message to the heavens

A couple of weeks back there was a gathering at the Central Stadium in UB where hundreds of people got together to light zul which is a small fire that represents life and this takes the form of a candle, burning oil and fire lanterns. The group of people lit a candle, placed it in a paper lantern and let it float in the sky, up to the high heavens. I personally forgot to attend but managed to get a pretty good view form my window.
There's something awesome about a sight like this. It makes you feel small and also invincible because you realise how far up and away these tiny dots of prayers can go and yet almost within reach. I wanted to fly up to them, through them and swirl around and bathe in its light. I was told that zuls is a way to send your prayers and greetings to heaven. I like to think of it as a message that gently reminds the presence upstairs that we still exist and that no matter how far we are from each other, we're all part of one. I will be lighting a zul tonight because there are people i want to send my greetings to.

second flowering

My jasmine tree flowered again, but i missed it as i wasn't at work last 2 days. However when I cam in this morning i was greeted with the most beautiful snow-drop like blossom on the top of my tree. And smelling divine. Here's the picture. What amazes me is the purity of the whiteness...it's almost other worldy, out of this environment and the heat and dust of UB.

a trip to the monastery

I went to visit Gandan Monastery last week because it felt like something I had to do. I drove past the road that goes up to the monastery that day but came back and enjoyed a very peaceful 30 minutes.

There were four types of prayers I got written down by the monk in the prayer house, which will be prayed and chanted the next morning. One was a prayer that prevents the loss of one's property: be it their wealth, their health, their spirit. And these were prayed for my parents and little brother. The second was a prayer for the man I love: for protection. The third was a prayer of positivity: for a successful career, for a good outcome to whatever you wished for, which was for my whole family. And the last was a prayer for the people we love but who aren't here on earth anymore. My grandparents, my little cousin and a man who would have been my father in law.

I then walked around the monastery, turning the prayer wheels and thinking about all the people I miss. The wheels are like a messenger to the heavens, and it reminds those who left us that we still love them and think of them.

When you see or feel or hear something that coincides with a thought you had before it makes me think that there is some sort of 'rightness' there. The energy of it all makes sense and you were meant to be there, thinking that thought. When these occasions arise it's one of few things I get to do/feel/think/ with utter conviction and clarity because inside it feels 'right' and I do not worry myself by questioning it.
The prayers I said, the wheels I turned and the pigeons I fed were all part of that moment where there was peace, because there was clarity.

I only wish there are more times like these. But their scarcity probably makes me recognise how special these moment can be.

grey outside, flowering inside

it's been the most horribly grey and depressing monday i have ever experienced and yet i have a little glow. because the little tree my hubby bought for me a few weeks back has blossomed, quite literally before my eyes. and it gives the most heavenly jasmine scent. it's like sugary butter for your nose but much more prettier. yes, it is possible to grow a jasmine tree in mongolia, as i have discovered. although i'm anxious to keep it growing for longer than one spring.
it's now my little piece of calm in the corner of my world.
now a second one is nearing bloom.