moved into a tiny apartment in the beautiful Fry Springs Neighborhood of Charlottesville – where the trees are old and large, the people are friendly and active and the vehicular traffic is a little slower. Also, I am living in the same space as three other Dharma practitioners – we have dubbed it the Dharma Duplex. And I must say that the mandala of Dharma practice is nearly palpable. My place is an efficiency – two rooms, a bathroom and a tiny kitchenette. Therefore my queen size bed does not fit (if I have any other furniture), so… I am planning to sleep on an air mattress and do more practice. Plus I will be practicing and studying a bit of Tibetan (language) as my current class is loaded with people who speak it quite well.

Well so that covers me, and now on to the Astrology update, which you are probably all waiting for, saying, “I wish that Leo Rising Kirby would stop talking about himself!” Good luck on that one! But I digress. Currently, as you are probably aware, whether consciously or not, there are several significant aspects brewing in the transiting planets. The stellium (3 or more planets in the same sign) of Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter are still relatively close together, forming a strong conjunction in the sign of Aquarius – all around the later degrees for now. Therefore anyone with planets in Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio) can expect to have their discipline tested, especially if we have the tendency to exaggerate or procrastinate. Jupiter might exacerbate these patterns. And, as if this conjunction were not enough, there’s more! Ha!

I want to add that I am mentioning the major aspects that are currently occurring. There are also many positive, slighter aspects currently pending. I practice frequency-based, choice-centered astrology and I do not want to give the impression that we have gloom and doom coming up – because we do not! But we might have to face some additional challenges with new and creative behaviors (over the next month or two).

Recently transiting Pluto and Mars were opposing – August 20th – August 27th. This, along with what I am going to describe next, might have really caused some storminess – whether in yourself or in the people around you. This aspect occurred in the very early degrees of the Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn), so if you have planets there, this may have brought up some resentment, irritation and that persnickety “old stuff.” This was probably a hot time, which thankfully is mellowing now.

Finally, transiting Uranus and Saturn are moving into opposition, again. These planets have been involved in a pirouette for the past 12 months or so and they will continue to do so, off and on, through April of 2010. However, right now, they are coming together in another close opposition. This is happening in the later degrees of the Mutable signs, so watch for a sense of rebellion and an “only-gonna-do-it-my-way” attitude. Uranus is the planet of progression, shock-the-old-patterns-into-changing and authenticity, while Saturn has more to do with tradition, practicality and self-discipline. This aspect, only occurring in a 50 year cycle, is quite rare and will not be happening again until the middle of the 21st century. Therefore, I would recommend for everyone to take a little extra time over the month of September to have some quiet time – reflect, meditate, walk in the woods, and most importantly – relax! With Mercury going retrograde in a few weeks, it is time to get our lives organized so we are not rushing to catch up with ourselves. Also, if you want to, you can say to yourself, “Thank you for the opportunity to purify this negative karma.” That is, if the need arises and you feel this might be appropriate for your situation.

Okay, with that wonderful news, good luck! (Actually, this can be a great time for growth and learning. Personally I look at these giants as very rewarding – when we are disciplined and do our personal work and practice, it definitely pays off.)

Khenpo Tsultrim Tenzin in North Carolina

there were many pieces of inspiring artwork (Drikung lineage tree)

I recently attended a weekend at Davidson, N.C. This is a quaint little college town north of Charlotte. We met at a house that was right across the street from the campus, so we had many lovely strolls around the academic and athletic buildings. There were large, old trees, which it turned out were all marked, so I got to learn about a dozen new trees (I guess Charlotte and Charlottesville are more bio-diverse than previously realized). Oh – and one thing – Don’t Speed around Davidson! There is a sign warning of the dangers of speeding, but as the roads drift on and on (at 25 mph) the tendency to get on with it is very tempting. The organizer of the teachings warned us ahead of time however – the police have nothing better to do than catch people going 27 in a 25 zone… Now, on to the Dharma teachings and my reflections.

The topics of the weekend were Lama Chopa practice, Achi protector practice, Lord Jigten Sumgon, the founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and his great grandmother, Achi Chokyi Drolma, an enlightened being who swore to protect the aforementioned lineage. The attendees were all practitioners, so it was quite a potent group.

I appreciated the way in which we had “homework” to do ahead of the weekend, meaning we made a commitment ahead of time and a daily practice (accumulating prayers). As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been “Buddhist” since 2002, when I first started meditating (not that I knew what I was doing then, or now) and reading in the Rinzai Zen tradition. In 2006 I attended lamas from the Tibetan Meditation Center, where I felt like I had finally found a home. I took refuge at that point with Khenchen Rinpoche, Konchog Gyaltsen, and I officially “joined” the Drikung Kagyu. Now, the reason I am creating this build up, is that despite putting in a good deal of time studying and attending teachings over the past few years, I felt that this recent introduction / connection with the founder of the lineage and his family really grounded me in the lineage. To sum up what I am trying to say here: the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism was officially started by Jigten Sumgon, an exceptionally realized and respected teacher and lama (and lineage founder). He is said to have taught 300,000 practitioners and students, sending thousands out to retreats on sacred mountains and hermitages. Achi was his great-grandmother who also attained incredible realization (Buddhahood) and vowed to protect authentic practitioners in the lineage.

Overall I enjoyed this weekend Dharma get-away as it was well-organized, relaxed and full of clear teachings. May all authentic spiritual teachers have their paths be clear of obstacles and may they spread wisdom and compassion with ease.

Stakna and Tikse Monasteries, Ladakh, India (summer 2008)

One of the Four Dharma Kings at Stakna Monastery, Ladakh

6/21/08 – Day Seven – As I wrote in my last post, I was feeling kind of sick. So, considering I appreciate alternative, home remedies, I asked the guest house family if they had any garlic, and they gave me some. Then I slept with it in my mouth overnight… and… Yieck! People’s reactions the next morning were pretty funny, but I felt 10 times better (no more sore throat). Yes, I did have Dragon Breath, but it was well worth it!

Wow! In looking over my journal, this was a full day. We visited two monasteries, a field of burial stupas / reliquaries and an ancient palace. I am going to break this down into multiple posts – that way you can enjoy all the pretty pictures more! This post will include both monasteries – Stakna and Tikse. Stakna is named as such, meaning Tiger’s nose, because, from a certain perspective, the hill that it is built upon looks like its name. [More on my fascination with the Tibetan / Ladakhi languages and their naming impetus later.]

Wheel of Six Realms of Samsara, Stakna Gompa, Ladakh

Remember how I mentioned the bridge going to Hemis Monastery seemed narrow. Ha! Just cross the bridge to Stakna (in a vehicle) and you will feel that the previous day’s bridge was luxurious! I’m pretty certain this bridge had been a pedestrian’s path until someone realized, “Hey! We could squeeze a car on here!” We had to pull in our mirrors, and only one car could be on the thing at a time – seriously I was concerned about our single car. There were many fresh prayer flags from the Buddhist holiday celebration previously, all waving vigorously in the breeze.

The monastery (Stakna) had beautiful, crisp frescos and murals painted on many walls. Like Hemis, this monastery (and most that we visited across Ladakh) had the four Dharma Kings (Guardians) painted outside the entrance to the main shrine room. At Stakna, the figures were imposing, vivid and life-size, and the full colors embraced us. In fact, looking back on the photos today they seem a little too perfect – that’s because they were! Stakna is also a Drukpa Kagyu gompa (like Hemis), and we encountered many prayer wheels in the courtyard of the monastery, which continued to be the trend.

Great view from Stakna (and Tikse) gompa, Ladakh, India

There was a Guru Rinpoche shrine room along with a room with many smaller Green Tara statues in it. In Tibetan Buddhism, according to my limited knowledge, Green Tara is a feminine emanation of the Buddha and she represents protecting disciples from fear, in particular the 8 Great Fears. She might compare to Kuan Yin or the Mother Mary in other traditions. There were 21 Taras (statues) along with paintings in the Tara shrine.

At Tikse Monastery, we had to climb many steps to get up the main level of the monastery, as the parking is far below it. This is one of the few Gelugpa monasteries in Ladakh, and it was definitely impressive. As we went into the Maitreya shrine, we were greeted by a huge face of the statue (see photo).

Majestic Maitreya Statue, Tikse Gompa, Ladakh, India

This statue is about forty feet tall, sitting in the lotus position. Therefore, most of the statue was below us, and if you went to the edge and looked down you could see the magnitude of it. We tended to do a little bit of practice – saying prayers – at each monastery we went to, and I’m pretty sure we did some practice in here. It definitely felt special to be in the presence of such an inspiring, magnificent and uplifting statue.

We also visited the protector shrine. Unfortunately, or maybe it is best not to, photographs are forbidden in most protector shrine rooms. Not to ruin the mood, however I have a funny quote written in my journal – someone commented that, at Tikse, “there was the best view [from the latrine] while urinating.” I must admit, the mountains were quite breathtaking and spectacular.

So I will report on the Shey Palace and an enormous field of burial stupas in my next post. Thanks for reading!

Yes, even the ceilings were beautifully painted, Stakna Gompa

Hemis Monastery – Ladakh chronicles resume

Approaching Hemis Monastery, Ladakh, India Summer 2008

6/20/08 – Hemis Monastery. [I think I was suffering from altitude sickness. In my journal I wrote that I experienced aching, fever, sinus problems and a sore throat – ugh!] I am pretty confident I have been to this monastery in the past (lives). Here is why I speculate on this. Hemis Gompa is across the river from the main road, and actually it is quite hidden, tucked away in a mountain valley, far from view. Apparently the maharajas of India heavily taxed (raided) many monasteries for their wealth, but thankfully they never found Hemis.

The way one gets to this monastery is to cross a narrow bridge. Then you drive up a switch-backing road which seems to lead into a mountainous valley (no sign of a monastery until you are right on it). As we were driving on the main road, I remarked to someone, “I think the monastery is back there.” I pointed ahead to the valley where the monastery was hidden. Technically it did not make much sense, as aside from a couple of decrepit stupas, there was no sign of a large wealthy monastery.

The lineage of Tibetan Buddhism that I practice is Drikung Kagyu, a smaller sub-lineage in the larger Kagyu umbrella.

Some of the 84 Mahasiddhas, Hemis Gompa, Ladakh

Hemis monastery is a Drukpa Kagyu establishment, so there was much in common. It was definitely the wealthiest monastery we visited. Actually someone told us that at some points in history, Hemis was so wealthy that it contributed to keeping the northern Indian government going when they ran low on money. Also, in most of the monasteries we visited, there were not many precious stones or jewels to be seen. At Hemis, there were many statues covered in turquoise and gold.

The main shrine room had a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha that was four meters tall. This was a pleasant surprise – there were multiple stupas also covered in beautiful gold, silver, turquoise, lapis and other stones. Hemis had a long row of prayer wheels to be spun, which was novel and it turned out to be a significant ceremony in most of the monasteries we visited. The prayer wheels ranged in size from eighteen inches tall, to eight feet tall. Of course the larger wheels required a lot of strength or a lot of people power to get going. And remember – always spin them clockwise!

An enormous prayer wheel, Hemis Gompa, Ladakh

I found multiple facets of the monasteries very fascinating, and one question sticks out in my mind – why does a culture which produces people of shorter stature (in general) have monasteries with such large, steep steps? Don’t get me wrong – the steps are made of some beautiful, dark-colored stone, worn down from centuries of use – I am simply curious. Hemis was no exception to this rule – the stairs were very steep, and generally without hand rails. I am guessing that as one devotes oneself to a life of monasticism and mindfulness, being careful about where to put one’s feet would follow suit. Also, the Ladakhis were amazing when it came to physical fitness at altitude – all the young people would bound up a series of steep stairs (or play soccer, or have no difficulty climbing a section of a mountain) like it was nothing. For me, it was a little challenging merely being at altitude!

One such set of stairs led up to the Guru Lhakang – the guru temple. Briefly, in Tibetan Buddhism, Guru

Stupa at Hemis Gompa, note turquoise and precious stones

Padmasambhava (the Lotus Born in Sanskrit), or Guru Rinpoche in Tibetan, was one of the main figures in vanquishing or conquering the local, unruly gods – local deities – of Tibet and allowing Buddhism to stay and flourish, even in a land that had been extremely barbaric. All the monasteries that we visited had some kind of temple dedicated to his honor, but Hemis had one of the most elaborate. I have written in my journal that the statue of Guru Rinpoche was fifteen meters tall (whoa! might be a slight exaggeration). I certainly recall that it was a large statue, at least two stories tall. Guru Rinpoche is generally depicted as having a very intense face and the statue followed suit. He was sitting in his enormous alcove, glaring down at us. I am really regretting that my camera ran out of batteries here and I did not take any pictures of this particular temple. The high walls of this temple were covered in beautiful paintings of emanations of Guru Rinpoche and other enlightened Buddhist deity images.

We were told that there is a hermitage above Hemis monastery and that there are always about 20 monks in meditation. I say “above” because it was at least an hour and a half walk up the mountain to get to it. For most of us westerners, this might have translated to a three hour trek, so we did not explore it. However, Hemis has its own museum – a testimony to Tibetan Buddhism, the monastery and its history.

The museum had many ancient and some more recent pieces. I would call a lot of their pieces treasures – the word “antiques” just does not communicate what we witnessed. There was a large desk that was at least two hundred years old, very intricately carved and painted. There were old letters from high lamas – like H.H. the Dalai Lama and H.H. the Drukpa Kyabgon etc (previous incarnations of these lamas of course). Carved wooden blocks from printing pechas (monastic texts and prayers) were on display along with texts that had been printed in gold. There was also a glimpse through the history of Ladakhi clothing – ceremonial pieces that made a procession back through the centuries. Unfortunately I do not remember many specific details and with my camera out of juice… You will just have to visit the museum yourself!

keeping a commitment – regarding Barbie auction

For all of you who read my blog on a regular basis, I apologize for the commercial nature of this post. The Ladakh pilgrimage chronicles will resume soon.

I have been receiving great advice from several people from the ebay community and from online auction owners in general. I am deeply appreciative. I almost sold the doll and all the accessories when a guy offered me thirteen hundred for it. Luckily I asked around and I was promptly told – “No! Don’t give away your doll!” So, only one guy seemed to be trying to rip me off where at least five people have been speaking with integrity – Hooray!

Tea anyone? (sorry it is for Barbie and her friends)

I am amazed at the level of detail of the Barbie accessories! There is a rotary phone where the dial actually rotates, which is the size of a small pinky fingernail. This tea set – everything pictured – fits into a small jewelry box. And the level of detail on the clothes, bags (purses) and hats is incredible. Someone went through a lot to design and produce them.

For anyone who is not aware, I am selling this Barbie on ebay, and remarkably, it represents hours and hours of time spent researching and chatting with people about the doll. Although it might not look like it! Here is the link for anyone interested: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260462791770&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123

There is a past post about my early experience with the Barbie – go back or scroll down a few posts and you will see it.

check out the attention to detail (nails)

Having spent some time with the doll, it is quite bizarre, but I have developed a curious relationship with her (psychotherapists out there might have an eerie glimpse into my psyche with these comments!). It is not much, but I will definitely miss having her around when she sells. I realized this when I was looking through all the pictures I have taken (for sales purposes). Here is the thing, Ebay says that it helps the sale to tell a story about the item. So I started to do that, tell an imaginary story about the doll strolling around the Circle Center, an office focusing on healing facilitation, and looking at the various artwork and crystals. I was going to end the story by saying that the Barbie thought that the circle center should be called the Crystal Center due to all the random amethyst and quartz lying around. But alas, I ran out of time (and energy).

So, for all of you who know me, please do not worry. I have not started playing with Barbie dolls (much), but I am honest and open to what is. No more running from my shadow. Oh, and I want to include one thing. A friend of mine looked at the auction this morning and said, “Wow Kirby, you can actually read her butt!” Yep, taking numerous, detailed pictures of the doll is necessary for the auction. On that note, have a great day!

[As a revision in Oct of 2009 – I have since sold the doll. Thank you all for reading and supporting the process. Amazingly the doll (and accessories) sold for $5500.]

This phone is smaller than a book of matches!

Group photo from Pilgrimage to Ladakh

Ladakh group, Lamayuru gompa, sums up our pilgrimage experience

Thank you Hun Lye for tagging me in this photo (and therefore making it available on Facebook). I am in the front row with a purple shirt, khata and khaki-colored hat. This picture with Lama Jorphel (Drupon Sonam Jorphel) of Lamayuru Monastery seems to sum up my experience in Ladakh – it was a pilgrimage first and foremost which meant purification, attending holy sites (and authentic lamas who rarely make it to the U.S.) and experiencing a strange, new world.

It is my intention to cover more of last year’s pilgrimage before school resumes in late August. And speaking of school resuming, I have been asked by several clients and friends recently when / if I will be teaching again. I have been on a self-imposed sabbatical, primarily due to inner processing needs. And due to several of my teachers asking me to pause and ask the question – are you walking your talk? Upon reflection, no, indeed I was not. I am getting closer though – authenticity is a fickle accomplishment at first, but then I think it gets easier with practice.

fresh, August update and recent teachings in Charlottesville

Today is the full moon! Therefore I am listening to some soothing Amitabha mantras, and of course posting something that is due on my blog. As you may have noticed, I have been selling items for a friend of mine, who is cleaning out her parent’s storage. I have very busy selling some bizarre items – which was exemplified recently when a friend called and asked what I was doing at that moment. I said, “you know, taking pictures of campaign buttons from 1964.” I mean, what else would I be doing on a Tuesday evening?! I just sold a used chemistry set from the early 60’s and my next task is finding some leather oil for a 1950’s baseball glove… Yeah, sales can be a real bear, and I do not mean the positive connotation type of bear either, if that exists. I am finding it to be mucho work and low return. Anyway…

So, a couple weeks ago, we had Khenpo Tsultrim down to C’ville to teach on

Beautiful shrine from Khenpo's teachings — Beautiful shrine from Khenpo’s teachings

the the great Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna’s text, A Letter to a Friend. It is so amazing. [I am going to explain this vague comment.] The Dharma is amazing, this text is amazing (I believe the entire Buddhist path is covered in its verses, provided one has a good commentary or teacher), a qualified lama’s ability to recall pertinent metaphors, facts and anecdotes is amazing and being among a great group of sincere and honest practitioners is amazing. We are very blessed here in Charlottesville with the Drikung Kagyu Ratnashri Sangha – not a huge group (yet), but very dedicated, kind-hearted folks!

The text has over 110 verses, each of which can be unpacked. Don’t worry, I am not going to try to do this – my ignorance would shine forth like… well it would not be pretty.

Khenpo Tsultrim Tenzin in Charlottesville (July '09) — Khenpo Tsultrim Tenzin in Charlottesville (July ’09)

However, Khenpo was very eloquent, sharp and occasionally comical as he shared his knowledge and stories with us. On the first day, he went through ~50 verses. Then, he said that the latter verses were pretty much straight forward, so we had a bit of a (pleasant) Dharma speed drill in finishing the final 25 or so, and hence we finished early. Very nice – having the late afternoon of a Sunday more free than I expected.

Now for a change of topic…

For this paragraph, I might be repeating a trend I have noticed in my mind and expressions over the years, however I am going to plow forward. The trend is to say, “hey – I understand that completely,” when in reality I have much to learn about the very subject I thought I had down. Well, yep, you guessed it, this pattern is up again. I have been diligently studying Tibetan Buddhism since January of 2006 and I started studying Zen Buddhism in 2002. However, I am just beginning to familiarize myself with some of the deeper practices of the Vajrayana path. Oh, I do not mean to suggest that I am understanding the deeper practices or even putting them into practice, rather I am just getting introduced to them. I plan on being a novice for a long time! [Some people suggest that I have a glossary on my blog / website and I completely understand – however I am too lazy to do that, so kindly look up any words you may not know and get back to me if you can’t find them.]

For instance, I have considered myself a practitioner of the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism since 2006.

A group picture from Khenpo's teachings (July '09) — A group picture from Khenpo’s teachings (July ’09)

However, without a lot of knowledge about the founder of this particular lineage, and knowing what makes this lineage different from others, I might be running around (dogmatically and possibly ignorantly) speaking my superficial knowledge. By the way, there are currently several divisions within the umbrella of the overall Kagyu lineage, of which Drikung Kagyu is one, and in the past, there were dozens of different Kagyus! Lots to keep up with.

Okay, on Friday morning I am off to Davidson North Carolina for a teaching on this very subject – the founder of the lineage, Jigten Sumgon, his family and in particular, his grandmother, who turns out to be an enlightened being who promised to protect authentic pracitioners (thank you Achi Chokyi Drolma!). You can expect an update about that weekend within a few weeks. Then at the end of August, whoa – three weeks away, I am resuming school (UVa) for another semester – Hooray!

Who knew? Barbie dolls can be quite valuable!

Happy Birthday Barbie (1959 #2 Vintage Ponytail Barbie Doll)

Recently, I was asked by a friend to sell some items from her parent’s warehouse. Some of the items were hers, from her childhood. One item, which for some reason I saved for last, was a red chest, wrapped in multiple garbage bags, with the words “Barbie doll and clothes,” written in jittery black letters on the white plastic. I thought to myself, “Oh, another item to sell.” Little did I know what I was getting myself into!

I unwrapped it, to find a nice, sturdy chest, red in color. I still did not know what to expect – maybe, “an old Barbie doll, great!” in a sarcastic tone, or “Okay at least it has been kept in good condition…” I opened the chest, not knowing which way was up. I peeked inside, to find a rod with tiny clothing hanging on it – coats, shirts, fancy fabric, faux fur, etc. Opposite that was a set of large drawers. I opened them, finding all sorts of bizarre, tiny accessories – hats, bags, shoes, plates, a tea set, gloves, glasses, Barbie-sized jewelry, etc. Oh – and a Barbie bathtub – you just never know when this will come in handy!

Then I thought to myself, “where did Barbie go? Is she somewhere else?” I was puzzled for a moment. Then I saw a pink box in the corner. Oh, that might be Barbie sized! Sure enough, I opened it and I found a Barbie doll clothed in a simple white dress, made of simple material almost rough in texture. Wrapped around her waist was a strand of rainbow-colored wool, like a belt. It was almost as if I had unearthed a strange commentary on the Barbie phenomena – “the Hippy Barbie” (not that there is anything wrong with that).

What's inside the chest? A treasure? — What’s inside the chest? A treasure?

So, I had a bunch of Barbie accessories on my hands, along with a simply dressed doll. What to do with it? Well in my ignorant fashion, I decided to just jump right in! (Hopefully this pattern is on its way out!) I decided I would post it on Ebay – of course, what a grand idea! When I had spoken with its owner, she said that the Barbie was from the early sixties. She could not narrow down a specific year however. So I decided to list it as a 1961 Vintage Barbie Doll. I was clueless.

Well I knew I had made a mistake within an hour of posting it, because I received an email from one of the bidders saying, “Can you take closer pictures of the face and body, because I think you have a #1 or a #2 Barbie, which might be worth thousands of dollars?” Huh? … Oh my word! I had originally listed it for about $200. Hmmm… Well I had a few hours of fretting as I worried that I was deceiving people, or that I had vastly undervalued it (and hence I was taking money away from myself and its owner). I was able to research the value of Barbie dolls and discern exactly which year and model I had – and sure enough, it is a #2. Thankfully Ebay allows, albeit reluctantly, the retracting of items when there is a problem. Hey hey! I was in luck, there were several problems – wrong price, wrong item listed, wrong date on the accessories.

Fancy outfits, Barbie-sized, inside the chest

So now, here I am, on the other side. And I have a plan. I will re-post it in a few days, after making a short movie about the Barbie, whose name is Lavender, walking around the Circle Center (where she has been living for the past few years) – a house in Charlottesville that is dedicated to healing facilitation. I will also write a story about her experience. It should be fun. I will post it here when it is complete. [Added a few years later… I should note that Ebay said that telling a story, whether true or not, about an item can add more value. Hence my desire to film a little Barbie tale. But that did not pan out.]

And remember, you never know when you will come across a Diamond in the rough! Who knows, there might be something in your attic right now, just basking in its secret value.

[Revision in October of 2009 – I ended up selling the Barbie doll and chest / accessories for $5500 via Ebay. Can you imagine? I was originally listing it for $200. Wow! I am glad I put in the 50 – 60 hours of work – researching, chatting with auction owners, etc. It certainly paid off.]