Tibet

Posted by Marci on Dec 2, 2010 in | 0 comments

The soft hum of chanting vibrated the small rooms filled with flickering candles. Paintings, depicting Buddha, covered the walls while golden statues watched over the praying monks dressed in red and orange robes. Dry, ancient wood, greased with wax, creaked as hundreds of visitors moved throughout Potala Palace.

I listened to the prayers as I walked alone through the temple. A young man approached and motioned for me to follow. He led me through the maze of rooms, showing me ancient texts tucked into intricately, decorated cubby holes. When we came upon a monk walking as he chanted, the young man said, “You follow him. It’s okay.”

I felt like an intruder and tried to walk away, but the young man pushed me forward. The monk stopped in front of a row of candles. I stood still, afraid my breathing would disturb the monk’s peace. Shy and uncomfortable, I felt I didn’t belong.

He turned towards me, placed my hands together in prayer, and showed me to bow. I followed his movements and he nodded approval. We moved to the next position and this time I released my insecurities and self-consciousness.

His chanting moved through me like a spinning top. A calm, meditative state began to open as energy danced and the material world softened. All life began to connect; I was not my body, nor my ego, but a part of a whole.

The monk turned towards me as he came to the end of his path. Our eyes connected and joy moved between us as if we had touched.

That night, as I sat in my hotel room, fireworks exploded outside my window. As I watched their light, I thought of how China planned to build a railroad to Tibet to bring commerce. In the name of monetary wealth, greed, and the need for materials I wondered if this place of deep spirituality would someday be lost.

As I walked the streets the next day, people moved in a counter-clockwise direction around the square, prayer wheels spinning in their hands. Smoke rose from large quantities of burning incense as people placed prayer flags around a high pole. What did they pray for?

I thought of my own dreams and prayers. I realized that accomplishing things on my list could bring temporary happiness, but true inner peace and a deep connection to something more powerful than me, is the only way to true joy.