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PILGRIMAGE

RECOLLECTING THE PILGRIMAGE TO POTALAKA

The Potala Palace in Tibet and Puto Shan near Shanghai in China are powerspots of worldwide renown, but it is less known that they are mirrored from Mount Potalaka in South India, the sacred abode of the noble sage of transcendental compassion, Arya Avalokiteshvara. With the wish to shed more light on Mount Potalaka, Levekunst requested Mattia Salvini, an outstanding poet and Sanskrit expert, to compose a pilgrim’s guide. Enjoy his description, poetic praise of the holy place and his Sanskrit chanting.

THE GREAT MARATIKA CAVE OF IMMORTALITY

Padmasambhava however used it as a place of practicing Vajrakilaya, and if you have the right karma, you will see some relevant images in the cave walls. There are also various rock formations which have Buddhist, Hindu and in some cases Kirat, mythology attached to them, such as the two rocks just inside the cave door, which are meant to be the the body and head of a demon decapitated by Padmasambhava.

INTERVIEW WITH LAMA TASHI

“I learned that well-being and happiness are things that have to be obtained from within yourself. No one is going to give them to you. You have to learn to be wherever you are and to appreciate that, to be with it and be happy with it, not to hope for anything else at that particular moment. ” In these words, Lama Tashi summed up the experience of his three and a half years of retreat, traveling through the Himalayas of India and Nepal.

UNDER THE KIND GAZE OF AMA YANGRI

In 2016 I was fortunate enough to visit several power places of Padmasambhava, spending some weeks in retreat at one, and doing meditation and puja at others. I will share some of my experiences in the hope of encouraging others to visit these holy sites which confer blessings even though one lacks faith or even interest.

MEETING YANGSI KHYENTSE RINPOCHE

According to Tibetan Buddhists, when a great master reincarnates, though he still retains the level of realization he attained in his previous life, he needs to go through the process of remembering it through formal instruction in this life so as better at teaching others.

14 ENLIGHTENING REASONS TO VISIT CRESTONE THIS SUMMER

Crestone has received a fair amount of press in the past few years as news of our tiny Colorado community leaks out into the world. With so many spiritual centers in our midst, 23 at last count, this comes as no surprise. Many of us choose to live here because of access to those most precious of commodities: peace and quiet.

THE FORBIDDEN CITY: EARTHLY PALACE OF A CELESTIAL RULER

Chogyam Trungpa creates a subtle link to the power of this Shambhala ancestral sovereign and that is why I was interested in exploring, on this latest journey to the Forbidden City. But the best part of the story was in something special the emperor created and also that he gave the 5th Karmapa something that links Chinese history to the Kagyu lineage forever. My journey there is part of that link.

MEETING HOLINESS

When we reached Kushalnagar at 11 the next morning we found a bustling, heaving Indian cacophony. Looking around after we disembarked and wondering what in the world we should do next, we were startled by a small monk running up and shouting as he pulled my arm, “Come, Rinpoche waiting!”

MING GUGONG

Rolpe Dorje Rinpoche, a Gelugpa Mongolian tulku who spent nearly his whole life in the Qing Court, first with the 2nd Yongzen Emperor, then with the great emperor, Qianlong. He was the Dorje Löppon of Qianlong for Chakrasamvara and Kalachakra.

A PILGRIMAGE TO THE TIGER’S NEST

Taktsang is indeed a special place. It is the most holy and revered temple in all of Bhutan, perched dramatically on the edge of a cliff with a 900 meters drop beneath. The Indian yogi Padmasambhava, affectionately known as Guru Rinpoche in the Himalayas, flew to this cave on the back of a tiger.

A GIGANTIC ART EXHIBITION IN AFRICA

Deep in the heart of Africa lies the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a forest along the banks of the Osun river in Yoruba land of Nigeria. It is a gigantic art exhibition sustained by spiritual culture, the last of hundreds of sacred forests which used to adjoin the edges of most Yoruba cities.

PADMASAMBHAVA’S PILGRIMAGE CHANT

There is a way to seal inspiration in our minds, to multiply its effect, to deepen the insight we feel and to make sure that its benefit will be manifested in our thoughts, words and actions. The Indian master Padmasambhava sang it so that we, the people in future generations, will be able to put words to our innermost.

THE SACRED VALLEY OF GANGTEY

To understand Bhutan, you must know Padmasambhava, affectionately known as Guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism here in the eighth century. He is the backbone of Bhutanese culture.

WHITE SKULL MOUNTAIN – GANGRI TOKAR

Michael Ash, artist and visionary, presenting a photo exhibition and poetry from his journey to White Skull Mountain Hermitage, Gangri Tokar, the spectacular retreat where Tibet’s greatest mystic-philosopher Longchenpa, wrote the wonderful Seven Treasuries about the deepest topics in human civilization.

THE CITY OF MAHASIDDHAS

The 84 mahasiddhas are connected to a extremely broadminded world view that every situation in life is workable and can be utilized and transformed into total freedom. Looking through their biographies and life examples, they came from various background, from beggars to kings.

THE SPRING OF AWAKENING

The supreme place of blessing, the spring of Awakening, Chumig Changchub, is located half way between Kathmandu and Pokhara in the Mahabharata range, overlooking Daman in the Noble Land of Nepal. The importance of the site to Vajrayana Buddhists cannot be overstated. Padmasambhava, the second Buddha meditated there on the way to Tibet.

THE MAGNIFICENCE OF AKSHARDHAM

It took 300 million man-hours to carve 300.000 stones to create the entire 100 acre complex in only five years. Millions of hours of dedication and hard work by 11.000 sadhus, volunteers and artisans have gone into the work. What a an incredible feat of management!