(Continued from The Original Asian Zodiac) In my previous post, The Original Asian Zodiac, I did promise that I would talk about the calendar system we Viets use, which is a sexagenary cycle that lasts 60 years. Of course, since there were much more interesting things to talk about (ghosts and demons and such) I... Continue Reading →
Now that thousands and thousands of Taoist and Buddhist temples have been boarded up, condemned, or razed to the ground, the plights of the monks and the temple members are quite clear. Most monks, stripped of their rights to wear the cà sa--monk robes--must don regular clothes and meld into mainstream society. The people carry... Continue Reading →
There is an ancient moss-covered Buddhist temple, set deep on the ridge of a densely forested mountainside in Bắc Ninh, a city in the northern section of Vietnam. It is called Hàm Long Temple (寺含龍) due to the fact that it is located inside the mouth of Núi Thần Long (Dragon God Mountain). Hàm means jaw. ... Continue Reading →
Ahhhhhh. The wondrous scent of roasted Allium sativum, aka garlic, on an open flame, seared until blackened and then crushed and added to a succulent steak makes my mouth water. I love cooking with garlic in all its forms: fresh, dehydrated, powdered, liquid---I have them all. I also love adding them to recipes that are... Continue Reading →
Here we are, looking at The Yaochi Palace Temple, located on Qingliang Mountain in Huyi district of the northwestern province of Shaanxi. It is a one-thousand-years old Taoist temple, previously protected as a historical site, but has suddenly been deemed illegally built and without proper documents and permits. Parts of it have already been demolished,... Continue Reading →
(Continued from Enigma of Lao Tzu 4: The Temple of an Immortal) Eight years after local authorities attended the ceremonial unveiling, the same authorities now say the statue of the Taoist holy man is unapproved and must go, screams a headline from Bitterwind.org. In the article, dated 01/30/2019, it states that: The Chinese Communist Party... Continue Reading →
The word that describes someone who can see and communicate with spirits is called Mediumship. A Medium is able to see or sense or hear or smell a spirit being just as clearly as you or I could see and hear each other if we were in the same room together. If we were to... Continue Reading →
Let me tell you guys about a little rock that's kinda boring looking. Actually, calling them rocks is a bit on the generous side. They are more like pebbles that are mostly black, with little pits and layers on it. If you placed one next to the landscape rocks outside in my garden, I would... Continue Reading →
(Continued from Hungry Ghosts 1: Vu Lan Season) It is common knowledge that dogs, cats, and especially little children, are not allowed to be present at a Cầu Hồn (evocation or conjuration ritual), a Triệu Hồn (summoning ritual), or a Cầu Siêu (there is no equivalent English word) . I know because the first time I... Continue Reading →
I was at the herbal shop the other day and guess what! There was a sale on la hán quả, 6 for $4, so I bought me 6. Normally, I get them 4 for $4, so this was a fairly good sale. Now, for westerners, when I say la hán quả, nobody knows what I'm... Continue Reading →
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