Title: November 21st - 13:17
Medium: Super-8 film
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Resolution: 2880 x 2160
File Type: H.264 Codec / MP4.
Comments: Dhirendra picked us up in a broken down ambulance to Dungeshwari Cave Temples. Where Buddha was meditating in the caves for nearly 6 years without eating and moving from his lotus position. He became emaciated and forgot to take care of his body as he had been developing his mind and third eye. At some point he came to a realization of the middle way. Not extreme gluttony or malnourishment. To create a balance, this is where you will find enlightenment. To take care of oneself. He left the cave and walked away with this wisdom. We trekked up the mountain to see where he had sat. To meditate there ourselves for a few moments. There was a bronze cast of what he had looked like, sitting in the lotus position. There were people praying and tourists making pictures. We sat in silence, observing. We came down the mountain and were met with hungry monkeys and begging children. Dhirendra gave the monkeys cookies, and the children water. We all sat together with a monk before entering the cave at the top to pray and be in silence. To pay our respects to the elders and the history of our hero. Buddha is just a man, not a God. It gave us hope on what we can become, as we are just men. Simply human. We got back into the ambulance and drove on over to the school that Dhirendra manages. Hundreds of children. They greeted us with flowers and open arms. Had a dance competition that Ethan joined with them too. I taught the kids how to make Polaroids to the point where they went nuts and started ripping the pictures and camera away from me and the teachers had to step in. Then Ethan, John, and I served all the children Dal. Starting with the youngest and smallest to the eldest and tallest. There was plenty of food for all the children, even to have seconds and thirds. It was a big lesson for me. I found my joy serving food to others. Food is gratitude. It is nourishment. It is what the Buddha had forgotten on his path. Not all earthly pleasures are poison. Food is a gift. Food is life. Food gives energy to continue the practice to reach higher states of consciousness. To serve food to others is the best medicine for the soul. Enrichment and humility. It opens the heart to more love in the world.
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