Saturday – almost gone

02006-09-24 | Santa Fe, Travel | 13 comments

Autumn came with a vengeance last night. It rained most of the evening and when I got up this morning temperatures were hovering around 30F.

Started reading The Desert Smells like Rain by Gary Paul Nabhan, one of the books Jack Loeffler recommended to me regarding the Southwest. The subject are the Papagos and the Sonoran desert. Excellent book. Highly recommended.

I have no illusion about how much help we will be able to offer to Nomads in Kham during the next month. It seems to me that if we had pooled the money that is going into this trip and donated it to a local Tibetan organization it might have done more good. But, this is a really a pilgrimage, and it is us, the participants, who will be changed by this experience – more so than the people we are going to help. We will transform ourselves and return somehow different.

To study the Way is to study the self.
To study the self is to forget the self.
To forget the self is to be enlightened by all things.
To be enlightened by all things is to remove the barriers between one’s self and others.
Dogen (1200-1253 CE)

Transforming ourselves and helping others are not separate events.

Tomorrow morning I will turn off commenting on this Diary in order to prevent massive spamming from accumulating – in the past couple of months more than 2,000 spam comments were dropped on this diary. When I return at the end of October I hope to have lots and lots of photos and quite a few stories for you.

Be well.
With a gentle bow
– ottmar

PS: Many thanks for this and this and this and this and this.

PPS: one more link.

13 Comments

  1. Carol

    Sounds just about right. I’m glad.

    Reply
  2. diran

    Missing October, might be a reason to bring some melancholic songs,or new DVD about Santa Fe.What do you think?

    Reply
  3. Lina

    Hmmm – sounds perfect! Spring is upon us Down Under so it’s also perfect weather.

    Stay safe, keep warm and enjoy China and Tibet.

    Reply
  4. Jackie Dassler

    New Mexico will miss you! Have a great adventure; be safe and hurry home.

    Reply
  5. Anna

    Ottmar, after reading this entry, I had a look in flicker to see if there were any photos.
    If you ever get a chance to come to Sydney in the spring, please make it September. Sydney is in full bloom. Royal Botanical Gardens are full of color. Today I took almost 190 images (sadly removed 90 after viewing them), will go back tomorrow to take more (this time I will bring a tele and wide angle lenses :-)).

    Have a safe and spiritual journey….

    Reply
  6. Gudrun

    Anna, are you going to take your photos from Sydney to flickr as well? In case “yes” tell me your flickr-name, please! It’s an easy possibility for me to see foreign countries which are so far away.

    I love Ottmars photos – to see the landscapes, vegetations and impressions from our wonderful planet. Sometimes I have a brief look to Boris’ Bavarian pics, they’re familiar for me, but already different although there is only a short distance between our hometowns.

    Ottmar, I wish you all the best for your journey that all your expectations and hopes are coming true. Take care of you!

    Reply
  7. Anna

    Gudrun, to see my photos, you need to click on my name and you will be taken to flickr site.

    I made a second trip to the gardens yesterday and my batteries ran out. :\ Will have to go back in a few weeks.

    It has been extremely hot in Sydney this weekend. Today it reached 34C (93.2F)

    Reply
  8. dave

    Aphorism from RF’s diary: Music is the architecture of silence.

    Take care…travel well…be safe.

    Peace to you & everyone on your journey.

    Reply
  9. marijose

    It could be that, even with increased donations, a local Tibetan organization might not have the time, people, or what have you to reach some of the people that the nomad clinics have been serving all these years. Every little bit of help has a wide ripple effect with underserved populations. Many thanks to everyone going on this journey and safe travels to all.

    Reply
  10. michael

    ottmar, wish you a safe trip on your endless path to joy. you’re a good man.

    Reply
  11. Victor

    The world is my mirror,
    I am the world.

    Safe travels!

    Reply
  12. Mark

    I recomend Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. Light read but very deep and intricate.

    Reply

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