Uploads from mattlindén, tagged temple

Dignity - Ganden

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:50:13 -0800

I woke up super early (4:40am) this morning to catch the pilgrim bus from Lhasa to Ganden, one of the largest monasteries in Tibet before the Chinese invasion.

It was so cold and dark upon arrival, I really thought I was going to lose a few fingers and toes. But it was all worth it. I stumbled across this guy, who was going from chapel to chapel making offerings - what a wonderful, expressive, charming face he has!

Matt

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Palden Lhamo Festival - Lhasa

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:08:56 -0800

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Last weekend was the Palden Lhamo Festival here in Lhasa. Palden Lhamo is the protectress of Tibet, and this day can kind of be considered to be 'Women's Day'. Men give women money and gifts, and everybody visits the Jokhang Temple (some start queuing at 3 in the morning, the temple opens at 5) to offer khatas (white scarves) and money to Palden Lhamo, who is uncovered only once a year.

It was a lot of fun but over so quickly, the crowds were pushed through in a matter of minutes!

Matt

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Walls - Tsurphu

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:34:52 -0700

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Beautiful yellow walls, Tsurphu.

The architecture here is so organic, earthy and beautiful, with great colours to match - from greys to yellows to reds. This picture is straight out of the camera - because with the light at this altitude, along with the dazzling colours - no changes were needed.

Lhasa is getting super cold now, and it's snowed the last few days - covering the surrounding mountains in a gorgeous, charming blanket of whiteness. How's everyone else's autumn going?

Love, Matt

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Studying - Tsurphu

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:13:05 -0700

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So, at the same monastery as the previous shot, I noticed some monks talking in a side chapel, mostly young boys learning how to debate, an intrinsic part of the education of a Tibetan Buddhist monk. I was amazed at how into the discussion most of them were, I certainly wasn't nearly as interested in school at the same age!

I'm slowly visiting all of your pages and checking out your new work, which I'm loving. :)

Love, Matt

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Duality - Tsurphu

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:36:51 -0700

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Gosh!

It's been way way way too long. Life has been busier than I ever expected, and I'm getting involved in all sorts of interesting projects, not to mention all of the amazing new friendships. Still, time to just upload one or two shots today and over the next few days.

This was taken at Tsurphu, the Karmapa's monastery. It involved waking up at 04:30, catching a pilgrim bus at 06:00, and travelling for several hours over some really rocky, bumpy terrain. But it was worth it - this icy, distant monastery tucked away between the mountains really had a magical charm to it - definitely worth the effort.

I hope everyone is well, happy and healthy.

Love, Matt

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Arrival - Beijing

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 06:12:56 -0700

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I'm here!

It's polluted, it's crazy, it's huge, and I love it.

Soon however, I'll be off to the Land of Snows, to enjoy fresh air and beautiful landscapes.

Flickr kind of 'works' here. I can sign in and see comments, but for some reason, I can't see any pictures - they are all broken links. Trying to find out why, so I can view all of your beautiful shots!

Matt

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The View's Not Bad, I Guess - Tibet

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:58:11 -0700

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I highly recommend viewing this large against a black background, just click the picture or press L!

Right, so I'm catching up slowly, getting things done, working on my 52 project (, the last shot's explanation is up on the blog now and the next shot will be posted tomorrow!), very slowly getting round to visiting all of your streams and so on. This is just a quick post to say hello: hello!

This photograph was taken several years back in Shachung, Tibet - which I reiterate, is one of my all-time favourite places in the world. Imagine living there and seeing that every morning! The people here were so nice, friendly and hospitable, inviting us in to have tea and bread with them, as they'd try to practice a little bit of English. Definitely on my list of must-visit-really-soon places (the list is building up!).

Have a great Friday everyone, remember - don't work too hard!

Matt

If you missed it above - the latest shot of my 52 Week Project 'Samsara Nirvana' is explained in a blog post with more pictures here: Samsara Nirvana Project Blog!

Sakadawa - Tibet

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 01:53:17 -0700

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Possessing the supreme marks, face immaculate like the full moon,
Golden-coloured one, we prostrate to you.
Free from stains, in the three worlds there is no one like you.
To you who have incomparable wisdom, we prostrate.

Commit not a single unwholesome action,
Cultivate a wealth of virtue,
To tame this mind of ours,
This is the teaching of the Buddha.

From the 'Praise to Shakyamuni Buddha'.

Today is Sakadawa, the day in the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism when the Buddha was born, when he gained enlightenment, and when he died. So as you can imagine, it's a pretty special day: like Christmas, Easter, Eid and Hanukka all rolled into one!

The month of Sakadawa is usually celebrated with various activities, and one tries to do as many good deeds as possible. Unlike most religions (where animals are eaten to celebrate), people are urged not to consume meat during this month, in order to honour the Buddha. Now I'll leave you with the final words of the Buddha:

'All component things pass away. Strive with diligence for your own liberation'.

Matt

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Circumambulating - Tibet

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 02:01:48 -0700

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This old lady was circumambulating several religious buildings in Gonlung, Amdo. Holding a rosary and a few jiao (a few pence) in one hand, while the other fidgeted as she whispered to herself, she appeared to have the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Gonlung is an incredible place and perhaps my favourite in the whole of Tibet. Like a magical wonderland tucked away in a mountainous forested valley, this four hundred year old monastery had a very special atmosphere that I'll never forget.

Happy weekend everyone!

Matt

Flight - Shachung

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Thu, 26 May 2011 20:50:17 -0700

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This shot was taken in the same place as this shot here, in Shachung, Qinghai, China. After a few hours walking around this mountain-top temple complex, rain clouds rolled in signalling to us to leave (or then be forced to stay overnight...), and birds circled overhead, darting up and down and around the rooves of the temples. I have such beautiful, fond memories of my trip to this place.

It's Friday folks! I hope everyone has a lovely day and an even better evening, and a beautiful weekend!

Matt

Torii At Dusk - Miyajima

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Tue, 17 May 2011 12:18:47 -0700

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After a day out in Hiroshima, visiting Miyajima was a real last minute decision, a rush that proved to be worth every bit of effort put in. I arrived late, just in time to visit the Shinto shrines as the tide rolled in, with a quick run up a hill to catch some of the incredible Buddhist temples before they closed for the night.

As the sun set and the sky stilled, lights flooded the torii of the amazing Itsukushima Shrine. I was pleasantly surprised at the lack of people - really few in this tourist hotspot - at one of the Nihon Sankei 日本三景 (The Three Views of Japan) - there were far more deer walking around! It was a beautiful, peaceful close to a day that consisted of visiting Hiroshima and the associated A-Bomb Museum...

Matt

From Wikipedia:

Itsukushima Shrine (Japanese: 厳島神社 Itsukushima-jinja) is a Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima (popularly known as Miyajima) in the city of Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan. The shrine complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Japanese government has designated several buildings and possessions as National Treasures.

The shrine is dedicated to the three daughters of Susano-o no Mikoto, Shinto deity of seas and storms and brother of the great sun deity, Amaterasu (tutelary deity of the Imperial Household). Because the island itself has been considered sacred, in order to maintain its purity commoners were not allowed to set foot on Miyajima through much of its history. In order to allow pilgrims to approach, the shrine was built like a pier over the water, so that it appeared to float, separate from the land, and therefore existed in a liminal state between the sacred and the profane. The shrine's signature red entrance gate, or torii, was built over the water for much the same reason. Commoners had to steer their boats through the torii before approaching the shrine.

Retaining the purity of the shrine is so important that since 1878, no deaths or births have been permitted near the shrine. To this day, pregnant women are supposed to retreat to the mainland as the day of delivery approaches, as are terminally ill or the very elderly whose passing has become imminent. Burials on the island are still forbidden.

Empty Prayers - Tibet

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:00:14 -0700

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Prayer flags adorn Tibet's landscape, from mountain passes and trees to the top of roofs - one can see beautifully multicoloured sheets of cloth fluttering in the wind.

They are usually printed with Buddhist designs - symbols such as a windhorse or perhaps a deity, such as the Arya Tara, and surrounded with mantras. As the wind blows, the beautiful meaning (compassion and love) of these mantras is carried off to the corners of the earth, bringing benefit to beings.

Nowadays, many houses in Tibet no longer have these prayer flags - it's more usual to find the red and yellow flag of China instead. In some places, like in this shot, the flags are blank, carrying nothing but empty prayers to the wind.

Matt

From Wikipedia:

A prayer flag is a colorful panel of rectangular cloth, often found strung along mountain ridges and peaks high in the Himalayas. They are used to bless the surrounding countryside and for other purposes. Prayer flags are believed to have originated with Bön, which predated Buddhism in Tibet. In Bön, shamanistic Bonpo used primary-colored plain flags in healing ceremonies. They are unknown in other branches of Buddhism. Traditionally they are woodblock-printed with texts and images.

The center of a prayer flag traditionally features a Lung ta (powerful or strong horse) bearing three flaming jewels (specifically ratna) on its back. The Ta is a symbol of speed and the transformation of bad fortune to good fortune. The three flaming jewels symbolize the Buddha, the Dharma (Buddhist teachings), and the Sangha (Buddhist community), the three cornerstones of Tibetan philosophical tradition.

Surrounding the Lung ta are various versions of approximately 400 traditional mantras, each dedicated to a particular deity. These writings include mantras from three of the great Buddhist Bodhisattvas: Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), Avalokiteśvara (Chenrezig, the bodhisattva of compassion, and the patron of the Tibetan people), and Manjusri. In addition to mantras, prayers for the long life and good fortune of the person who mounts the flags are often included. Images or the names of four powerful animals, also known as the Four Dignities, the dragon, the garuda, the tiger, and the snowlion, adorn each corner of a flag.

Ōsaka-jō - Osaka

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:01:24 -0700

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I love Japanese castles. They give off a real impenetrable impression with their huge stone bases and strong metal gates. I also like to take pictures of buildings, and always end up with a load of them on my card, only to delete them when I get home

Often they just lack this human or 'touching' element and I'll see the picture on my computer screen and say 'wow (sarcastically), a picture of a building'. Delete. Especially when it's an already over pictured location like Osaka Castle, no matter how beautiful or old (construction started well over 400 years ago!) it is.

What can I say, I'm a people person!

Oh, and one more thing that I love: umbrellas. Yay for rain!

Matt

From Wikipedia:

Osaka Castle (大坂城 or 大阪城, Ōsaka-jō) is a Japanese castle in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Originally called Ozakajō, it is one of Japan's most famous castles, and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama period.

The main tower of Osaka Castle is situated on a plot of land roughly one kilometer square. It is built on two raised platforms of landfill supported by sheer walls of cut rock, using a technique called burdock piling, each overlooking a moat. The central castle building is five stories on the outside and eight stories on the inside, and built atop a tall stone foundation to protect its occupants from sword-bearing attackers.

The Castle grounds, which cover approximately 60,000 square meters (15 acres) contain thirteen structures which have been designated as Important Cultural Assets by the Japanese government.

Postcard Series | Part III : Pink Explosion - Japan

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:27:39 -0700

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The third in my Postcard Series. Others:
See the China Postcard here
See the Tibet Postcard here

Japan during springtime is like a pink explosion, a universe of glittering pink and white flowers reflecting off each other and everything else. And it lasts just for a week or two, which, as many Japanese people tell you, is perhaps the best thing about it.

The appreciation of something but without a huge amount of grasping and attachment, with the knowledge that it'll be gone any day, really heightens the amount of enjoyment. And isn't that the way we should be? With our friends, loved ones, and objects?

How much more do you think we'd enjoy our lifes if we thought like this on a daily basis?

Matt

Festival Of Miracles - London

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 08:42:34 -0700

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Today is is Chötrul Düchen, also known as the 'Festival of Miracles', for Tibetan Buddhists around the world.

During his lifetime, the historical Buddha did many great deeds, and this celebrates one of the Four Great Deeds.

Miracles. We hear this word a lot but does it mean? For Buddhists there is not really such a thing as a 'miracle' - it is just an event, like any other, which, no matter how extraordinary, has come about through various causes and conditions. And so, the Buddha performed these 'miracles', through his love and compassion, and gained many followers.

He did this not to show off, nor to show what a great teacher he was, but to try and place all beings on the right path - that of love for self and others, and compassion for self and others.

Happy Chötrul Düchen!

Matt

March 10 - Tibet

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 02:57:07 -0800

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I was planning on having 'Monk with Mobile' as the title to this picture, but today is the 10th of March - so, I'm calling it March 10.

52 years ago today, the Tibetan people tried to stand up for their freedom, their beliefs, their land. They lost, and in the following decades, hundreds of thousands of Tibetan men, women and children were killed, thousands of monasteries, nunneries and temples were destroyed and countless ancient pieces of holy art were desecrated and smashed to pieces.

But why should we care? Now we have cheap electronic goods and clothes, and besides, those people live halfway around the world, right?

Nowadays, Tibetans may have mobile phones, and shiny cars and big dams blocking up crystal clean rivers - at the price of their freedom, land and religion.

Suffering - sadness - imprisonment - censorship - no choice of belief.
or
Happiness - contentment - freedom - openness - choice of belief.

What would you choose?

Matt

More on March 10 at:

March 10 on Wikipedia

Offerings - Yokohama

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 06:45:15 -0800

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From Christianity to Islam, Judaism to Hinduism, offerings are a part of daily or perhaps weekly worship. Buddhism is no exception to this.

The substances and the reason for offering often seem to differ greatly, however. In Buddhism, common offerings include (fragrant) water, flowers and incense. Here are sticks of incense lined up in the afternoon sun, waiting to be offered to the Buddha.

Why? It is not to please the Buddha, for he is not a god granting wishes by receiving gifts!

Incense represents the fragrance of pure moral conduct and reminds us to cultivate good actions, and as the incense burns away, it further reminds us that we should be burning away our own negativies - our greed, hatred, anger, jealousy.

Japanese incense is quite beautiful, always very aesthetically pleasing and with nice, perfumey scents.

Matt

Lanterns Swaying - Kyoto

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 03:49:18 -0700

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Japan during the day is like anywhere else in the world – normal streets, buildings, people going about their business. For me and it seems many visitors, its during the night when Japan comes into its own – when it bursts into vibrant life, neon colours and pachinko-style noise.

And it’s not just the city centres, shopping and eating areas that erupt in this fashion – so do quiet Shinto shrines and peaceful Buddhist temples, albeit on a smaller scale.

These lanterns, swaying lightly in the soft breeze that night at a small Buddhist temple in the Gion district of Kyoto, Japan, epitomized Japan for me. Surrounded by flashing lights, tall buildings, geikos, geishas and millionaire businessmen stood this small temple, calm and bright among the madness.

It reminded me of the Japanese people – reserved, polite, but bright and optimistic despite the crazy things around them.

Matt

From Wikipedia:

Gion (祇園) is a district of Kyoto, Japan, originally developed in the Middle Ages, in front of Yasaka Shrine. The district was built to accommodate the needs of travelers and visitors to the shrine. It eventually evolved to become one of the most exclusive and well-known geisha districts in all of Japan.

The geisha in the Gion district do not refer to themselves as geisha; instead, Gion geisha use the local term geiko. While the term geisha means "artist" or "person of the arts", the more direct term geiko means essentially "a child of the arts" or "a woman of art".

This neighborhood in Kyoto has two hanamachi (geiko communities): Gion Kōbu (祇園甲部) and Gion Higashi (祇園東). Despite the considerable decline in the number of geisha in Gion in the last one hundred years, it is still famous for the preservation of forms of traditional architecture and entertainment.

Part of this district has been declared a national historical preservation district. Recently, the City of Kyoto completed a project to restore the streets of Gion, which included such plans as moving all overhead utilities underground as part of the ongoing effort to preserve the original beauty of Gion.

Gion remains dotted with old-style Japanese houses called machiya, which roughly translated means "townhouse", some of which are ochaya or "tea houses". These are traditional establishments where the patrons of Gion—from the samurai of old to modern-day businessmen—have been entertained by geiko and geisha in an exclusive manner for centuries.

Japan. March 11. 14:46.

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 05:50:50 -0800

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Japan experiences dozens of earthquakes every day. But today's was a huge one.

While the tsunami continues to sweep over Japan and heads towards numerous other nations, my thoughts, prayers and love goes out to all those affected.

If there's one thing I know, it's that Japan is an amazing, resilient nation, one that can only learn and grow stronger from these experiences.

Today, my heart goes out to Japan.

Matt

Losar Tashi Delek - Tibet

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 03:46:35 -0800

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Nam Losar Tashi Delek Shu!

I'd like to wish everyone a very Happy Tibetan New Year. It's the year of the Female Iron Rabbit - let's see what it brings!

This is a 500 year old image of the Buddha Ratnasambhava in Gyantse, Tibet. Ratnasambhava's mantras focus on developing equal love for all beings and for destroying our own pride and greed - something I know I definitely need to work on this year!

The statue is housed in the magnificent Kumbum, which was ransacked during the Cultural Revolution, when most of the ancient, priceless pieces of art, murals and statues were either destroyed or sent to China and then on to the international art market.

But still, despite this destruction, the essence of the Buddha's teachings still remain - those of love, kindness, generosity and tolerance.

Matt

From Wikipedia:

Losar (Tibetan: ལོ་གསར་; Wylie: lo-gsar; Chinese: 洛薩, Chinese: 洛萨) is the Tibetan word for "new year." lo holds the semantic field "year, age"; sar holds the semantic field "new, fresh". Losar is the most important holiday in Tibet.
Losar is celebrated for 15 days, with the main celebrations on the first three days.

On the first day of Losar, a beverage called changkol is made from chhaang (a Tibetan type of beer). The second day of Losar is known as King's Losar (gyalpo losar). Losar is traditionally preceded by the five day practice of Vajrakilaya. It often falls on the same day as the Chinese New Year (sometimes with one day or occasionally with one lunar month difference).

Losar is also celebrated by the Yolmo and Sherpa people, and in Bhutan, although different regions in the country have their own respective new year.