The Beauty of Xiaohe

She is 3,800 years old, but she still turns heads. The mummified remains of a Caucasian woman, found along the Silk Road in western China, will be part of an exhibit "Secrets of the Silk Road: Mystery Mummies of China," commencing 27 March 2010, at Santa Ana, California's Bowers Museum. That is a high resolution photo of her, above, and I invite you to download and examine it in detail. Quite simply remarkable, in every respect.

I have been endlessly fascinated by this story, which really originates a few years back with Jeannine Davis-Kimball (actually, it goes back to around 1895, to Sven Hedin, and Aurel Stein, but it is Davis-Kimball's popularization efforts we are discussing). It is one of the most significant stories of the twentieth century, but because it raises such a sensitive issue in Han China, we don't hear about it as much as we should. The sensitivity arises because the Tarim Basin mummies are indisputable evidence of Caucasian presence in northwestern China before that of the Chinese themselves.

What attracts me is the evidence that seems to indicate these people were shamans -- possibly a tribe or clan of magicians. According to one commentator:

"Some of the mummies were buried in woven plaids which I understand are remarkably similar to the clan plaids worn by the people who eventually settled in northern Scotland. Some of the mummies (female and male), possibly shamans, tentatively identified as such because of the grave goods with which they were buried, were uncovered wearing tall pointed hats made of felt - similar to how we depict "witches" in the west today (think of the hat worn by the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 movie classic "The Wizard of Oz") - in addition to small woven cloth or felt bags filled with medicinal herbs (including cannabis) and herbs prized for their magical qualities, as well as other talismans. If my memory serves, a few of the 'shamans' were buried with colored throwing sticks -- perhaps for use in divination?"

Indeed it is the hats that first attracted me to these mummies. I vividly recall seeing one of the Tarim Basin mummies wearing a black "witch" hat almost exactly like the one from Wizard of Oz. -- the so-called "Witch of Subeshi." When I saw her, my heart skipped a beat.  It seemed so familiar. I like witches very much, you know? In the photo above, you see another sort found in the graves that is most interesting when compared to the common "lama's hat" we all recognize. I also note the presence of peaked caps or hats that have an uncanny resemblance to the seppelhut one always sees at Oktoberfest.

The seppelhut, in turn, bear some resemblance to that hats sometimes worn by Tibetan black magicians. Even the colors are the same: grey, with blue and white trim, although they are configured differently.

Jeannine Davis-Kimball is not without controversy, but I enjoy her work immensely. If you spend a little time with Google, on her name, you will not be disappointed. Also, I want to recommend a book by Elizabeth Wayland Barber, Mummies of Urumchi, which goes into all of this with more science than speculation.

I just know in advance I'm going to hear from Don Croner on this one.

I also found the following to be of considerable interest, particularly when one contrasts the genetic archaeology with the conventional, physical archaeology. This is from Taiwan Today:

Present-day India is the major geographical source of Asian populations, according to a paper published Dec. 11 in the international scientific journal “Science.”
The paper, the result of a five-year study involving 90 scientists from 10 nations, directly challenges the prevailing scientific view that human migration into Asia proceeded along two main routes, one located up north and the other down south.
According to the paper, after moving out of India human populations moved first in an eastward and then in a northward direction.
The conclusions were based on blood samples drawn from 1,928 participants belonging to 73 ethnic groups in Asia. From Taiwan, blood samples were taken from 48 people of Southern Min ancestry and 32 of Hakka ancestry.
The results show that the haplotype of the Southern Min population in Taiwan and that of the Southern Min population in Singapore are almost identical, according to Chen Chien-hsiun, an assistant research scientist at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the Academia Sinica.
Based on these findings, it is certain that the Southern Min Taiwanese and the Southern Min Singaporeans both emigrated out of the southern parts of China, Chen added.
The haplotype of the Hakka population in Taiwan is also extremely similar to the haplotype of certain tribes in southern China, said Chen. This shows that the Taiwanese Hakka population emigrated from southern China, he said.
Genetic variations among different groups show that after human beings reached Asia, they used India as a new starting point and from there moved eastward along the sea coasts and northward up the Asian continent, the scientist said.
Some things are not recorded in history, but they are recorded in genetics. When one studies history through genetics one is engaged in “genetic archaeology,” he said.

I added emphasis to the above quote, to highlight some interesting aspects of the study. Obviously, the genetic evidence can reach back farther than our 3,800 year old beauty. I do know they have done genetic studies using these mummies, but I haven't seen the precise results.

UPDATED: See our latest post, Visit With the Beauty of Xiaohe, reporting on the Bowers Museum exhibition.

Daily Tibetan Astrology: December 16, 2009

Chinese 1st of the 11th month, M-T-K  30th of the 10th month. Tiger, Kham, Green 4. This is a nyi nak day, also sojong. Confession isn't just for the ordained. You can sit down with the dakinis and let them know that you are at least trying. Confession is actually an extremely powerful antidote to whatever afflicts you, and this is the day to investigate how that might work its way into your life.

Published every day at 00:01 香港時間 but written in advance and auto-posted. See our Introduction to Daily Tibetan Astrology for background information. If you know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can get information about your positive and negative days by clicking here. If you don't know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can obtain that information by clicking here. For specific information about the astrology of 2009, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here. The Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) this year (2009) are: December 20, and next year (2010) are: January 1, 12, 16, 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009. All rights reserved.

Astrology for Tibetan New Year 2010 (Extended)

The year 2010 is the Year of the Male Iron Tiger (lcags-pho stag-lo). The first day falls on February 14, 2010, or Tibetan New Year 2137 (some scholars will argue it is 2136). Often, the Chinese and Tibetan lunar calendars differ in the first day of the first month, but in this case they do not. In Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tibetan practice, there is the same Lunar New Year Day in 2010.

I gave what I regard as a suitable explanation and introduction to the detailed nuances of yearly astrology, and the relative meanings, in our remarks for 2009. Rather than repeat myself, I would suggest that you click back to 2009, read the post, and then click back here to discover what has changed.

The chief value of the following post lies in the calculations. Ordinarily, these calculations are the result of a laborious process, but here you have them at your fingertips, already done for you. Is it better or worse if you don't have to work for it?

Be all that as it may, you came here for the astrology, not philosophy. I quite understand, so why not begin with the geomantic indicators? This year, the opportune passageway is White West, and here are the positions occupied by our sa-bdag friends, from rje-blon nyer-drug ma-bu 'khor:

1) King The-se - East (also hidden spirit Bya-khyung ka-ru)
2) Queen Hang-phan - East
3) Queen Mother The-khyem - North
4) Crown Prince Te-so - West
5) Royal Minister Tsang-kun - North
6) Royal Astrologer Se-ba bla-mkhyen - West (also inner at South, secretly at East)
7) Royal Dog Walker Hang-phan ser-po bya-ra-ba - Northwest
8) Royal Treasurer Se-byi - Southeast
9) Royal Bodyguard-Assassin Se-shar - Northeast
10) Royal Horse Se-ba rang-rta - Northwest
11) Royal Groom Se'u rta-khrid - Northwest
12) Royal Timekeeper Se-bya - Northeast
13) Royal Upholsterer Sa-bdag se-bu gdan-'ding - East
14) Royal Policeman Se-lo sa-'chag kungs-myul - Northeast
15) Royal Sweeper Se-lo sa-'phyag - South
16) Royal Dog Hal-khyi nag-po - North
17) Princess dKar-sham - North
18) Prince sBal-te (her husband - the royal son-in-law) - North
19) General Vang-ging dmarpo - East
20) General Tsang-kun - Northeast
21) Adjutant Tsang-kun 'phye'o - Northwest
22) Dog-headed Assistant Tsang-kun khyi-mgo - North
23) Advisor Bla-mkhyen phe'u - Southeast
24) Scorpion-head Zin 'phung - Southwest
25) Venomous Pi-ling - East
26) Chief of the Eleven Ministers of the King (symbolizing them) - Southwest

The containing note for 2010 is wood of the juniper (alternatively, wood of the pine). The body element (lus: basically the same thing) originates from the blood vessels of the turtle's lungs and liver. The other basics of the year are its srog, or vitality (wood); the dbang-thang, or destiny (iron); the rlung-ta, or luck (iron), and the khyams-nyid, or actual luck (iron). To get a bit more technical, the zla-klung-gi gza'gnyis are Saturn and Iron Dragon, and the destiny/vitality relationship is 'dun-khur.

Our magic numbers are skye-me, or natal, as Black 2 (upper metreng); srog-sme, or vitality, as Yellow 5 (middle metreng); dbang-sme, or destiny, as White 8 (lower metreng). 

Because I favor elemental astrology, it is difficult for me to make general predictions about how the various "animals" will fare in this Year of the Iron Tiger, beyond saying that it seems particularly good for Rabbits born in 1987 and 1963. You can find more of that commonly enough from Chinese sources. However, instead of relying on that overmuch, I would counsel you to take your clue from the energies of 2010 as set forth herein.

Nothing is carved in stone except stone carvings. However, we are dealing with a corpus of lessons learned that arguably stretches back 3,500 years, and usefully stretches back 2,500 years. Please take note that as a general rule, astrological indications are rendered highly flexible by Dharma practice.

So, what is the conventional wisdom about the Iron Tiger?


The folk astrology of Tibet indicates that Tigers in general are brave, daring, ferocious, intelligent, and often audacious, with a tendency toward harsh speech and risk taking, i.e. gambling and business adventures. The ideal companions are those born in the year of the Dog, Horse, and Pig. Those to avoid are born in the year of Ox, Monkey, and to a lesser degree, Snake. Many people will try to have sons this year.


In particular, Iron Tigers are generous to the poor, and protective of the underdog, but can become wrathful and bloody minded, and without moral instruction may become fond of killing. Somebody better tell Jamgon Kongtrul II, and Orgyen Thinley Dorje -- to give but two examples-- both Tigers, but neither of whom were or are bloody minded and fond of killing, as far as anyone knows. 

Iron Tigers greatly enjoy meat, alcohol, the opposite sex, and comfortable living circumstances. They speak directly, with an authoritarian air of command. They are  to some extent vulnerable to haunting spirits (bstan) and gyalpos,  particularly those gyalpos associated with knives and other weapons. They will have two to four children. Their average lifespan is sixty years. They will face five major obstacles.

Iron Tiger dharma practitioners are known to be highly stable and extremely faithful, with unusual powers that are expressed in unconventional ways. As such, their actions are often liable to misinterpretation. They have the potential to exist in this lifetime as reborn spirits, i.e. they were not precisely human in their immediately previous lifetime. In the lifetimes prior to that, they were kings or princes, and in most lifetimes previous to that, they were siddhas, acharyas, or wandering yogis. In this lifetime, they are often characterized by wide learning and extreme intelligence. However, they may be prone to procrastination, and indecision brought on by physical ailments.


As 2010 is the fourth of a five year run of inauspicious element combinations for Tigers, (2011 will be incredibly troublesome) one is advised to take practice to heart. Speaking very personally, I would recommend that Tigers vigorously save the lives of beings otherwise marked for death. I would also recommend the creation of images, printing of dharma books, and other good works. In particular,  and at all costs, one should cause at least one statue of Shakyamuni Buddha to be made. If conditions permit, Tigers should seriously consider going into retreat until 2012 at the earliest. What is wrong with that? 

If you are born in the Year of the Iron Tiger, you are in the closing chapters of an extremely troublesome Mercury-Ketu transit, but if you survive, you are at the threshold of an extremely auspicious run of good luck. The operative word in that last sentence is "if." In Tibetan astrology, the Mercury-Ketu transit is described as "certain death." Of course, as an Iron Tiger, you don't care, but let me say the beginning of the transit, circa 2006, while no picnic, had the elements showing mercy. For the end of the transit, which begins now, the elements show no mercy. Are you impressed yet? Again and again, I want to emphasize that spiritual practice throws all astrological indications to the winds. This is why even very great lamas go into retreat for obstacle years, and live to tell the tale.

You should also be aware that people who have formerly been good friends may turn into bitter enemies. I hate to say this, but Iron Tigers have an astrological propensity to fall victim to murder. Stay away from weapons of all kinds: indeed, be extremely careful of sharp instruments such as knives, axes, saws, and so forth. Taking this energy as a clue, all persons should beware of accidents, misadventure, assault, robbery, and so forth in this wild year of sudden surprises.


Every astrologer in Hong Kong, Lhasa, and Saigon will tell you to avoid cutting wood -- even symbolically -- and thus, to avoid carpentry projects, splitting firewood, and so forth. Some may advise you to plant trees. This is not precisely correct. Earth is the missing element of this year, and wood exhausts earth. Things need to stay in relative balance, you know? There is also a significant risk of disturbance in the fire element this year.



One of the peculiar paradoxes of Tibetan astrology is that Iron Tiger years are known for incidents of accidental drowning. This is drowning in the bathtub, or drowning in a puddle type drowning, as distinct from the more common sort. Iron Tiger years are also known for war, particularly at the sixty year return, or the so-called complete cycle of time. The year 2010 is the sixty year return of the Iron Tiger year 1950, and you will recall this is when China invaded Tibet. You will also remember the Korean War. Other Iron Tiger years are 1590 (Battle of Ivry), 1650 (Third English Civil War), 1710 (Battle of Helsingborg), 1770 (Russo-Turkish War), 1830 (July Revolution, Belgian Revolution, Polish Revolution), and 1890 (Wounded Knee Massacre).

There is a particular danger of extreme turmoil arising from grudges, and there is a definite indicator of provocation from a spirit. This may degenerate into spiritual warfare of the most destructive sort. Therefore, if someone has done you an injury -- even a great injury -- do not respond, no matter the provocation. Those who seek to provoke are in fact demons, no matter what disguise they wear. This is a dark age.

Pay particular attention to dreams (and nightmares) this year. You might go so far as to keep a dream journal. Greatly disturbed dreams will indicate developments in the spirit world.


The "spiritual warfare" concept as applied to 2010 should not be taken lightly. There will be extreme activity involving gyalpos -- some very, very powerful forces will come to life -- and unprecedented agitation or activity among energetically wrathful spirits of all classes.

Make no mistake about this. This Tiger year can see ruthlessness on outer, inner, and secret levels. It will come suddenly, without warning.



The last Iron Tiger year, 1950, saw the beginning of the end of Tibetan Buddhism as it had been known for centuries prior. To a certain extent, this became possible because of degeneration and fighting in the Tibetan Buddhist institutions themselves. The year 2010 will witness extreme tension between unorthodox expressions of Tibetan Buddhism -- those which are against the grain,  permissive or culturally diluted -- and the ancient energies that have been offended by such extreme views. Again, please remember what I have told you: that which provokes you to anger in 2010 aims to bring about your destruction. As difficult as it may be, you must withdraw from such provocations.

Iron Tiger years are years of spies, agents provocateurs, and behind the scenes intrigue that unexpectedly boils over. They are years where the greatest dangers lie in excess, hasty action, hot headed plots, and sudden violence. We must all work together to counteract such energies, and the solution to doing so lies in practice, practice, practice, and more practice.


It is not outside the realm of possibility that we may see some cross-border excursions of the most hostile sort in 2010. Already, China is building or repairing as many as twenty-seven airstrips near the Indian border. There may be episodes of unusual violence or catastrophic events inside China itself. There is also most definitely some very serious trouble in Pakistan on the horizon. North Korea in particular should be watched with great care, as well as Iran. Dangerous demagogues in both nations will dare to dream martial dreams.


This year may witness terrible cruelty to animals, so it is important to see to animal welfare as much as possible. There may also be food shortages, and an upswing in armed robbery, banditry, and so forth. In the natural realm, beware of volcanoes. In the financial realm, the arms industry will profit. Billions will be spent on missiles.

And now, here is some "newspaper" astrology: 

In general, Tigers make brilliant authors, musicians, actors, philosophers, leaders, generals, and explorers. Some examples are Marco Polo (lived 70 years),  Beethoven (lived 57 years), Karl Marx (lived 65 years), Emily Jane Bronte (lived 30 years),  Oscar Wilde (lived 46 years), Beatrix Potter (lived 77 years, loved rabbits), H.G. Wells (lived 80 years), Agatha Christie (lived 86 years),  President Eisenhower (lived 79 years),  General De Gaulle (lived 80 years), John Steinbeck (lived 66 years), Sir Alec Guinness (lived 86 years), Dylan Thomas (lived 39 years), Rudolph Nureyev (lived 55 years). 

Just using these as a guide, the average age is 65 years. Some other examples are Queen Elizabeth II, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, William Hurt, Jodie Foster, Bill Murray, Tom Cruise, Garth Brooks, Demi Moore, Leonardo DiCaprio.

At this stage in my life, one year is like another, and all astrology aside, it is best not to have too many expectations. I just write these things for people who enjoy them. 

Keywords: Tibetan New Year, Year of the Tiger, Chinese New Year, Tibetan Astrology 2010, Losar, Iron Tiger, Asian Astrology, Chinese Astrology, Astrology, Tiger, 2010

Daily Tibetan Astrology: December 15, 2009

Chinese 30th, M-T-K  29th. Ox, Khen, Blue 3. Dharmapala Day. I wouldn't hold back on the formalities this month. Also, if you have to engage in Christmas shopping, today isn't necessarily the best but it isn't the worst, either. What today promotes is finishing up whatever tasks you have been putting off, clearing the decks so to speak. After tomorrow, it is a whole new ball game.

Published every day at 00:01 香港時間 but written in advance and auto-posted. See our Introduction to Daily Tibetan Astrology for background information. If you know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can get information about your positive and negative days by clicking here. If you don't know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can obtain that information by clicking here. For specific information about the astrology of 2009, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here. The Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) this year (2009) are: December 20, and next year (2010) are: January 1, 12, 16, 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009. All rights reserved.

Buddhist Flag-Polemics

You may not want to believe this, but if you never try then you'll never know. If you start right now, and order up a single prayer flag -- one of the King Gesar flags as seen here is a very good choice -- and if you fly this flag with the pure aspiration that it benefit all beings, then everything in your life will change for the better.

Flying one of these flags is like throwing a pebble into a still pool of water --- rings of benefit widen out continuously. One thing leads to another, you know? To throw that pebble, you have to open up your tight hand... you have to engage in a kind of generosity. You have to let your heart free.

These flags are personally blessed by the living, direct manifestation of Padmasambhava, are only rarely available, are made in limited, yearly editions, and will not be made forever. They are fashioned of 200 denier, marine grade nylon, sewn for storm conditions, and have real brass grommets. The inks include special substances, and the printing is done on consecrated grounds, on auspicious "ten million" days such as Lha Bab Duchen, and so forth, with the constant recitation of mantras.

Do everybody a favor, and order one by clicking here. Start where you are, right now --- right this minute. Start with what is in front of you.

Start here.

Ten Good Omens: Zangpo Chu Dzom

We're getting a number of search queries for the Zangpo Chu Dzom, or "Ten Good Omens" day this year. It falls on Wednesday, December 23, 2009. It is immediately preceded by Nganpa Gu Dzom, or "Nine Bad Omens" on Tuesday, December 22, 2009. I do want to note that Zangpo Chi Dzom is also "nya" this year, so I wouldn't go jumping for joy.

Usually, these days are reserved for doing nothing -- maybe taking a picnic lunch to the park or something. Nothing to worry about.

Keywords: Nganpa, Ngan pa, Ngan-pa, Ngenpa, Negen pa, Negen-pa, Gu Dzom, Gu Zom, Zangpo, Zangpo Chu, Nine Bad Omens, Ten Good Omens, Ten Auspicious Omens.

Nine Bad Omens: Nganpa Gu Dzom

We're getting a number of search queries for the Nganpa Gu Dzom, or "Nine Bad Omens" day this year. It falls on Tuesday, December 22, 2009. It is immediately followed by Zangpo Chu Dzom, or "Ten Good Omens" on Wednesday, December 23, 2009.

Usually, these days are reserved for doing nothing -- maybe taking a picnic lunch to the park or something. Nothing to worry about.

Keywords: Nganpa, Ngan pa, Ngan-pa, Ngenpa, Negen pa, Negen-pa, Gu Dzom, Gu Zom, Zangpo, Zangpo Chu, Nine Bad Omens, Ten Good Omens, Ten Auspicious Omens.

Daily Tibetan Astrology: December 14, 2009

Chinese 29th, M-T-K  28th. Mouse, Dwa, Black 2. Today augurs success in business affairs. Try to avoid eating meat, doing divinations, or beginning on journeys. This is definitely not a good day for travel, although you could, if you had to, travel toward the east. Don't be fighting today, although today is excellent if you happen to be a thief. What does that mean? Burglary not robbery? Sometimes, astrology is ridiculous. Somebody wrote in and asked why I don't do the Tsurluk element combinations, i.e. today is water-wind, or mi mthun, which is the second of the unfavorable combinations. Positive activities on this day are marked by divisiveness and disagreement. Negative actions that harm unity will increase. Ugh. Sounds just like Twitter. The reason why I don't do this is because I typically refer to the Kalachakra system, i.e. today is water-water, which is the second of the auspicious combinations. The day's energy favors personal activities, and participation in religious ceremonies.  Not so ugh, but today also falls under the conjunction kelme, which points to war, battles, conflicts, and so forth. Since the Kalachakra system isn't as widely used as the Tsurluk, people are going to be scratching their heads, going "What...????" Remember way back when... me telling you that sooner or later all astrology comes down to a matter of preference? You put ten different Tibetan astrologers in a room, and while they will agree on some things, you would be surprised to find how many things they won't agree upon... particularly today, which is characterized by conflict, and is not a good day for divination. Something else I want to tell you about astrology. It doesn't matter what today's indications are, because tomorrow is going to be different. Impermanence, you know? If you are looking to astrology to find some sort of permanence, it isn't very helpful to you in the long run. Actually, astrology is of best use in medicine, because it helps pinpoint optimal times for treatment, and it also helps in diagnosis. Beyond that, there is always the danger of becoming slavishly devoted to astrology, and turning into an absolute neurotic. I mean to say, if you are consulting the astrologer before taking each and every little action, or making basic decisions, then you just don't trust your own mind, do you?  Who was it said, "I walked into the center of a featureless field, I shot an arrow into the cloudless sky, I did not care if it was a good day or a bad day." That was a rhetorical question. Anyway, if you like, I can start embedding the Tsurluk that Songtsen does (and does quite well, I might add). You just click on the individual day to get the combination. You can get this in English, but other languages are fun, don't you think? Actually, the Songtsen online Tibetan calendars are the best on the net, so investigate, won't you?

And one more thing -- Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar has imitators (shock! horror!) who often try to capitalize on our "ahead of the curve" date practice. For example, today is actually Sunday in America, but this entry is dated to Monday. So, all the things we do on Monday, our imitators copy and do on Sunday so it looks like they "beat" us, to use that quaint old newspaperman's phrase. We publish at 12:01 a.m. Hong Kong time as a convenience to all our readers in Asia.

Published every day at 00:01 香港時間 but written in advance and auto-posted. See our Introduction to Daily Tibetan Astrology for background information. If you know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can get information about your positive and negative days by clicking here. If you don't know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can obtain that information by clicking here. For specific information about the astrology of 2009, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here. The Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) this year (2009) are: December 20, and next year (2010) are: January 1, 12, 16, 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009. All rights reserved.

Happiness Is A Warm Prayer Flag

Prayer flags at Zhechen Monastery, in Tibet

I have always had an unreasonable liking for prayer flags. I first saw them when I was quite young. I thought, "My, how interesting," and decided I had to have some. So, I cut up a bed sheet, and fashioned my prayer flags from that.

I think I might have been around nine years old at the time.

Since then, I have spent a great deal of time and energy on prayer flags: developing the means for making them, making them by the bundles, buying them by the bundles, flying them by the thousands, and so forth. When I came to a particularly windy place, I decided it was a shame not to have even more of them, so now it happens that I am playing a constant game with the wind. I find ways to put up the flags and the wind finds ways to knock them down.

Anyway, as previously reported, we had some wild weather with very high winds. I have a series of twenty-two foot, field expedient flag poles that I use for dar cho, and they took some punishment. I fashioned these by planting four foot sections of pipe in the ground, and then slipping twenty-two foot sections of recovered well pipe into them. Most of the time it works O.K., but a lot depends on the quality of the pipe. I also have a number of small poles set on rebar, but they don't do very well even under the best of circumstances.

Now, to make matters worse, there is a new Gesar flag available, 43"x 64" very heavy construction, and these of course will put one whale of a strain on ordinary diameter pipe. An old friend sent me one of those flags as a gift, and I have been thinking about almost nothing else ever since. Didn't I tell you that my fondness for prayer flags is unreasonable?

All the angst came to an abrupt halt yesterday, when a truck arrived bearing a  genuine, store-bought, manufactured flagpole -- wind-rated to 95 MPH with a 43" x 64" flag, which is a real consideration in these parts. Now I am having a happy day.

The cement guy is coming to pour a base for the pole, so we had to get everything ready. The worst part of the whole project (get it? (w)hole project...) is keeping the foundation sleeve plumb while the concrete is being poured. We pounded in rebar and wired up a little cage to keep the sleeve steady. A 2'x2'x2' hole full of reinforced concrete may seem excessive, but I have seen the wind out there pull up poles right out of the ground, concrete and all.

I know a lot of people share this interest, so here is a little advice based on long experience. The best flags in the world are the ones available from the Tibetan Aid Project and the Nyingma Trust. These are part of a fund-raising mechanism, have extremely high quality production values -- 200 denier nylon, for starters -- are very big flags, and thus are not cheap. Expect to pay USD $125 to $200 for one of these. The next step down is the conventional rope set that they make, ranging in price from USD $25 to $60. These are made in Brazil, where flag making is something of an art form, and they last longer than any rope sets I have ever seen due to the fabric employed. You can also find some similarly high quality flags at the Rigpa Store.

Tsering Chodon and her husband, Tim Clark

owners of Radiant Heart

If, for whatever reason, you don't fancy the above, then the hands-down, all time best commercial prayer flag source in the world is Radiant Heart. This is an old style family operation, around since 1974, run off the grid by a good old boy from Northern California's Humboldt County and his Tibetan wife, and I don't mind sending them money at all.

You know, many people who fly prayer flags don't necessarily understand prayer flags, or even "believe in them," in the conventional sense. The common statement one hears is, "Yes, they're nice, but I don't know how they work." You hear all sorts of simplistic explanations, as in, "The prayers are released on the wind and fly to all sentient beings."

It is possible to achieve complete realization in one lifetime, in one body, by seeing a prayer flag. Did you know that? It is similarly possible to learn all forms of meditation by looking at a prayer flag. Maybe you don't believe me, but it is true. Of course prayers are released, but the deeper concordances of interdependence are what makes it interesting. Anyway... believe as you wish, but at least 108 times in this lifetime, try to put up some prayer flags.

For the benefit of all sentient beings.

Daily Tibetan Astrology: December 13, 2009

Chinese 28th, M-T-K  27th. Pig, Khon, White 1. This is a zin phung day. Avoid contact with earth or disturbing earth. This is usually a very lucky day for most people. You could get a haircut today. This is going to sound a little funny to most, but the astrology is such that it is good to avoid the horizontal mambo today and tomorrow. If you can't put that off for a couple of days, well, what can I say?

Published every day at 00:01 香港時間 but written in advance and auto-posted. See our Introduction to Daily Tibetan Astrology for background information. If you know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can get information about your positive and negative days by clicking here. If you don't know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can obtain that information by clicking here. For specific information about the astrology of 2009, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here. The Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) this year (2009) are: December 20, and next year (2010) are: January 1, 12, 16, 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009. All rights reserved.

We Have A Winner!

We have a winner in the Great Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar Christmas Contest to Benefit the Nyingma Trust! Rulief Kelley, of San Francisco, California will now receive the USD $108 Gift Certificate redeemable at the Nyingma Trust online store.

Says Rulief, "I will put the gift certificate to good use and will pass on the blessing to another some time soon."

This is just a sample. You can start shopping immediately with this.

Our winner was the 108th person to sign up as a new subscriber to Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar in the contest that began at 12:02 A.M. on December 11th. Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to our lucky winner!

By the way.... (here it comes)... these Nyingma Trust Gift Certificates are an easy and painless way to send a meaningful gift to your net friends, and friends in faraway places reachable only by email. Click here to get them.

When I started this contest, I must confess that I did not know how convenient this is. You just use PayPal to buy the certificate, and they are instantly sent to the email address of the recipient. The recipient can then click a link on the certificate, and start shopping immediately, using the certificate's redemption code at checkout. Neat, huh?

Where to Get Tibetan Astrology Done

Because we do the "Daily Tibetan Astrology" feature, we get a number of emails asking if we will do life charts and so forth, as well. Also, the search query "where to get Tibetan astrology done," seems to be trending high these days. Sorry, but this is not something we ordinarily like to do, lest we are having a contest or something, or just happen to be in the neighborhood, feeling daffy.

While there are a number of different resources available, we think the best one is probably Jhampa Kalsang's service, down in San Diego if I am not mistaken. Dr. Kalsang is a real, live, Men-Tsee-Khang trained Tibetan astrologer. He is also the author of the beautiful book Tibetan Astro Science, that was published in Italy a few years ago.

Usually, when Tibetan astrologers interact with Westerners, the outcome isn't very successful. However, I hear very good things about Dr. Kalsang's abilities, and he certainly seems to put the effort into it, as his web site and blog attest.

Buddhist Medicine in Hualien

This just in from Taiwan Today -- very meaningful to me, as I have a close family member currently undergoing treatment at the named institution -- but also meaningful to all of us. The Tzu Chi Hospital is a Buddhist hospital.

"Hu Chi-tang, director of Tzu Chi Hospital's Liver Diseases Research Center in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, has received a special award for his research on ways of inhibiting liver cancer.

Hu was awarded this year's Special Research Prize by the 2009 Asia-Pacific Digestive Medicine Week, sponsored by the Gastroenterological Society of Taiwan, for a paper on the interactions between snail genes in liver cancer cells and other transcription factors. His work was chosen from entries from approximately 40 Asian nations and areas.

Since 1986, liver cancer has been the number-one killer of adult males in Taiwan, and the second most common cause of death among women, Hu said. Eighty percent of adult liver cancers are caused by infections of the liver during childhood. If hepatitis could be diagnosed and treated early, the success rate in curing the disease might be higher. But if the disease becomes chronic, there is risk of fibrous changes to the liver, cirrhosis or cancer.

The troublesome thing about detecting liver disease is that the liver has no nerves, so it is a "silent organ." Its storage capacity is also very great, so that as much as 80 percent of a normal liver can be removed without endangering the patient's life.

Since the founding of the research center, teams have worked with Dr. Wu Wen-sheng of the Tzuchi University Department of Medical Technology and other physicians to unravel the molecular bases of liver cancer. After three years of intensive work, they discovered that two things would cut off cancerous changes – the snail transcription factor and activated oxygen. Both acted on target sites in the liver or through genetic therapy.

The snail transcription factor is thought to be a key to the transcription of malignant liver tumors. Sometimes called the "snail gene," it is thought to be a "switch" to transcription activity in the liver. This switch controls the expression of a number of genes, which can simultaneously halt the transcription and growth of human liver cells. For example, the snail gene can "turn on" the P15INK4b gene to inhibit the cellular cycle.

To discover whether or not the snail gene has been initiated, it was necessary to take a slice of liver tumor and conduct a molecular examination of the gene cells in the laboratory. Once an excessive value had been found, researchers knew that the switch had been turned on.

To turn it off, they had to use genetic therapy. They found a sequence in reverse to that of the snail gene, and inserted it into the gene, blocking its expression and achieving therapeutic effects. The research project is still underway at the hospital, and once animal studies are successful, it will herald great news in the fight against human cancers."

Daily Tibetan Astrology: December 12, 2009

Chinese 27th, M-T-K  26th. Dog, Li, Red 9. This should be a fantastic day, right in the middle of a high energy cycle, but the weather is going to be a factor in everything you do. I want to again (and again) emphasize that the earth spirits have been getting ready to let their presence be felt, and today, the spirits of the air are on the move as well. Not a particularly good day for chores (great news -- a free Saturday!) Watch out for the neck and shoulders today! Also, do not wash your hair. Today is good for prosperity rituals, long life practices, and making offerings.

Published every day at 00:01 香港時間 but written in advance and auto-posted. See our Introduction to Daily Tibetan Astrology for background information. If you know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can get information about your positive and negative days by clicking here. If you don't know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can obtain that information by clicking here. For specific information about the astrology of 2009, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here. The Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) this year (2009) are: December 20, and next year (2010) are: January 1, 12, 16, 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009. All rights reserved.

Beyond Question

First, let me announce that this is an independent contest, not affiliated with anything or anybody, and let me announce the prize. The prize is a USD $108.00 Nyingma Trust Gift Certificate, redeemable for any of Dharma Publishing's books, statues, prayer flags, and even Nyingma Institute classes. We'll get back to this in a moment, but first, here is the real news --

The Nyingma Trust was created by Tarthang Tulku to provide for the health and safety of his community of full-time Dharma students. These students have helped realize Tarthang Tulku's vision of preserving Tibetan culture, and bringing the knowledge and benefits of the Dharma to the West.

Kyabje Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche, 

the direct manifestation of Padmasambhava,

on the throne at Samye, in Tibet

Since 1969, these students have managed the incredibly expansive projects, foundations, and non-profit organizations founded by Tarthang Rinpoche. These projects take place at the Nyingma Institute and Managalam Center in Berkeley, California, as well as at Odiyan, and the Ratna Ling Retreat Center, on the Northern California coast. Projects also continue in Tibet, India, Nepal, Thailand, the Netherlands, Germany, and Brazil.

Lord of Refuge Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche, in a recent photograph

These committed senior students are the engine that powers most of this preservation work. As the years go by, and they grow older, their health and safety are vital to the fulfillment of the Nyingma sangha's goals. The Nyingma Trust was set in place to provide for their medical needs. By supporting the Nyingma Trust, you are directly supporting the authentic Nyingma lineage in America, and around the world.

Kyabje Chatral Dorje Rinpoche (left), and Kyabje Tarthang Rinpoche (right)

There are no projects anywhere in the world nearer and dearer to my own heart than the projects that flow from the ocean-like wisdom of Kyabje Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche's compassionate view. Of these, I believe the Nyingma Trust to be one of the most important. It may be so difficult for most of us to understand, but these are American people who came to Kyabje Tarthang Rinpoche some 40 years ago, and who have labored in anonymity ever since, never asking anything for themselves. No loud noises. No "look at what I did." No scrambling for status. Just plain, old-fashioned, selfless devotion and back-breaking hard work.

Lets take just a minute and review what they have accomplished --

40 Years of the Authentic Nyingma Lineage in the West

1969	Tarthang Tulku arrives in California.
1970	Start of Tibetan Pen Friend program: monthly donations to individual Tibetans.
1972	Nyingma Institute opens in Berkeley; first Human Development Training program.
1975	Dedication of Odiyan. Dharma Press and Publishing are incorporated.
1978	Rinpoche retires from public teaching to focus on major publishing and temple projects.
1980	Odiyan Enlightenment Stupa, 113 feet tall, built in just 3 months. All text pages for Tibetan Buddhist Canon printed: 120 atlas-sized volumes.
1982	Rinpoche returns to his native Tibet for the first time in more than 30 yrs; sponsors reconstruction of Tarthang monastery.
1983	Odiyan Open House celebrates completion of Central Mandala.
1986	Installation of Japanese bell at Stupa.
1987	Creation of digitized Tibetan font allows typesetting of Tibetan texts.
1988	108 Land Stupas are placed at places of spiritual power throughout Odiyan.
1989	Rinpoche initiates the first World Peace Ceremony, Monlam Prayers, in Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha was enlightened. More than 600 monks and lamas participated.
1990	First international conference of the international Nyingma centers: representatives from Brazil, Germany, Holland, and the United States attend.
1994	Vajra temple exterior covered with sacred lantsa characters, each cast by hand.
1996	Odiyan Open House attracts thousands of visitors.
1998	Vietnamese Buddhists visit Odiyan. This year more than 80,000 books and 150,000 art prints are sent to India.
1999	Queen Mother of Bhutan sends several sculptors to Odiyan to assist with the Chintamani sculpture project.
2001	160,000 books and 10,000 hand prayer wheels are produced for free distribution.
2004	Rinpoche establishes 5 Light Foundations to restore and uplift Buddhism in the world, particularly Asian countries.
2005	Opening of Ratna Ling retreat center.
2006	Theravadin Tripitaka Chanting established in Bodh Gaya.
2007	Gold plating and restoration of Swayambhu Stupa. Completion of Cintamani temple. Completion of Vairana Garden at Odiyan.
2008	Nyingma Trust founded to support the Nyingma Community members.
2009	Half a million texts printed to be sent to the World Peace Ceremony. Until 2008 2.2 million books have been distributed to more than 3000 Dharma centers in Asia.

Taken collectively, these accomplishments represent the largest body of Dharma projects undertaken by anyone, anywhere, in the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries -- projects on an almost imperial scale, that are without equal in our time.

Beyond question, when we are talking about helping the Nyingma Trust, we are talking about helping people who, during the past 40 years, have quite literally changed the face of Buddhism all over the world.

Now, we get to the fun stuff ---

The Great 

Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar

Christmas Contest to

Benefit the Nyingma Trust

This is a simple contest with incredibly complicated rules, so please read very carefully. If you lose, no whining will be tolerated, and if you win, you're going to have to strictly abide by the terms and conditions set forth herein. We've published this in really small type to make the whole deal official. Note that this is an independent contest, not affiliated with Nyingma Trust, its subsidiaries, assigns, heirs, agents, or mental projections. We are just trying to give them a helping hand.

[1] As stated, the prize is a USD $108.00 Gift Certificate redeemable at the Nyingma Trust online store, at the Dharma Publishing bookstore (or online), at the Tibetan Aid Project online store, or at the Nyingma Institute. 

[2] The winner of this desirable prize will be the 108th new subscriber to Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar, beginning from right now. So, how does that work? On the right-hand side of this page, you'll notice a little button beneath the caption "Subscribe to Digital Altar." Whack that little button and subscribe to this blog. If you are the 108th new subscriber, starting from right now, 12:02 A.M. on December 11, 2009, you will win the prize. 

[3] Once you have subscribed, send me an email with your name and mailing address. The subject line should read: "DTBA Nyingma Trust Benefit." I need this to correlate your subscription data, and also, I need to know where to send the Gift Certificate. When you email me, be sure to email from the account that is receiving the DTBA subscription. My address is rinpoche2006 (at) gmail (dot) com Please send the usual death threats and appeals to rescue your money from Africa in separate correspondence.

[4] By entering this contest, you agree that if you should win, you will purchase a Nyingma Trust Gift Certificate and give it to somebody else. Gift Certificates are available in the amounts of USD $27.00, $54.00, and $108.00 respectively. The person you give the certificate to must likewise agree to purchase a certificate and give it to somebody else, and so on and so forth, until every Sam and Sally on the face of the planet has both received and given a Nyingma Trust Gift Certificate!

[5] Pretty tricky, eh?

[6] Now, I know that old DTBA subscribers are saying "What!?! We don't get a chance? What's up with that!?!" Calm down. Just use any old new email address (not an existing address) to sign up, send me a note as specified above, and you're good to go.

[7] This contest closes at midnight on December 31st 2009 unless terminated sooner by reaching the 108th new subscriber. You must be 18 to enter. This contest is void where prohibited by law, and is not open to anybody I've ever slept with. By entering this contest, you agree that we can make your name public, by announcing you as the winner on DTBA, just so everybody knows this was on the up and up.

Now, how cool is that? You go to a hundred different Buddhist blogs, and they're all hitting you up for money. You come to Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar, and we're giving it away! It is all in the name of a good cause, so enter early. You just might be the lucky winner!

Daily Tibetan Astrology: December 11, 2009

Chinese 26th, M-T-K  25th. Bird, Zon, White 8. Today is Dakini Day, and today is also the Anniversary of Je Tsongkhapa, so here we have auspiciousness upon auspiciousness. Take a Gelugpa to lunch, and just this once, pick up the tab. Good day for sang, good day for requests, travel, or sales, but stay away from issue of gifts today.

Published every day at 00:01 香港時間 but written in advance and auto-posted. See our Introduction to Daily Tibetan Astrology for background information. If you know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can get information about your positive and negative days by clicking here. If you don't know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can obtain that information by clicking here. For specific information about the astrology of 2009, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here. The Ox Year baden senpo (bad days to raise prayer flags) this year (2009) are: December 20, and next year (2010) are: January 1, 12, 16, 28; February 8. Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Daily Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2009. All rights reserved.

Basking In Reflected Glory

Over the past several months, a few people have written to me asking that I discuss my teachers and my lineage. If I understand correctly, they are asking me for some form of credential or authorization  that entitles me to be me. Based on these putative credentials or authorization, the questioners propose to engage in the continued practice of accepting and rejecting.

I am reluctant to play along, because it goes against my understanding of what is and is not necessary. However, it would seem that my reluctance has opened the door to all sorts of confusion among beings difficult to tame. Not only confusion, but negative actions and misconduct of all types. When I look at this, I am overcome with pity for those who are wasting their precious human birth with puerile ideas about cops and robbers.

We are taught that there are different reasons for seeking out teachings, some wholesome and some not so wholesome. In the latter category, we are taught that there are those who seek out teachings in order to sell them elsewhere.

It has been my observation that people who fall into this category often make a great deal of noise about who their teachers are, what their lineage is, and so forth.

Speaking personally, I did not approach the teachings with such thoughts in mind. I have never in my entire life depended on the dharma for my upkeep. I don't have anything to sell, so this really isn't a concern for me.

Nevertheless, it is a guidance.

My teachers were and are completely realized masters. I hold them in inexpressible regard. If I choose not to bandy them about like some form of spiritual currency, trying to buy recognition or belief, please try to understand and respect my decision. While I might tell the odd "old days" story here or there, if it seems of some benefit to others, under most ordinary circumstances I would prefer to let things rest as they are.

Can you think of any reason why I should do otherwise?

I think many of the questions which are addressed to me about lineage come from a fundamentally mistaken view of what lineage actually represents. For example: I could list all of my teachers, and my teacher's teachers, and I could say that because my teacher had these teachers, then that is my lineage.

It would actually be rather easy for me to do that, offering up photographs of myself with this one or that one, and letters from this one or that one, and all sorts of hyperbole about everyone's glorious deeds. E MA HO! There are even circumstances where more than one lineage is involved!  My own famous teachers had many famous teachers, and their famous teachers had really famous teachers, so maybe I could trot that all out.

However, to do so would be an action at odds with my views.

One often hears about the "purity" of lineage. This seems to be a favorite theme with some childish people who still cling to dualistic thought and conduct. If you are engaging in lying, verbal abuse, divisive speech, and so forth, then where is your pure lineage? The purity of your lineage depends entirely upon intrinsic factors, not extrinsic lists of dead people.

There is that, and then there is this ---

All lineages rest in the same reality, which is that the nature of mind is primordially buddha, with no creation or cessation, so I cannot say where one realization begins or ends. I do not know anybody who can. While it might be conventionally appropriate to say that Master 2's realization mingled with Master 1's realization, and Master 3's realization mingled with Master 1 and 2's realization, it would be highly inappropriate to quantify realization as having a sought-after independence.

The only absolutely pure lineage is spontaneous presence.

In the English language, we have a phrase to the effect that so and so is, "basking in reflected glory." This even has its opposite in the idea of "guilt by association." In either case, we are labeling ourselves through reference to others, without looking at our own face. If I point to my teachers, and my teacher's teachers as some sort of authority, or justification, or credential, or even excuse for myself, this is a wholly incorrect and mistaken appreciation of what lineage actually means.

Lineage is both delimited and defined by accomplishment. One cannot be said to "hold" a lineage in the absence of actual accomplishment. If accomplishment is present, then one may give credit where credit is due, and offer all respect to one's lineage of teachers. However, in the absence of such accomplishment, it would be wrong to point to one's lineage and say, "I am a part of this." Even if you take robes and so forth, practicing all night and all day, that is just an admission ticket until realization finally dawns.

You know, the admission ticket isn't anything to boast about. You can take a hundred empowerments, but never accomplish the practice of one of them.

That is what I believe, and that is how I am guided. Since I have no particular accomplishment, no particular activity, and no particular goals, I don't feel the need to run around shouting about lineage this or lineage that. This is like schoolyard fighting, you know? One kid says to another kid, "My big brother is coming to beat you up!"

The other day, somebody came to my house, and saw pictures of lamas on the wall. "Wow!" they exclaimed. "Is that your lineage?"

No, those are pictures of lamas on the wall.

Lineage is encompassed in the continuity of ear-whispered instruction and practice leading to actual accomplishment. Lineage is not encompassed by pictures, biographies, beautiful diplomas, ornate certificates, or any other useless pomp and circumstance you could name. Lineage is not encompassed by "lama collections," or "empowerment collections," or ambitious projects.

If it would give anyone even the slightest comfort or peace of mind to know more about such things, then I would bring to your attention Nyoshul Khenpo Jamyang Dorje's A Marvelous Garland of Rare Gems. If you are desperately searching for some generous meat in which to sink your poisoned teeth, then please be informed that I knew and know some of the people named in that book. This does not mean that I was able to learn what they were eminently able to teach me. That does not mean I have any accomplishment whatsoever. Actually, it doesn't mean anything at all beyond explaining that I had a wonderful opportunity to be the very worst student of the very best men.

In that regard, I am right now looking at a letter that one of the gentlemen named in the book wrote to me thirty-six years ago, which reads, in part:

"It seems O.K. We could write pages and pages to one another, but what you understand I understand and what I understand you understand -- this we know, so what use is our communication. I am writing you now for only sentimental reasons."

I found that letter by accident a few years ago, and I have kept it only because I find it helpful to constantly remind myself of certain things, and not in any nostalgic sense, I assure you. It is  merely bittersweet evidence that I wore out the patience of a saint.

This brings us to the ancillary question I occasionally get, to the effect of, "Are you really a tulku, and if so, then prove it." One person even wrote in to suggest that the best way of proving it would be to (a) make a miracle, or (b) die.

I really don't know what to say about that. If you see a tulku, then I am a tulku. If you don't, then I am not. Apart from the institutional sense, a tulku really isn't defined by his recognition, you know? I don't know how to impress that upon you strongly enough. There are some lineages where such things are very important, but this is because of pressing institutional necessity. There are many, many mouths to feed.

As a spiritual issue, being seen as a tulku -- or not -- is absolutely unimportant to the matter of actual accomplishment.

Tulkus do not drop from the sky as fully realized masters. Every Karmapa since the first had teachers, instruction, study, learning, practice, and so forth. Every Dalai Lama since the first had teachers, instruction, study, learning, practice, and so forth. Just to take a single example, and with reference to ngondro, or the so-called "preliminary" practices that most people believe are beneath them, even a fully realized master like the immaculate Source of Refuge Dudjom Rinpoche completed ngondro not once but several times during his lifetime. So, if these great beings spend their lives engaged with their teachers, instruction, study, learning, practice, and so forth, what should we understand about tulkus?

A tulku who has failed to realize his or her potential is much, much worse than the poorest student of the poorest lama in the poorest temple in the poorest country in the world. Regardless of how you shake it up, tulku status is of absolutely no consequence to anyone. Study and practice are of consequence. Kindness is of consequence.

I don't need anything, I don't want anything, and I am not interested in doing anything. I have no practice to speak of, and I am not a teacher. I am not paid a salary for teaching, nor do I sell dharma for a living in some sort of competitive marketplace. I am just an old man who lives in the desert with pet rabbits, and plays around on the Internet while he waits to die.

Well, that and the odd bit of sorcery every now and then.

So, now 2009 draws to a close, and I have responded to the polite and not-so-polite inquiries by expressing my feelings. I have few thoughts on the matter other than those offered here. If this offends those of you with great learning, accomplishment and realization, then I am so sorry. I had absolutely no idea those with great learning, accomplishment and realization could be so easily offended by someone like me.