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ตะลุยลาวเหนือEP:11เยือนหมู่บ้านผาช้างมีสามชนเผ่าอยู่ร่วมกัน,มีชนเผ่าม้ง,…

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November 2003 PDX Portland Oregon U.S.A. 

© KOJI ARAKI Art Works

Daily life and every small thing is the gate to the universe ：）

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「 various tulips 」

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Vairocana is a celestial or cosmic Buddha, or sometimes interpreted as a primordial Buddha, or later as the Dharmakāya of the Guatama Buddha. Dharmakāya is one of the three bodies (trikāya) of a buddha in Mahāyāna Buddhism. The dharmakāya constitutes the unmanifested, “inconceivable” (acintya) aspect of a buddha out of which buddhas arise and to which they return after their dissolution.

A sutra ‘Vairocana’s Awakening Sutra’ is an early Tantric manual. It begins in the celestial palace symbolizing all existence with the Vairocana Buddha conversing with a disciple. 

read an English translation here

https://www.bdk.or.jp/document/dgtl-dl/dBET_T0848_Vairocana_2005.pdf

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The Soul at Death The Demons and Gods battle over the soul.

An antique illustration from a Kalyan magazine, first published in the 1920s. (via Etsy: EasternImage)

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Phou Xi Fa, Bokeo Province, Lao PDR by Explore Laos Via Flickr: Have you ever seen such an unusual mountain? This is Phou Xi Fa, or the mountain that points to the sky, due to it’s unique shape. It is located in Paktha District of Bokeo Province, on the border of Laos and Thailand and popular with visitors from the Thai side. ທ່ານເ��ີຍເຫັນພູເຂົາແປກປະຫຼາດແບບນີ້ບໍ່? ນີ້ແມ່ ພູຊີ້ຟ້າ ເຊິ່ງໄດ້ຊື່ຈາກຮູບຊົງພິເສດຂອງມັນ. ສະຖານທີ່ຕັ້ງຢູ່ ເມືອງປາກທາ ແຂວງບໍ່ແກ້ວ ຢູ່ລະຫ່ວາງຊາຍແດນຂອງປະເທດລາວ ແລະ ໄທ ເຊິ່ງຍັງເປັນທີ່ນິຍົມຈາກນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວຊາວໄທນໍາ. goo.gl/maps/P22JVwoRGJoeHS688

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What does ‘meeting Buddhadharma’ mean?

It means entering into Buddhism by sincerely seeking refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, and thus having the opportunity to enter and make progress on the path to enlightenment.

If we do not meet Buddhadharma we have no opportunity to do this, and therefore we have no opportunity to accomplish the pure and everlasting happiness of enlightenment, the real meaning of human life.

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Chatuchak Market, Bangkok

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Goddes Swasthani by Purna Prasad, Nepal

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Aakash Ganga Lord Shiva Artist: Thakur Vitankar. (via eBay: ishr2013)

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What does ‘meeting Buddhadharma’ mean?

It means entering into Buddhism by sincerely seeking refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, and thus having the opportunity to enter and make progress on the path to enlightenment.

If we do not meet Buddhadharma we have no opportunity to do this, and therefore we have no opportunity to accomplish the pure and everlasting happiness of enlightenment, the real meaning of human life.

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Dharma is the actual protection through which we are permanently released from the sufferings of sickness, ageing, death and rebirth; and Sangha are the supreme spiritual friends who guide us to correct spiritual paths.

Through these three precious wishfulfilling jewels, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha – known as the ‘Three Jewels’ – we can fulfill our own wishes as well as the wishes of all living beings.

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Phou Kao Lak, Luang Prabang Province, Lao PDR by Explore Laos Via Flickr: Located along Rte. 13 between Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng, Phou Kao Lak, is one of the most dramatic peaks in the area. There is a popular rest stop which allows for fantastic panoramas of this and other mountains nearby. Views like this allow you to realize the full natural beauty of Laos! ພູເກົ້າຫຼັກຕັ້ງຢູ່ລະຫວ່າງ ແຂວງຫຼວງພະບາງ ແລະ ວັງວຽງ ເສັ້ນທາງເລກທີ 13, ເປັນສະຖານທີ່ທີ່ມີຄວາມສູງຊັນທີ່ສຸດໃນຂົງເຂດນັ້ນ. ລະຫວ່າງທາງມີຈຸດຢຸດຊົມທັດສະນີຍະພາບທີ່ສາມາດແນມເຫັນແບບອ້ອມຮອບ ແລະ ພູເຂົາຕ່າງໆ. ທັດສະນີຍະພາບແບບນີ້ຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ທ່ານຮູ້ສຶກເຖິງຄວາມງົດງາມທາງທໍາມະຊາດຂອງປະເທດລາວ. goo.gl/maps/fgesHLD3rQq5wLRS7

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The law of impermanence is a powerful concept.

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Elysia chlorotica, also called the “Eastern Emerald Elysia” is a bright green sacoglossa found along the Atlantic coast of North America that's earned the title of “solar-powered sea slug” for its ability to produce its own energy with sunlight and the chloroplasts that it sucks off of algae.

This unusual process, which is similar to photosynthesis, is known as kleptoplasty. Except for a select number of creatures like the adorable “leaf sheep” Costasiella kuroshimae nudibranch, very few non-plant organisms are capable of the phenomenon.

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A Walking Tour of Siem  Reap

One of the biggest perks of Siem Reap is that anywhere that you might want to go, you can get to on foot. Siem Reap is a fairly small city, despite being located within a short drive from Angkor Wat, and its small size means that you can walk around the entire city within a day and see almost all of the best tourist spots! But the real question is, where to start? We’ve got you covered.

Angkor Eye

Starting at the furthest attraction in Siem Reap, the Angkor Eye gives Siem Reap what the London Eye brings to London! Towering over the city, lighting it up magically once the sun sets, the Angkor Eye is an awesome place to start your walking tour of Siem Reap, giving you the opportunity to see the entire city, including Angkor Wat, from above the clouds!

Entrance Fee: $12 USD per person ($6 USD for under 12 years)

The Royal Gardens

We’re heading down National Road 6 and stopping off at The Royal Gardens next! Situated between Raffles Hotel (a great spot for high tea) and the Siem Reap Royal Residence Building, The Royal Gardens bring a burst of greenery to the city center! With vast grassy areas and a beautiful fountain located in the very center, it’s the perfect spot to stop and relax for a while!

Entrance Fee: Free!

Siem Reap Riverside

Only a mere 2 minute walk from The Royal Gardens, take a stroll down the riverside. Siem Reap’s river is not only a beautiful spot, but is also a way for locals to make a livelihood through fishing in the waters, and during public holidays such as The Water Festival and Pchum Benh, the river becomes a spot of religious significance. Just across the bridge is one of Siem Reap’s most famous markets, the Art Market, which is the perfect place to grab some souvenirs for your family and friends back home!

Entrance Fee: Free!

Kandal Village

We’re swinging back around away from the river towards the city center once more as we head next to Kandal Village! Kandal Village is a portion of Siem Reap city that has truly grown into something wonderful over recent years. From a quiet part of town grew a unique little spot, with independent cafes, shops, restaurants choosing to set up here!

Entrance Fee: Free!

The Old Market

Next up on our walking tour is the Old Market! This Market is situated right in the center of the city, and you can buy almost anything that you could possibly need here, from antiques and souvenirs, to pots and pans! In this incredible market you’ll see that many locals choose to do their shopping here, and you’ll be able to see how traditional markets in Cambodia operate whilst still being able to experience the tourist side of markets!

Entrance Fee: Free!

Pub Street

Anyone who travels to Siem Reap has heard of Pub Street! The very beating heart of Siem Reap’s nightlife scene, Pub Street offers visitors numerous lively bars and restaurants to visit, all along one street! From X-Bar and Temple Bar to Beatniks and Banana Leaf, there are so many places on Pub Street to grab a beer at!

Entrance Fee: Free!

Wat Damnak

The final spot on our walking tour takes us away from the hustle and bustle of the city center to the calm across the river. Make your way down the winding street of Little Pub Street, taking in the smaller independent bars, before crossing over the river. Wat Damnak is a religious site, where a beautiful temple stands and you may even get the chance to hear some of the monks in their daily prayers. It truly is a sight to behold!

Entrance Fee: Free!

Have you visited any of these spots before? Are there any spots that you would include in a walking tour of Siem Reap that we missed?