The Tibetan Book of the Hoping to Become Well-Read
On the way to the Beijing Bookworm yesterday, I decided to get off the subway two stops early and check out the three century-old Yong He Gong Lamasery. In comparison to the other historical sites I’ve seen here so far, I’d rate this one as the most interesting to date, in part because it’s still a living Tibetan Buddhist temple, but mostly because it is jam-relic-packed. The Cultural Revolution kept its philistine paws off.
And certainly, it qualifies as the best-smelling. In the surrounding streets and in stalls within, there are vendors selling incense for offerings. Amidst the camera clicks, you see Buddhists paying their respects to the effigies of absolutely-trippy (as in psychedelic) gods, Buddhas, arhats and giant lamas.
Near the entrance, a photo exhibit of the so-called 11th Panchen Lama’s visits to the complex informs visitors of the government’s expertise in reincarnated-Lama searching:
“On November 29, 1995 after a lot drawing ceremony, the six-year-old Gyaicain Norbu, who was born in approved [sic] by the Chinese Government as the 11th Panchen Lama. He is the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama hence the name Qoigyijubu.”
There is too much to describe, I wish I had photos. But I forgot my camera, as it was spur of the moment. However, the biggest eye-opener in the place is Guinness World Record Maitreya statue, said to be carved from a single 26 meter tall white sandalwood tree. “Damn, now that’s what I call a Buddha.” I’d be curious to know if the tree must have been older than Buddha.
After my vision of the Tibetan cosmos, not much must have rubbed off. Back on the subway (incidentally, the first part of the word subway in Mandarin is “di,” or earth), trying to get off when too many people are pushing to get on, I did my patented “I’m twice as big as you, move the hell out of my way” offensive lineman rush. Buddha never had to take the B-train. Or line 2 as the case may be.
I went on to my bookstore but was disappointed that they don’t have much of a new book selection. They do have a used-book lending library I might join if I stay in Beijing. But I finally found a place with English-language magazines (after about five attempts to cure my reading list boredom). I bought a new Singapore-based magazine “Asian Diver” which is decent, but like too many dive mags consists more of advert than content.
Assuming I can find a good job, I’m trying to think of where I will do my first dive trip in Asia. Thailand sounds like the hands-down place to go, from everything I’ve heard about price and quality of destination. It’ll probably still be a matter of airfare price, since there are other great scuba destinations.
And certainly, it qualifies as the best-smelling. In the surrounding streets and in stalls within, there are vendors selling incense for offerings. Amidst the camera clicks, you see Buddhists paying their respects to the effigies of absolutely-trippy (as in psychedelic) gods, Buddhas, arhats and giant lamas.
Near the entrance, a photo exhibit of the so-called 11th Panchen Lama’s visits to the complex informs visitors of the government’s expertise in reincarnated-Lama searching:
“On November 29, 1995 after a lot drawing ceremony, the six-year-old Gyaicain Norbu, who was born in approved [sic] by the Chinese Government as the 11th Panchen Lama. He is the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama hence the name Qoigyijubu.”
There is too much to describe, I wish I had photos. But I forgot my camera, as it was spur of the moment. However, the biggest eye-opener in the place is Guinness World Record Maitreya statue, said to be carved from a single 26 meter tall white sandalwood tree. “Damn, now that’s what I call a Buddha.” I’d be curious to know if the tree must have been older than Buddha.
After my vision of the Tibetan cosmos, not much must have rubbed off. Back on the subway (incidentally, the first part of the word subway in Mandarin is “di,” or earth), trying to get off when too many people are pushing to get on, I did my patented “I’m twice as big as you, move the hell out of my way” offensive lineman rush. Buddha never had to take the B-train. Or line 2 as the case may be.
I went on to my bookstore but was disappointed that they don’t have much of a new book selection. They do have a used-book lending library I might join if I stay in Beijing. But I finally found a place with English-language magazines (after about five attempts to cure my reading list boredom). I bought a new Singapore-based magazine “Asian Diver” which is decent, but like too many dive mags consists more of advert than content.
Assuming I can find a good job, I’m trying to think of where I will do my first dive trip in Asia. Thailand sounds like the hands-down place to go, from everything I’ve heard about price and quality of destination. It’ll probably still be a matter of airfare price, since there are other great scuba destinations.
brainfart by Daniel at
4:19 AM
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