Electric & Acoustic Cellist, Vocalist and Composer
CURRENT PROJECTS
Asian Elephant Project | Poetry Concerts and Workshops | Being with Dying Workshops
THE ASIAN ELEPHANT PROJECT
One night, at a forest temple outside of Chang Mai, Agu and I participated in the Interfaith Solidarity Walk--an international gathering of people who are interested in connecting with the Karen People, one of the hill tribes of Thailand. It is a 10-day journey where people walk from village to village through the mountains. They stay in the homes of elders, hear their stories, songs, poems, struggles and dreams.
The hill tribes people are highlanders, living in rhythm with the forest, the mountains and its beings. There are nine tribes and they have migrated here from China, Burma, Laos and Cambodia, many fleeing persecution. The Karen are the largest tribe and are known as "Children of the Elephant." Agu and I were invited to be a part of the two-day orientation, which took place at a remote forest Wat (Thai Buddhist Temple) surrounded by Karen villages. We were blessed to be a part of this gathering. It had it's challenges (as you will read in the piece below) but we were both amazed at the bonds that were formed in such a short period of time. These rituals of bonding, of connecting, they fill my heart.
New Year's Eve at Wat Huay Yasai
A full moon brightens the path from the temple to the "women's dorm," to the bathroom, between the trees, and to the open field where we are bathing in her light. The quiet is only broken by the sounds of frogs, crickets and the nearby stream.
I am with a group of 25 people and we have all gathered to take this journey through the hill tribe villages. There are monks, activists, teachers, artists, villagers, old, young, American, Philippine, European, Thai and Burmese. They will walk for eight days. I am here for inspiration. I am here to connect with a people who are known to be the gentlest of elephant caretakers: the Karen. I am here to learn about meditation, peace, struggle and myself.
We have just spent some time meditating together--gathering peace, following the breath. I am a novice at meditating. My legs ache, they fall asleep, and my mind wanders, crowded with mundane thoughts; but I keep coming back to the breath.
In...
Out...
Rise...
Fall...
I am buzzing inside, not quite ready for sleep, but the 5:00am call to meditation will be early, so I try and convince myself that I am tired. It is a different rhythm here. After the sun goes down, the village life quiets down; there really is no reason to stay up. Life happens during the daylight hours.
So, after all my putzing--brushing my teeth, rinsing my face, setting up my sleeping bag on the wooden floor (I KNOW this little blanket underneath will not provide the padding I crave and need), and then after making one last circle around the temple--I crawled into the sleeping bag with all of my clothes on. It was 9:30pm. Within minutes, Agu and I both realized that these must be children's sleeping bags meant for 70 degree nights. Neither of us wanted to complain but I could hear the thoughts of doom. Already it had to be no warmer than 35 degrees. We took jackets, blankets, a couple of funky towels, sweaters--anything we could find--and piled them on top of us. Finally, our fidgeting quieted and we settled down for the long night ahead. At this moment, we were as warm and as comfortable as we were going to be.
10:30...
11:30...
12:30...
I think I have to go to the bathroom.
I got up, so happy to have something to do--something to take me away from my freezing strait jacket. It felt good to get up. I considered staying up--I could pass at least an hour walking around the temple grounds. But I was certain; sleep was just around the corner.
1:30...
2:30...
3:30...
4:30...
I had moments of drifting off. As I listened to Agu's breathing, I thought she was asleep. How can she sleep? How can the woman next to her be snoring? How can anyone be sleeping?
5:15...
I hear Agu getting up. It is still dark. We pile on our jackets, socks, blankets, and hats and make our way to the temple. Already the chanting has started. We sit. My body aches. It feels good to be up. Come back to the breath.
In...
Out...
Rise
Fall...
The day has begun.