“Lobsang Lungtok works 10 to 12 hours a day in his monastery in Sengeshong, in China’s Qinhai Province, an area famed for its thangkas, or painted scrolls, depicting Tibetan deities.” Photo by Shiho Fukada for The New York Times. Via Go Beyond Words: Wisdom Publications’ Buddhist Blog: The New York Times reports on the Tibetan Buddhist art of thangka painting as it is practiced in the mountain valleys of northwestern Qinghai Province in China. Take a look.
Over at Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa, the amazing Konchog Norbu offers a very valuable teaching about practicing after the death of a teacher. One of Konchog’s own lamas–His Eminence Penor Rinpoche–recently passed away.
Over at Shambhala Sun Space, the awesome Rod Meade Sperry asks readers, “What’s your favorite movie moment that somehow touches on or refers to Buddhism, but isn’t from a specifically Buddhist film?” There have been 30 comments so far, and many interesting picks in there. Check it out and tell people about your favorite.
My own pick is a tie. I’ve embedded the moments below, preceded by a particular quote each brought to mind.
“Most of us dread bad or uncomfortable situations, wondering what we can do to make them less unpleasant. But as far as [Dharma] practice is concerned, that isn’t the point. Surrendering to a situation might indeed make us feel better, but that is not the purpose of the exercise. Surrendering allows us to feel the qualities of a situation and to see things clearly. If we turn away or respond with aggression, we never get the chance to do that. So even if you feel the situation that’s about to unfold might be so embarrassing, frightening, or difficult you would never recover from it, just open to it. It may appear like a high wall that you can’t see beyond, but you will pass through it and come out the other side.” – Rigdzin Shikpo
“Lobsang Lungtok works 10 to 12 hours a day in his monastery in Sengeshong, in China’s Qinhai Province, an area famed for its thangkas, or painted scrolls, depicting Tibetan deities.” Photo by Shiho Fukada for The New York Times.
