My Day's around the Thanksgiving Holiday

I was much blessed this week with a number of pleasing activities surrounding the Thanksgiving holidays.

On Tuesday night I stayed over with friends in New Jersey and went together with one to Mother's New Jersey speech. Mr. Oh drove me back to the city, where I attended Mother's New York speech.

On Thanksgiving morning, I attended Thanksgiving and the speech tour celebration at East Garden, and later that day traveled with my family to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Inman's and the Lee's, at the kind invitation of the Inmans.

Here are a few pictures from these several occasions:

Halloween night in Union Square

The soldiers in the photographs below are real.
They are not in Halloween costumes.

The others, so far as I can tell are in Halloween costumes.

This is New York City though. One never really knows.

Celebrating the Congressional Medal

My weekend of October 20 was blessed. Opportunities included time at a Tibet and friends of Tibet celebration, and visit a with the family members of Happy Tao the same evening.

Tibet at Union Square

On Saturday, October 20, the Tibetan community of New York gathered in Union Square to celebrate the Congressional Medal of Honor conferred upon His Holiness, the Dalai Lama by President GW Bush earlier in the week.

The MC and the speaker of the house, of the government of Tibet in exile explained to those gathered that the event was organized to allow a time of rejoicing and celebration for any New Yorkers who did not have the chance to make to to Washington D.C.

The weather was perfect, and the celebration full of joy.

I am devoted to the work of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and I am devoted to a bright and just future for the people of Tibet. In addition to this however, a big reason for going today was to hear Yungchen sing.

Here is a small slide show of my time at this wonderful event.



Here are 4 (simple home) videos from the celebration:

Lamas Chanting




Tibetan Dance




Tibetan Guitar Dance



Yunchen Lhamo singing

Master Khan Bada

In the evening, I traveled by train to spend an evening in the home of Yoga instructor, Padma Strater for an abundant dinner, time with friends, and to receive the spiritual teaching of Sabunim Master Khan Bada.

Here is Padma (playing around in her new hat), and Master Khan

The beauty of eternity and its traditions

A precious soul and new friend recently lost her saintly mom. This friend is closely associated has been blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to communicate Tibetan spirituality through sacred song

Please familiarize yourself with Yungchen's art and music here.

I learned some of the Tibetan tradition of transition from life to life, and was blessed to offer prayers Sunday by Sunday for the 49 days that is traditionally prescribed for such times. Tibetan Lamas from throughout the region offered puja during these 49 days. On the final Sunday, I was joined by my daughter Marissa, and my work assistant Kanae San. Here is a small slide show of our visit:



Here also is a small video of the prayers:

Family trip to Newport, Rhode Island

We 5 took off for a little over 24 hours and spent an overnight in Newport, Rhode Island (August 28 and 29). It is about a 3.5 hour drive from our home in Queens, in a way a perfect distance. We were clearly "away," but didn't have to torture ourselves to get there.

I was lucky that my internet hunt resulted in delightful accommodations. We stayed at a bed and breakfast known as The Wynstone (I recommend it, by the way). Click on this picture to learn more about it.

The town is perfectly charming and welcoming. For what little we did it seemed affordable. It is roaringly historcial, but also has plenty of lively activity. You can rent anything from bikes to those little sea-top motorcycles (whatever they're called). Plenty of sea food around. Lot's is in walking distance. We managed quaint dining in the marina on one side of town, all the way to laying out on a sandy beach on the other, and never touched our car from the moment we first set it to rest and unloaded our bags.

The family hung together at times and hung in pieces and parts at others, so it's good family town for all versions and phases of family. I guess I could go on, but hopefully this gives some idea. Here's a slide show of a little of the trip.

Rocks in the ocean, fish in the sea

Last night I went with Steve Jares to see Hot Tuna in Peekskill, NY (thanks to the largess of the Brooks' who ditched to fly to Chicago for a Ratdog gig).


Nice night. Train hugs a lazy Hudson at day's end.

Peekskill is its own mystery.

Alice: But I don't want to go among mad people.
Cheshire Cat: Oh, you can't help that. Most everyone's mad here.

(Ask Steve about his cab driver.)

The Paramount is a fine cozy hall. Perfect to see a show

The opening act was Oteil Burbridge, who was stunning. Brilliant. Look this man up!

(Long time bass player for the Allman Brothers)











The Tuna gig was electric, which suited Steve and less than fully delighted me. Tuna acoustic is a big love of mine.

Three videos

On the evening of July 17 several students and disciples of Happy Tao gathered at the home of HyeMyung and Hee Un to spend an evening with Master Khan. Here are three videos taken during that time. Unfortunately they are not of excellent quality, but still it is good to see and hear Master Khan explain some parts of Happy Tao.


With guitar, speaking


With guitar, speaking and then singing


Explaining happiness