Ese’s Weekly Shoot & Quote Challenge: Pleasure

An inordinate passion for pleasure is the secret of remaining young
Oscar Wilde
.

Visit Ese for more Pleasure!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Letters

Letters – letters and words, combined they make language.  One of the things separating us from animals – the written language. What would happen if we didn’t have it? Letters and words give you power. Not only for Love. They are the strongest weapon. Burning books is still done…, leaking written facts…, starting and ending wars. Letters.

The most beautiful letters I know of are the Tibetan letters. The skill of making them is pure art. This is not a full alphabet, but called an alphasyllabary. It is a segmental writing system in which consonant–vowel sequences are written as a unit: each unit is based on a consonant letter, and vowel notation is secondary. Read more about the alphabet here.

These pilgrim stones are placed on the path leading up to the Pothala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Even if I don’t know the exact meaning of what’s written on them, I think I know something of their content.

I know that somewhere on these stones is carved the primary mantra of  Tibetan Buddhism. It is commonly carved onto rocks or written on paper that’s inserted into prayer wheels. When the wheels are spinned the prayers will find their right way without someone constantly reciting them.  Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūṃ  (Tibetan: ༀམཎིཔདྨེཧཱུྃ )

Om-mani-padme-hum 02.svg

The mantra in Tibetan with the six syllables coloured. The exact meaning of the words is discussed, but below is the interpretation by the 14th Dalai Lama:

14th Dalai Lama

”It is very good to recite the mantra Om mani padme hum, but while you are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the meaning of the six syllables is great and vast… The first, Om […] symbolizes the practitioner’s impure body, speech, and mind; it also symbolizes the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha[…]”
”The path is indicated by the next four syllables. Mani, meaning jewel, symbolizes the factors of method: (the) altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassion, and love.[…]”
”The two syllables, padme, meaning lotus, symbolize wisdom[…]”
”Purity must be achieved by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom, symbolized by the final syllable hum, which indicates indivisibility[…]”
”Thus the six syllables, om mani padme hum, mean that in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha[…]”
Quotation  from Wikipedia

 

 

 

Ese’s Weekly Shoot & Quote Challenge: Celebrate

We’re all here at the same time and we should celebrate that.

George Weinberg

 For more celebrating – click here.

 

 

Ese’s Weekly Shoot & Quote Challenge: Whole

An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.

Henry David Thoreau

For more whole interpretations – visit Ese here. Or, why not participate yourself?

Ese’s Weekly Shoot & Quote Challenge: Wings

Birds have wings; they’re free; they can fly where they want when they want. They have the kind of mobility many people envy.

Roger Tory Peterson

The soul has illusions as the bird has wings: It is supported by them.

Victor Hugo

More wings are to be found here.

Ese’s Weekly Shoot & Quote Challenge: Awakening

Life is a magnificent manifestation where if we honour Sacred Mother Earth, rivers of love will flow freely. New levels of spiritual awareness are upon us and by recognizing their beauty we can inspire every aspect of our lives. Let your soul be an oasis of transformation that takes your life to the next level and fulfills your dreams. Rejoice in your awakening, the future is now and love is in every breath you take.

Micheal Teal

For more of my visit to Lake Hornborga last weekend, and the 19 800 cranes, resting and dancing – visit my Warden Spirits blog!

For more lovely awakenings, visit Ese here.

 

Ese’s Weekly Shoot & Quote Challenge: Mysterious

The moment one gives close attention to any thing, even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.

Henry Miller

A world of roots in February

Mysterious grass world…

Hidden in another mysterious world – look closely…

A sunny, summer, lichen world …

For more mysterious worlds…click here!