babu

babu tells a story 

there is the monkey god, hanuman 

he doesn't know that he has great powers 

one day he encounters a wise old teacher 

who sees the strength, beauty, and power lying latent within hanuman 

teacher tells hanuman what he sees within him, and helps him realize his power 

hanuman gains confidence and keeps developing his powers 

he steps into the god powers that he has always had 

this is the power of a good teacher 

and this is all the magic that we have lying latent within all of us 

traditional candles

clay or metal cups 

they are small and fit comfortably into my hand 

fill with coconut or any other oil

put a cotton wick the length of my pinky into cup, letting it rise up a little above the oil 

thickness of wick is 5-strands

wet the top of wick sticking out with fingers 

sing a song to give thanks

light the wick 

have a comfortable flame for a nice long while 

keep singing 

this is south indian traditional "candle"

much better than wax! 

i will make many clay cups when i make a home again 

to put fire into 

i put these photos up thinking that my friends justin, bill, kari, joy, tamarack, and other traditional-ways pottery-loving friends would appreciate... and put the simple effective skill to immediate use!

in temples here they use metal instead of clay to hold the candles... have many indentations into a clay or metal plate, for the wicks to hang out. one cup or bowl or plate can hold many wicks and much oil to sustain it all... a beautiful powerful light. great for rituals, romantic dinners, and effective night-lighting. 

temple flower tree

i have only seen this flowers in trees next to ashrams 

they smile big toothy grins like they are in bliss, 

and waft sweet honey vanilla heart-opening scents

into the thunderstorm-approaching-big-wind air

bhud's back

more symbolic images 

everywhere they abound!

this one right on my friend bhud's back 

image from buddhist monks of thailand 

can you feel it? 

mandalas

from a temple floor, chalked in white, prayers aplenty, 

coming soon to a post office near you

family and home

sweet mud and spicy rain splashed all over

my wet body rolled into a nice warm blanket 

listening to soothing rumbles of my deep-voiced friends

a grounding bass base for the drumming and clanging overhead thunderstorm

fire cracking through sky in spirals, rivers, and explosions 

like all the meridian energy lines and waves rolling through body 

just feel it

powerful electricity pulsating through every molecule of sky united with earth

as we lie in center, just breathing clay pot bodies infused with electricity

just feel it 

moonlight, firelight, and inner light reflected in flashing eyes of all colors

sitting in a circle gently igniting kundalini with voices and arms uplifted in wild sacred celebration

threads of melody and voices of all textures interweaving a tapestry of celebratory moonsong

live your life as a celebration

dharma, karma, and moksha- you know the knowledge that knows what knowledge is

three oms, three shantis, and then sound of silence pulsing with prana, heartbeats, breath, and... something 

just feel the vibration 

says my teacher 

just feel it 

 

we infuse sacred silence with laughter that rolls through the night to dance with the clouds 

clouds weaving triangles and spinning dragons around full moon smiling upon us

in tall old tree near my home, three small monkeys by day, three huge bats by night

you must merge into the simple state simply