this blog is dedicated to

EMTAML

Ichimura Japanese Garden World Peace Mandala

      Just like most ordinary Saturdays, I like to fry up something with the eggs.  I sliced up some boiled Golden Yukon potatoes from the previous night and fried them up brown & crispy in olive oil. Next, I filled a bowl with four egg whites and a whole egg w/yolk.  The result when fried made me think of a very awkward looking egg with a rather tiny yolk, something out of a Chernobyl chicken? 

yes gourmands, I like a squirt of ketchup on my weekend taters.

     Then as it happened,  I got a call from my find Jorge Parra that there was to be quite a celebration at the Ichimura Japanese Gardens (Watson Island) hosting a spiritual week honoring a 5 TON Jade Buddha.   Having gone last year, I went to embrace the spirituality and serenity this event attracts.  

     The first instinct I had was to take out my iPhone to capture inspired images.  Of course it dawned on me not to "constantly-take-a-photo-while-missing-the-zen-of-the-roses".  Well that was a struggle the whole day and my Instagram urges got the best of me when I saw those lillies.  

ok then, two minutes with Instagram and then the radial blur

     Back on the pebbled path, I walked over to the Buddhist Prayer Wheel giving it a few spins to align my cosmic frequencies... Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ^[  Thats what happens when you enter into such an event... many of us lose our thick coating of ignorance and disbelief.   Suddenly we explore and become tolerant of the not-so-like-me-stuff.   

     After this, I passed by the tent where there were two diligent monks working ten days on completing the special  "World Peace Mandala"...  and I will get back to that shortly after a few more spins of the wheel ....

These wheels are for praying... surprising how many don't get it
and think you have to get on your knees to pray.

     So first things first.  Once there, I started calming down and began to enjoy the serenity, tings of temple bells, incense in the air.  My senses filled as I made my offering and got ready for a blessing from one of the monastic monks up at the shrine.   5 TON BUDDHA   The biggest one piece jade Buddha in the world.

     I took my candle/incense sticks, did my bows and placed them in the holder.  

My prayers and thoughts (privé)  were about thanks and appreciation in learning about real love with my new girlfriend.  I felt a wonderful joy.  She brings me that joy and I wanted to share my prayers for love and world peace (paldies).

the rice urn with "our" incense burning (6:00 position up front)

      My moment of awe, that 5 tons of jade really had an effect on the area.  Without taking any images to show you... there were suddenly blackbirds, crows filling the tree that shaded the shrine,  Flower petals and blossoms were falling from the tree, sparkles of lights from water urns filled with orchids, yellow and red flowers everywhere.  Beautiful quite beautiful.

     Then I realized the dread I have of sitting down cross legged sans a thick cushion; tall as I am.  When I got to sit up front and receive my blessing, someone slid a thick purple cushion under me.  I saw the monk laughing with me as we made eye contact.  These men are special and gifted with serenity and celestial vision. The monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery (the Harvard School of Tibetan monasteries) accompany this Buddha where it travels.  They are interesting,  devoted and learned men that have my respect and gratitude. 

...being there.... well it's  just about being there in the "between"

     This made my visit,  feeling the energy there made me more complete...almost.  As I  left the stage, I walked past a man seated that seemed to scare most people walking by close to him.  He was in his late sixties with a really intense skin problem with scared legs... not pretty.   As he SLOWLY got the balance to traverse the three tier stairs, he staggered back as if to fall but held his own. We all watched.   It took an effort for him to hit the cushion gracefully and he was visibly not comfortable cross legged ( I know the feeling).  When he staggered to rise,  I bolted up that platform and held on to him as if he were my father and slowly walked him down.   When we got to his seat, he thanked me and started a flow of conversation.  He had been a fireman all his life to help strangers and now under back injury and other maladies, he felt a bit alone.   

      His visit there was to seek remedy.  I explained such a visit and future exploration of acupuncture might give him relief as it has for me.  When he motioned to try tying his sneakers back on,  I politely asked and offered my service to him.  As he sighed in relief, I was flushed with the feeling I was human again.  Thats all I can say about the stranger.  I felt closer to being a more compassionate being... that was my cosmic thanks for coming there.

     But then I got distracted.  I  wondered how the organizers managed to set up the food stations that somehow created a meat smoke venturi channeling towards the Buddha and spiritual "stations" ?  That certainly was not what the monks needed to be inhaling all day long... Argentinian Parrillada.

It did however make this cowboy become a sinner of extreme proportion.  I can only show you a touch.

     Ok, it took a great Thai Tea to wash all that protein down with a gratuitous burp to seal the deal.   Ahhh sweet mystery of life... mange bene - kaka forte.

Now for the GOOD  STUFF

     The Tibetian monks spent 10 days creating a sand mandala to promote world peace.  Just when we need a million more of these thoughts, I was witness to a beautiful creation meant to be destroyed.   World Peace was the theme representing this mandala. It was gorgeous.  After several walk ups, one monk asked if I wished to sit next to him and take my visuals.  I thanked him and did so.   Happy to share this with you now... for the finalé.  

(I never really got the method until now ...chanting the monks send tiny streams of colored sand thru a vibrating tube)   The devotion, concentration and result of this meditative art... was just another gift for me ... being there in the "between"

thanks for enjoying my visions

Live, love, take great photos.

Superbowl 2015

what a game... with a Hollywood

special effects juggling, interception ending

What I did prepare for was the cuisine... you know that 

once you get on the couch, the bar or seating... couch potato mode sets in...

I called my people in Metarie, LA and they boiled up a 40b bag of

spiced crawfish that were prepared JUST RIGHT..

sitting on the plate waiting to get ate

pick-up at Southwest Air Cargo, FLL

then opening the box of pleasure

then it was all uphill partying at the Wynwood Brewing Company

Dave R and myself jumping for joy..

lots of great brews... WBC IPA my favorite... 

all this led to further seafood binging

at the Midtown Oyster Bar

nasty good