2009.01.17 01:00 - Tibet, HH Dalai Lama & Sacred Art

The guardian on call was Scáthach Rhiadra.  Comments are hers.

Another quiet night.  After a short time alone I was joined by Gaya......

Scathach Rhiadra: Hello Gaya:)
Gaya Ethaniel: Hello Scath :)
Gaya Ethaniel: How are you? [apologies for being late]
Scathach Rhiadra: np:)
Scathach Rhiadra: I'm fine, and you?
Gaya Ethaniel: Well thank you :)

Gaya had noticed that I study Tibetan.....

Gaya Ethaniel: So you study Tibetan?
Scathach Rhiadra: yes, I did a course in it a few years ago, and now we have classes here in SL
Gaya Ethaniel: Really? In SL.... didn't know that :)
Scathach Rhiadra: yes a group of about 6 people
Scathach Rhiadra: we have a teacher as well:)
Gaya Ethaniel: ah... wow
Gaya Ethaniel: It's not a common language course :)
Scathach Rhiadra: no, when I learned it in Ireland, no other students could be found after the beginers class
Scathach Rhiadra: so the classes stopped
Gaya Ethaniel: ah... I can imagine that
Gaya Ethaniel: What got you interested in learning it?
Scathach Rhiadra: well Tibetan Buddhism
Scathach Rhiadra: there are a lot of scriptures in Tibetan which have never been translated
Gaya Ethaniel: oh I see
Gaya Ethaniel: You hope to translate some texts into English?
Scathach Rhiadra: yes, there are a few projects around the world doing just that
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
Scathach Rhiadra: also just inputting the texts onto digital media
Gaya Ethaniel: As in web pages?
Scathach Rhiadra: yes, so they won't be lost for the future
Gaya Ethaniel nods

.....which led on to discussion of the situation in Tibet.....

Gaya Ethaniel: I don't hear about Tibet anymore since the protests around the Olympics
Scathach Rhiadra: no, the media soon loses interest:)
Gaya Ethaniel nods...
Scathach Rhiadra: but it is the 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama escaping Tibet this year..
Gaya Ethaniel: ah
Scathach Rhiadra: so there may be more trouble
Gaya Ethaniel nods...
Gaya Ethaniel: I didn't know much about Tibet until I saw the film Kundun
Scathach Rhiadra: ah, a very nice film:)
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
Gaya Ethaniel: I was surprised no one helped... when the invasion happened
Scathach Rhiadra: hmmm, too much politics involved, between the big powers
Gaya Ethaniel nods... it's tricky
Scathach Rhiadra: India can't afford to offend China..
Gaya Ethaniel: Lama wrote to UK and US at the time right
Scathach Rhiadra: yes, and a few small countries got UN resolutions passed condemming the invasion
Scathach Rhiadra: but the big countries kept out of it, so nothing ever came of it
Gaya Ethaniel nods...

.....and naturally to HH Dalai Lama.....

Gaya Ethaniel: He came to visit a museum in London one day, we had to keep it secret
Gaya Ethaniel: So the Chinese didn't get to find out...
Scathach Rhiadra: ah, did you meet him?
Gaya Ethaniel: No I was in that day
Gaya Ethaniel: wasn't
Gaya Ethaniel: It was all hush hush very much
Scathach Rhiadra: yes, they complain everywhere he goes
Gaya Ethaniel nods...
Gaya Ethaniel: Is he well by the way? I mean his health
Gaya Ethaniel: I do want to visit him one day in India
Scathach Rhiadra: he was ill last year, so has curtailed some of his travel this year
Scathach Rhiadra: he cancelled his spring teachings in India this year, though it may be because of the anniversary
Gaya Ethaniel: ah...
Scathach Rhiadra: I had planned to go too:)
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
Scathach Rhiadra: but he will be in Europe 3 times this year
Gaya Ethaniel: oh
Gaya Ethaniel: Hope he comes to London again :)
Scathach Rhiadra: not this year, its Copenhagen, Frankfurt and Luasanne
Gaya Ethaniel: ah...
Scathach Rhiadra: did you get to Nottingham last year?
Gaya Ethaniel shakes her head... didn't know about it... seems I keep missing him :)
Scathach Rhiadra: :))
Gaya Ethaniel: How do I check his schedules?
Scathach Rhiadra: hold on, I'll get the URL...
Gaya Ethaniel: Thank you :)
Scathach Rhiadra: its http://www.dalailama.com/page.60.htm
Gaya Ethaniel: Thanks :)
Scathach Rhiadra: his schedule for the year
Gaya Ethaniel: ah... I will be in Switzerland but no in August :)
Scathach Rhiadra: miss him again:)
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
Gaya Ethaniel: Have you met him?
Scathach Rhiadra: I've attended his teachings in Europe for a few years, but never met him personally:)
Scathach Rhiadra: mind you, being at the teachings is like meeting him personally:)
Gaya Ethaniel smiles
Gaya Ethaniel: It's cool you can talk to him in Tibetan if you do get to say hello :)
Scathach Rhiadra: ha, I'd have to learn a lot more to do that:)
Gaya Ethaniel: :)

We were interrrupted by a helicopter overhead, though Gaa could not hear it.....

Scathach Rhiadra: is that a helicopter I hear?
Gaya Ethaniel: mm... I don't hear it
Scathach Rhiadra: gone now:)
Gaya Ethaniel: :)

.....then Gaya brought up the forthcoming exhibition on sacred structures in SL, being organised by Adams.....

Gaya Ethaniel: Now I know you read Tibetan... I may grab you one of these days to help me :)
Scathach Rhiadra: ha, I'll help if I can:)
Gaya Ethaniel: Adams is organising an exhibition on sacred structures in SL
Scathach Rhiadra: oh?
Gaya Ethaniel: Thanks :) And for Buddhist, we have some Tibetan examples so
Gaya Ethaniel: I will email you with images :)
Gaya Ethaniel: Would be simple words I think
Scathach Rhiadra: please do, I would love to see them:)
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
Gaya Ethaniel: I have to go visit Drolma Lhakh too
Gaya Ethaniel: So far I've mainly explored Bodhi for that purpose
Scathach Rhiadra: in Free Tibet sim?
Gaya Ethaniel: Yes that one
Scathach Rhiadra: heh, I live there:)
Gaya Ethaniel: eh... :)
Gaya Ethaniel: I will grab you next time I see you then if you don't mind. You could show me around :)
Scathach Rhiadra: would love to:)
Gaya Ethaniel: Thanks very much :)
Gaya Ethaniel: Would you like to help us out too then?
Scathach Rhiadra: sure:)
Gaya Ethaniel: oh that's great :) I will get Adams on the case :P

As it was now 01:50 and unlikely anyone else would turn-up, we decised to go visit the exhibition space.....

Gaya Ethaniel: mm... shall I show you where the exhibit will be held etc before I go?
Gaya Ethaniel: We can go... now?
Scathach Rhiadra: yes please:)
Scathach Rhiadra: I don't think anyone is likely to show up here now:)
Gaya Ethaniel: I will tp you then. Hang on :)