I want an Oompaloompa NOW!!!

[zana16]

As if to punish me for calling in sick two weeks ago when really I just wanted to spend time with my brother while he was in town, today I woke up actually sick and didn't have much choice. I'd signed up to do the refreshments at the Kadampa Buddhist center, and we had an empowerment which we only do once a year or so, so I really had to go.

The empowerment was for mother Prajnaparamita (whose name I can finally pronounce!), a wisdom Buddha whose "specialty" is bliss and emptiness. Since the emptiness of phenomena is something I don't even have an intellectual understanding about, let alone a realization of, I found the meditation difficult. Also I find it hard to meditate at the best of times; when I have a headache and a sore throat I can't hold concentration for more than a few moments. So self-generating as the deity? Yeah, I think I held that for about three seconds.

A member from the Baltimore Center was telling me about what happens to the tormas after the empowerment. Apparently they are dissolved in a body of water so that the teachings can go downstream and spread Dharma to the world. I thought that was kind of cool. Heidi said Gen Varahi takes them to Rock Creek Park. It's kind of nice to think of spreading peace through the waterways of Washington DC....

Comments

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

I know how to say it too because David mentions that name sometimes. He knows many long Pali, Sanksrit, and Tibetan words that are just beyond me. I do know some pretty good Greek words though. :D He could explain the emptiness of phenomena as well. He tried to explain it to me... I didn't get it.

Hope you are feeling better.

[zana16.livejournal.com]

I feel fine as long as I don't try and get out of bed... then I feel like crap. :)

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

Ohhh. yuck. I hope someone is bringing you hot tea.

[zana16.livejournal.com]

Not to worry; I've drunk enough hot tea over the past 48 hours to drown a small ox. I'm thinking seriously of buying stock in Traditional Medicinals.

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

Throat Coat? David adores that stuff. I can't even stand the smell of it.

[zana16.livejournal.com]

I started out with Echinacea as I had a box on hand and I'm going to buy some Throat Coat when I get to the Coop. Raspberry Ginger, which Yogi discontinued despite it being the best tea ever, feels great on my throat, but I don't want to waste my meager supply.

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

I hate when that happens. I usually do Tazo's Calm (even though they are owned by Pepsi now) with lemon and honey--maybe a little splash of bourbon. :D