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Buddhist

2019-10-12T17:13:24-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A caravan. A pilgrimage. And at the very same time just a group of tourists. The Zen Priest Continues His Bhutan Adventure

Last updated on: October 12, 2019 at 5:13 pm By James Ford

“The essence of retreat is setting up a boundary – we are talking about a boundary of time, setting up a boundary between past and future, which ideally means we remain in the present.” Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche The days begin to fold, one into another. While I’ve been resistant to calling our gathering here in a small monastery outside of Paro a retreat because by the standards of my normative practices within the Zen way, this simply does... Read more

2019-10-11T16:42:05-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Through a Bhutanese Window: The Zen Priest Reflects

Last updated on: October 11, 2019 at 4:42 pm By James Ford

Today was a midpoint in the seminar/retreat part of our pilgrimage. I have decided that while we are a tour group, pilgrimage is the better term. At least for some of us. And that’s always the case, isn’t it? Any group is a mixed bag. We are each of us on our own journey here. And, me, and, I genuinely believe, a number of us are on a pilgrimage. More on this after a brief description of the day.... Read more

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Bhutan

Book Cafe

Chablop Passang Tshering

2019-10-10T17:41:55-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Zen Priest in Bhutan: Glad for the Day

Last updated on: October 10, 2019 at 5:41 pm By James Ford

We continue our seminar with spurts of meditation. First a word about where we are gathering. It’s called Thekchog Choki Gatsel. It was founded by the late Tibetan exile, later head of the Ningmapa sect, and near as I can tell all around Buddhist saint, Dilgo Khyentse. The Rinpoche was born in 1910 in Eastern Tibet. At seven he was recognized as a Tulku, the reincarnation of a principle Nyingmapa monk. After completing his basic education and preliminary practices he... Read more

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Bhutan

Buddhist

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Khenpo Sangay Wangdi

Zen

2019-10-09T17:43:03-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Zen Priest Continues his Bhutan Adventure: Or, Not Knowing is Most Intimate

Last updated on: October 9, 2019 at 5:43 pm By James Ford

Where did I leave off? Oh, Right… While my sense of space is relatively intact, I’m in the wondrous kingdom of Bhutan; my sense of time, well, is not so clear. I’m roughly half a day and a calendar day off my home time. And as I try to be in touch with my spouse everyday, twice a day, the confusions of when and what, oh, yes, also what is a bit confused, get fully presented. That said, I’m moderately... Read more

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Bhutan

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

travelers diarrhea

2019-10-14T11:21:44-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Wonders Await: The Zen Priest Continues to Explore Bhutan

Last updated on: October 14, 2019 at 11:21 am By James Ford

Our Bhutan adventure continues. We spent part of the day once again taking in the continuing sacred dances, Tschechu, just outside of Punakha. Sadly, this time the governor didn’t come out and greet us, put us in the expensive seats, and ply us with salty butte tea. It was a much bigger crowd, although not of the crushing variety we experienced in Thimphu. There is something more than pre-modern, I think the word ancient is right about these dances. Especially... Read more

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2019-10-09T12:20:35-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It Was Here I Realized Bhutan is Holy

Last updated on: October 9, 2019 at 12:20 pm By James Ford

Our first full day in Punakha, the former capital of the kingdom, our gang climbed into the bus and took off for our second day of the Tshechu sacred dance festival. It is said to be one of the most popular of the various venues where the dances are held. Making it a square was the monastic building on one side, and another building on the other. The smaller held monastic dignitaries, the musicians, and an area where the performers... Read more

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Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Choeten

Punakha

Tshechu

2019-10-05T05:53:19-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Wherein the Zen Priest Learns He is a Gomchen

Last updated on: October 5, 2019 at 5:53 am By James Ford

I was sitting in a downtown Thimphu coffee house, waiting for my companions. My neighbor was a Bhutanese national. We began to talk. Nearly everyone speaks English, it’s the official language of government and much of commerce. My experience is that the first question from a Bhutanese to someone visiting is usually inquiring what one thinks of their country. Which I can easily respond to, by saying I love it. I have fallen in love with Bhutan.... Read more

2019-10-04T17:26:12-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Wherein the Zen Priest Sits in a Meditation Cave at the Dochula Pass

Last updated on: October 4, 2019 at 5:26 pm By James Ford

I awoke as has become normal for me on this adventure at four in the morning, Bhutan time. I made a cup of coffee. And then began working on my blog post. Then. Around four thirty the power went out. Fortunately I had largely packed before. And with the flashlight application on my phone I was able to clean up, dress, and pack. Later it occurred to me as my range of sight was limited to the... Read more

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Dochula Pass

Tshechu

2019-10-04T07:32:00-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Stream of Prayer: The Zen Priest Lingers in Thimphu

Last updated on: October 4, 2019 at 7:32 am By James Ford

Another chockablock day on my Two Truths adventure to the kingdom of Bhutan. This second day was devoted to exploring a few corners of the capital city, Thimphu. It is both the capital and the largest city n the country, the world’s youngest parliamentary democracy, organized as a constitutional monarchy over a period starting in 1952 and culminating in 2006. The royal palace, the Parliament House, and the Supreme Court are here. As are numerous monasteries, art and craft... Read more

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Bhutan Textile

Buddha Dorenma

Choki Traditional Arts School

Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant

Museum

Pangri Zampa

Thimphu

2019-10-02T19:53:22-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Zen Priest Visits Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon, Encounters some Vajrayana Nuns, And Contemplates How Magical the Real Is

Last updated on: October 2, 2019 at 7:53 pm By James Ford

I was up at 2am in Bangkok. It took two quick cups of coffee before my eyes began to focus. Soon enough I achieved full binocular vision. We were to leave the hotel for the airport at 3:30. A plus of arriving really early was that I was able to get one more cup of coffee, this time a good latte. In due course we flew out, taking Bhutan Air. Our flight paused in Calcutta, which has been... Read more

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