March 26, 2004 update: Gloria passed away today. This web site is launched in loving memory by her husband, Tony Lima. For details, see http://hometown.aol.com/tonylima2/.
To see larger pictures, click on the smaller picture on this page. To see the larger pictures in sequence, click on the first picture, then select the "Next" link. "Home" will bring you back to this page. Links and e-mail are at the bottom of this page.
Tashi de lek!
This web site was created by my husband from a personal art project that became the symbolic journal of a trip, or pilgrimage a friend and I made to Tibet last fall (1998).
It began at a workshop on surface techniques taught by Sharon Wheat, a wonderful Bay Area (San Francisco bay) artist who has inspired me for nearly 30 years. The idea here was to produce something lost or hidden and rediscovered. In my imagination, this journal was found in the eaves of an attic, and I tried to produce the impression of rain damage and cobwebs.
In terms of content, it should be understood that I am an American Buddhist who practices within the Tibetan tradition. I had anticipated keeping a written chronicle of my travels, but abandoned all idea of tangible, logical, and chronological recording. Joy and sadness cycled incessantly in my experience of Tibet.
This journal is the symbolic expression of the intensity of my experience and includes prayers that I say every day. It was not originally intended to be viewed by more than a few friends, but I am happy to offer it as a glimpse into a world few people have the opportunity to visit, and into its enduring spiritual tradition. If you would simply like to see photographs of Tibet, you may bypass the journal by clicking here. There are a couple of photographs included in the journal that were not taken by Jean or me, one of H.H. the Dalai Lama, and a rather fortress-like picture of the Potala that came from a postcard I purchased in Lhasa. The image of white Tara was scanned and cropped from an unattributed picture a friend gave me in a dharma center. The other image of white Tara is taken from a statue I have in my home. The mountain picture is not actually a photograph of Mt. Meru, but is a mountain we passed by in central Tibet. The cobwebs are made of cheesecloth and the rain stains come from teabags, but enough disclaimers!
I want to thank my husband Tony Lima for his labor of love in producing this web site and my friend Jean who made this trip possible.
I offer Mt. Meru the four continents
the sun
the moon
Windhorse
carry my prayers into the sky
Pilgrim morning, Jokhang
Potala shrouded by clouds
of
burnt offerings.
Buddhas,
all the Buddhas of the ten directions and three times
filling the sky in front of me
Stairs ascending like prayers
May H.H. Tenzin Gyatso,the Dalai Lama safely return,
swiftly return to Tibet
Double Dorje, indestructible Crossed Vajra
Compassion is what accomplishes all aims.
Loving kindness is a state of mind that savors only compassion
for all sentient beings. beings.
May all beings find happiness and the causes of happiness.
Sky and Tibet
inseparable
single entity
Surrounded by sky I pray
Illustrious Tara, please
be aware of me
Remove my obstacles and quickly grant
my excellent aspirations
Lotus born
Enlightened speech
Tara, tear of Chenrezig, the compassionate heartson of Amitabha
I address my prayers to you who said "I will help."
I bow to you, o sublime guide.
From now until I reach enlightenment
I will rely on you as my sole source of refuge and protection.
In accordance with your former aspirations, do not waiver
in your compassion.
Your Holiness, emanation of Chenrezig,
everywhere we went we saw your forbidden pictures. Your mantra
blesses the actual stones of Tibet and permeates everywhere, in
the smoke of the butter lamps, the swiftly moving beads, and most
certainly, always, always in the hearts of your people. My cheeks
are wet with tears as I say, Om Mani Peme Hung" overcome
by your vast heart mind.
"As long as space remains,
as long as living beings remain,
I will remain in order to serve"
- your favorite prayer, now mine.
Throughout my many lives and until this
moment, whatever virtue I have accomplished including the merit
generated by this pilgrimage, and all that I will ever attain,
this I offer for the
welfare of sentient beings.
May sickness, war, famine, and suffering be decreased for every being while their wisdom and compassion increase in this and every future life.
May I clearly perceive all experiences to be as insubstantial as the dream fabric of the night and instantly awaken to perceive the pure wisdom display in the arising of every phenomenon. May I quickly attain enlightenment in order to work ceaselessly for the liberation of all sentient beings.
My dear friend,
good pilgrim,
Thank you.
With gratitude to my wonderful teachers.
For photographs ofTibet, click here.
Links:
To see how this page was assembled, look for Tony Lima's article on Web Page Design with Pagemill 3.0 at ttp://www.windowatch.com. For more information about Tibetan Buddhism, contact the Vajrayana Foundation at http://www.vajrayana.org or the Vajrayana Foundation Hawaii at http://www.vajrayanahawaii.org/. Check out the International Campaign for Tibet web site at http://www.savetibet.org.
To e-mail Tony Lima, click here. (Problems with this site should be reported to Tony.)
To get back to the top of this page, click here.