The Wor l d an d
Touch To This Earth
I t s P e ople .
Touch To This Earth
Photographer and Author
Simhananda is the author of numerous books on spiritual wisdom, (under various pen names), and has been an experienced speaker on this specialized subject for a period of over 35 years. Photography has been a passion for him for an even longer period. Combining both together is to him just a wee bit short of what he calls pure pleasure.
The O r din ary an d
Ex t r aor din ary.
He loves people, places and the planet. He has a wonderful wife and three children and lives somewhere near Montreal, Canada.
Simhananda writes: “In this modest volume of transformative photography and sayings I present to you a very small portion of the passion, warmth and humor I bear witness to, as I peer into the heart of the ordinary and extraordinary attitudes, altitudes and passing panoramas of posture and pose which this phenomenal planet mysteriously awakens in me.” Simhananda continues: “However, be forewarned. This is definitely not a book of erudition but rather one which aims to bring the reader to some sort of subtle, inner transformation. No scholastic title is given to this or that statue, or painting, object or subject, except its probable source or location. All photographs are original and all of them come with a subjective, often humorous, witty comment peppered, of course, with lots of poetic license. May the reader, therefore, relax and turn the pages and let the photos speak for themselves. They have their own Truth to convey and communicate. May they help you (the reader) to sensitize yourself in a more complete manner to the One Taste of this wondrous planet and wonderful world.”
Simhananda
Textes en français disponibles à www.PalmPublications.com French text also available at www.PalmPublications.com
Truth is fundamentally free,
Orange Palm and Magnificent Magus Publications Inc.©
Where Meanders Mankind
whether one rides upon a slice of white light, or slides down an icy chute of bare truth.
ISBN:978-0-9809694-0-5
Simhananda
Table of Contents Preface 11 Pacific Ocean
12
Sequoia National Forest
26
Fields and Streams Near the Redwoods
40
Autumn in Sainte-Julie
54
Cloud Formations in Sainte-Julie
68
“Divine Ascriptions” & “Inspired Imputations”
83
Children in Plain Sight
86
A Sufi Perspective and Celebrating Christmas
100
Beijing and Siaanxi, China
116
Vienna, Austria, and Paris, France
130
Paris, France
144
“A Care-Enough Parcel Box” “Strange Seeings; Rusty Hinges”
159
Bath and London, England
162
Sutton, QC, Canada
176
Egyptian and Greek Statues from the London Museum
190
Votivkirche, Vienna
206
Scenes from Nepal
218
“Holy Moly Hiccoughs and Enigmatic Knotty Eructations from The Boffola Belly of Bu’Tai”
233
Valley of the Gods, Utah, USA
240
Potpourri of (mainly) People Pictures
254
Potpourri of Nature Pictures
268
Mixed Photographs
286
Mixed Presentation
300
“Leaves Upon the Grass” “Humble-Humus of Buddha-Mind”
315
Paris Mix
318
St. Bruno, Paris, India and Nepal Mix
332
“The Great Golden Garland of Gampopa’s Sublime Considerations on the Supreme Path”
351
Vienna, Paris, China, and Nepal Mix
354
Glossary 371 * All pictures with an asterisk* are photos from the photographer’s archives (of damaged negatives)
Preface
Despite its many inequalities, injustices and, (apparent) inharmonious conflicts I have learned to love this world, this planet, this beloved earth and its sky. I have yet to travel and experiment the gamut of its wide girth and yet to taste the One Taste of its many offerings. I must say that I am getting a little closer, but still, everything seems so far away and sometimes, maddeningly inaccessible. However, in this modest volume of transformative photography and sayings I present to you a very small portion of the passion, warmth and humor I bear witness to, as I peer into the heart of the ordinary and extraordinary attitudes, altitudes and passing panoramas of posture and pose which this phenomenal planet mysteriously awakens in me. I cannot, not engage myself. Its appeal, lure, or attraction beckons magnetically to me, perhaps like it does to a bodhisattva – it, and I cannot help it, arouses in me a strange, revivifying compassion and a sense of being indeed fortunate, to be able to participate and perhaps even add harmoniously to the World’s evolutionary consciousness, by simply helping people to see and appreciate its familiar, yet always awesome, all-inclusive Beauty. If I have merely helped to sensitize you to this wonderful world and beautiful planet. If I have simply helped make your heart stir with a little more passion for its pain. If I have succeeded, even just a little, to help you appreciate and give thanks to existence for just being alive and being a participant in its passionate play of continuous activity, then I have helped you to consciously claim your natural heritage, which is your Life. Live then, with delight and dignity, and live boldly. Truly care about the world, the planet, and its variegated inhabitants. With each inbreath you inhale about 10 billion atoms of air. Make sure that with each outbreath, you have done your best to purify it. May you make a difference in having chosen to make your home this amazing planet. Simhananda Montreal, QC, Canada February 23, 2008
11
Heart-Formed Leaf of Universal Compassion
117
Dog-fu Playful Protectiveness and Vigilant Guardianship
118
119
Flowers Lost in The Beauty of Group Consciousness
120
Beijing, China
Chair in Meditation 121
276
Oceanside Stone Shrek
Looking Far Outward
277
Suddenly Spying a Blue-Green Gorge of Utter Beauty and Complete Peace
278
Beach Altars... Not By The Beach-Boys
280
281
The Wor l d an d
Touch To This Earth
I t s P e ople .
Touch To This Earth
Photographer and Author
Simhananda is the author of numerous books on spiritual wisdom, (under various pen names), and has been an experienced speaker on this specialized subject for a period of over 35 years. Photography has been a passion for him for an even longer period. Combining both together is to him just a wee bit short of what he calls pure pleasure.
The O r din ary an d
Ex t r aor din ary.
He loves people, places and the planet. He has a wonderful wife and three children and lives somewhere near Montreal, Canada.
Simhananda writes: “In this modest volume of transformative photography and sayings I present to you a very small portion of the passion, warmth and humor I bear witness to, as I peer into the heart of the ordinary and extraordinary attitudes, altitudes and passing panoramas of posture and pose which this phenomenal planet mysteriously awakens in me.” Simhananda continues: “However, be forewarned. This is definitely not a book of erudition but rather one which aims to bring the reader to some sort of subtle, inner transformation. No scholastic title is given to this or that statue, or painting, object or subject, except its probable source or location. All photographs are original and all of them come with a subjective, often humorous, witty comment peppered, of course, with lots of poetic license. May the reader, therefore, relax and turn the pages and let the photos speak for themselves. They have their own Truth to convey and communicate. May they help you (the reader) to sensitize yourself in a more complete manner to the One Taste of this wondrous planet and wonderful world.”
Simhananda
Textes en français disponibles à www.PalmPublications.com French text also available at www.PalmPublications.com
Truth is fundamentally free,
Orange Palm and Magnificent Magus Publications Inc.©
Where Meanders Mankind
whether one rides upon a slice of white light, or slides down an icy chute of bare truth.
ISBN:978-0-9809694-0-5
Simhananda