The Asian Welder

http://www.theasianwelder.com/2010/10/progress-of-work/

“All-knowing Losang Drapa, King of the Dharma

Please come to this place together with your Sons.”

it is the day after our political elections in the states and countrywide it has been a show of  unparallel  views and outcomes…as a resident in the state of AZ the people have chosen the same woman whom wants to change our constitution towards illegal immigration and that of their children born in the country?  her victory comment was that “we know what’s best for Arizona”…? REALLY?!  our state is second in poverty level for the country and 46th in education, does this reflect her statement?

oh Buddha and protector of Dharma please, please come to this place together with your retinue! help me to stop grasping at self and bring peace to ALL minds whom feel scared, lost, bewildered and betrayed against the ignorance, hate and anger that is so prevalent in our state, country and worlds.

view from above my top bunk, straight from my camera.

shadow of reality from a strap that held the tent anchored, only the color has been changed.

over 3,000 people attended this Buddhist retreat and teachings in Brazil. of all the possible photographs i could have taken i only took a handful…the camera sat in my pak in wait. the only time i chose to pick it up was at night within my tent amongst 7 other women from around the world. 3 from hong kong, one from brazil another from australia..

these retreats for me are like an infusion of vitality, compassion and truths to view my world with a new “eye”. it felt wrong to photograph people here opening their hearts and minds, witnessing new awakenings ought to be private and held in mind not photographed or misinterpreted by others. so the mundane world right before bed became my object of model to capture.

an image of Buddha Shakyamuni, a mural my oldest daughter, mariko, finished in my backyard!  she first drew it by grid from the traditional art and then added her own style of colors to the mix!  i love how it came out!  i leave tomorrow morning for a weeks retreat in Brazil…..may everyone be happy.

http://nkt-kmc-brazil.org/en/temple/

tig welding the outside of a new work…a gramophone of sorts (my take), to attach on top of the pipe to the left that is anchored by my old pine tree (80 yr old) stump.  the ol pine died due to parasites and drought, a sad loss in the desert.

there is still a lot of work to do. the bottom of the gramophone will be rounded more to look like petals and rolled out slightly…the pipe will have an unusual elbow attached to give direction of “voice” where earth speaks of her betrayal from humanity….

“when we understand the true nature of things we will see that our world is like a dream, in that everything exists as a mere appearance to mind.”

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

…presence of mind.

my mind has finally come to terms that my 365 project has failed…i cannot retrieve days passed…moments lost…alas, life held too many distractions or the project itself didn’t captivate me enough to keep pace with a daily image in photographing and/or documenting it.  there is a lot of time associated with taking one image per day.  the photography end is easy for me it’s posting on the internet that cripples my flow and turns it into “obligation” .  today i post freely w/o much ado an image from last night at a favorite sushi bar…her aura is created by a passing white menu!  funny, without the truth exposed there could be many interpretations!

226.365

One Love! One Heart!
Let’s get together and feel all right.

lyrics by Bob Marley

225.365

Honey Pie,
Honey Pie,
I love you, Honey Pie

lyrics by The Beatles

unexpected sight in the early morning retrieving the morning paper…hundreds of honey bee’s converging on these cactus blooms which only live or bloom for approx. 12hrs. at night they open and by noon they are closed and wilting.  this is the second bloom this year in my cactus garden, however, the first time i have seen the bee’s in production.  perhaps it’s the cycle of the season for them? sentient beings…we have so much to learn from them..those that we are ignorant about are often times a magical source to revelations!

224/365

urban art

taken in the pilsen hood of chicago, where my youngest resides. took a quick trip to celebrate her graduation from Paul Mitchell school!!  was a lovely dinner event, so many beautiful friends and kind and generous people that have claimed her as one of their own daughters…thank you diana and chuck for all that you do, most especially for providing support and love when her family here cannot be present!

laurel i love love you!