Mystical Arts of Tibet - Sand Mandala By the Monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Theatre, Hampton, VA  (visited August 6 - 7, 2010)

I visited the American Theatre in Hampton, Virginia, earlier this month to see Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in action, painstakingly adding small amounts of colored sand to a design they had geometrically laid out on a table a couple of days earlier.  Sand mandalas are a Tibetan Buddhist tradition.  Once it's been completed, it's then ritualistically destroyed.  This destruction symbolizes the Buddhist doctrinal belief in the transitory nature of material life, or the impermanence of all things.  Even the deity syllables are removed in a specific order, along with the rest of the geometry until the mandala has been dismantled.  The sand is collected in a jar which is then wrapped in silk and transported to a river (or any place with moving water), where it is released back into nature.  All in all, it was very awe-inspiring and humbling experience to watch the monks methodically add small amounts to sand around and around the pattern.  The sounds of the tubes they used to add the sand to the design...each clinking and scraping sound...seemed to fill the theater as they worked.  Those of us who were there to witness the monks work were instinctively quiet in our manner and speech, as if any noise we might make would interrupt them.  If you ever have a chance to view something like this, please consider it...it's a great learning experience!  Tibetan Buddhism is new to me...having grown up in a home where Japanese Buddhism was the mainstay.  It is the many aspects of Buddhism in general that attracts me...sand mandalas and their meanings being one of them.  :)

Vibram FiveFingers

Here are my KSOs....it's the best "Light Trekking, Climbing/Bouldering, Running, Fitness, After Sport, Water Sports, Yoga/Pilates & Travel" shoe you will ever find! These are pretty much, in my opinion, the next best thing to do anything barefoot. They are also machine washable, durable and very lightweight.  If you're interested, visit here for more information on the different styles and colors of VFF.

After hearing many good things about Vibram FiveFingers and reading about the benefits of these shoes, I decided to try them for myself.  I prefer going anywhere I can barefoot and if I do have to wear shoes, I find myself counting the seconds until I can get them off.  :)  Sliding these babies on were a bit difficult at first.  You have to line up your toes and very much like putting gloves on your hands, you have to get used to gliding each toe into the proper place.  Now, I can get them on easy peasy and away I go.

My first go with these on was a huge success.  I ran faster, easier, and on the balls of the feet, rather than striking the ground with my heel first.  I felt more connected with the ground, I could "feel" my form more, and I found that I wasn't concentrating so much on the mechanics of my run.  I was...just...running.  My balance was a lot better...I seemed to move easier.  Using these shoes for my runs made my legs wonderfully sore the first few times wearing them.  I was, after all, using entirely different muscles because my feet were landing differently.  These shoes force your body to change its posture while running.  The muscles in your feet and lower legs are stimulated they way they were intended to be.  Let's face it...the only reason why running shoes were invented (Thanks, Nike!) was to create a cushion and protect the feet from the terrain...which, yes, makes perfect sense.  But, now with VFF's, you can have that protection AND the feel of near barefootedness.  ;)

Many have found that their foot problems, after wearing VFF's, have disappeared because the muscles in both their feet and legs have strengthened to the point where everything is working in unison, in perfect harmony with each other.  Most running shoes out there today provide so much cushion and junk that a person's feet and legs just don't know how to land/move properly, in my opinion.  If you do experience foot issues, speak with your podiatrist or other expert to figure out the best way to handle things.  VFF's aren't for everyone, but I do think everyone should at least try them.  :)

If you visit the Vibram FiveFingers website, you can use their store locater tool to locate the nearest outfitter/sports store that carries these wonderful inventions.  Oh, and beware of counterfeit Vibrams out there.  You can see after reading this article, that there is money to be made by creating Vibram FiveFingers knockoffs.  Purchase online from the website or from a reputable seller!  Here is a great article straight from the VFF website about how to spot a fake.  Good luck...you won't be sorry with your decision.  :)

Compassion

Compassion is like a sense of caring, of concern for others’ difficulties and pain. Not only family and friends, but all other people, even enemies. If we think only of ourselves and forget about other people, our minds occupy a very small area and even tiny problems appear very big. When you develop concern for others, your mind automatically widens; your own problems, even big ones, will not be so significant.

~ The Dalai Lama ~

My other current obsession...

...getting this blog up and running.  Over the years, I've started a few...and then let them lapse because I couldn't figure out how to manage my time between kids, home, and writing.  Now that they are a *little* older (8, almost 6, and 2), I've gotten a better handle on things.  I think.  :)

My current obsession...

...is Texas HoldEm Poker on Facebook.  Every so often, I get pulled into playing the game and the last month or so has been no exception.  I'm just glad it's a game and there's no real money involved.  The amount of money I've won...then lost...on a single hand during this game...well, it was enough then to make me cuss (and I don't do that much).  I can only imagine if I were playing for real.  :)

I found a recipe for Chicken Tandoori in the May 2010 Food Network Magazine edition and the other evening, I decided to make it for dinner.  I loved this recipe and wouldn't change a thing about how the recipe is listed below.  I baked the chicken in the oven, but I imagine that this would taste fantastic when grilled outdoors, too!  I managed to get a nice little char on the skin by baking...just think how could these would taste if grilled over some open coals!  :)  

Chicken Tandoori

Courtesy of Food Network Magazine

(Photograph by Antonis Achilleos)

Ingredients:

• 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 2 1/2 pounds)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Kosher salt
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 small red onion, roughly chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, smashed
• 1 2-inch piece ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
• 4 teaspoons tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 3/4 teaspoons hot paprika
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• Cooked rice, for serving (optional)

Directions:

Preheat the broiler. Make shallow cuts in the chicken thighs with a sharp knife. Toss the chicken with the lemon juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a large bowl.

Pulse 2 tablespoons yogurt, the vegetable oil, onion, garlic, ginger, tomato paste, coriander, cumin, 11/2 teaspoons paprika and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor to make a paste. Toss the chicken in the mixture and let marinate 15 minutes.

Place the chicken on a foil-lined broiler pan. Broil, turning once, until slightly charred and a thermometer inserted into the center registers 165 degrees F, 5 to 6 minutes per side.

Meanwhile, combine the remaining 1/2 cup yogurt and 1/4 teaspoon paprika, the cilantro and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Top the chicken with the yogurt sauce and serve with rice, if desired.

Per serving: Calories 237; Fat 9 g (Saturated 2 g); Cholesterol 115 mg; Sodium 1,266 mg; Carbohydrate 8 g; Fiber 2 g; Protein 30 g

My Cello! :)

After a long hiatus, I'm playing the cello again!!  Before two months ago, I hadn't played in almost 20 years.  I first started playing when I was 10 and gradually stopped playing due to various reasons by the time I was 17 years old.  Throughout the years, I had always missed the feeling of playing and this past June, I said enough was enough and I wanted to start again.  It's been one of the best decisions of my life.  Going to my lessons and practicing has given me a piece of myself back.  Along with my running, it's been helpful in providing me a sense of me, a sense of peace and an outlet for my constant over-thinking.  :)

My Cello - Taken by my Motorola Droid