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Part II Day 3 - Admiring the Heavenly Lake
Last update: 1 November 2010 7:52AM (GMT+08:00)
Reported by Sherwin Ng.
Fire Snow-capped Mountains and the Mystical Lake
It's 17:16 hours now and we are on the way down from Namucuo Lake. We pass by snow-capped mountains - Chastity Stars all the way up and down to the highest saltwater lake in the world. The weather today, particularly the sun, has been extremely kind even though the weather forecast had expected otherwise. Most of the students are half asleep, weary for the thin air. Joey is working something on his iPad - I presume it's the final draft for Destiny Code 3.
Sheep, dogs, and yaks litter the open fields, unaware of a bus of Feng Shui students and what they had just experienced. If I were to sum-up the spiritual essence of Tibet, I might have to say Namucuo Lake. Should I describe it as magical, spiritual, or painfully breathtaking? At over 5000 meters above sea level... what I said to Joey at the lake was this: This is so unnatural.
While I did not manage to climb the steep ascent up the tallest Chastity peak earlier before stopping at Namucuo - to my dismay - standing at the lake, eyes closed for a moment, consoled me immensely. Here's what I figured:
The lake is as far as the eye can see, and it has waves like the ocean. It is surrounded by snow-capped mountains - twelve Dragons prostrating to the lake. As a Heaven Pool Water, all Qi resides here. Did you know that the selection process for a new Dalai Lama (after the passing of the previous) began here? Namucuo is considered a mystical lake that can show signs as to who and where the successive Dalai Lama would be.
All the intense power of the Dragons of Tibet settles gracefully at this very lake. As if all the strength and ferocity of a powerful king is calmed by a single knowing smile of his queen. Mountain matched by water.
We have 3 hours to go before reaching back to our hotel, for the graduation dinner. Jim points to the side of the road where three peasant women are doing prostrations in the direction of Lhasa. In the horizon, the sun shafts break through the thick evening clouds, casting rays of light on the snow-capped mountains like fingers reaching down from the sky. But no one takes a picture of this. You have to be here in this bus, to drive through it.
Kingfisher, the Poem
On a branch I perch
by the pond
a pool
of sentimental dreams
where the fish are drowning
From the branch I perch
I watch
the rippling waterface
send quiet movements
near my feet
beneath the branch
from where I perch
Wondering
If the pool is a mirror
and am I like
those fishes
drowning?
Nov 1, 2010
0630 hours
Everyone had a wonderful time at the graduation dinner, and more importantly, everyone felt that this experience with the China and Tibet Excursion had far surpassed their personal expectations. It certainly did mine! Surprisingly - or not - many of the students this year had deep spiritual inclinations, and as such, truly appreciated all the temples and monasteries we had visited in the course of 2 weeks. Of course, in the study of Chinese Metaphysics, one does not escape the law of Affinity.
And furthermore, spirituality and Feng Shui both belong to the Fire element. However, it is still crucial not to confuse both as one and the same. That way, clarity can prevail. Consider one as Bing Fire, and the other, Ding, if you must.
After all is said and done, one thing does not change: Friendship forged between the students. I, too felt that I have made many new wonderful friends from all over the world. Another perk of my profession and that keeps me going. Thanks for all the fun and teaching me new things.
It's almost 7 a.m. now. One of my room mates is trying to wake the other. The bus to Lhasa airport leaves in about 50 minutes. The Kingfisher is going home.
Here's to friendship.
Reported by Sherwin Ng.
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