Sacred Landscape and Oxford Tibetologists

The other night, I went to a book launch at the Rubin. It was transporting, and I lean towards over-anticipating their events.

Inroducing and contextualizing Sacred Landscape and Pilgrimage in TIBET - In Search of the Lost Kingdom of Bon, Professor Charles Ramble, Bon monk Geshe Gelek Jinpa and Carroll Dunham introduced the Bon belief system via photos, tales and a bit of the film (by Alex Gabbay): In Search of Zhangzhung.

Afterwards we gathered to have our books signed, talk heady stuff of remote regions and a religion well off the world's radar. It was tingling, I left light.

Later, had a chance to dip into the book. Some gems:

A photo caption:
'These Dolpo villagers dwell in one of the most glorious places on earth without being remotely aware of it.
But how should they be?
It is we who have somehow grown weary of the benefits of modern life, who can tarry in such a place with keen enjoyment.
We imagine that we should be content with the simplicity of their life, scheming how we would improve this within proper limits."
- David Snellgrove in Himalayan Pilgrimage, speaking of Lake Phoksumdo

Lament of a lonely queen:
"The land that has fallen to my lot is the
Silver Castle of Khunglung.
All people around say:
Seen from without it is a rocky cliff,
Seen from within it is all gold and treasure,
But as for me and my opinion,
I wonder
Is this a place fit to live?
How sad and lonely am I."

- Queen Semarkar, Seventh Century