Greetings!
Do you believe in destiny? I do, and on top of it, I believe in divine timing. Of course, I had no idea what destiny held in store for me. Time is slowly but surely unraveling this great mystery. I  invite you to take part of my journey into one of my life purposes. I am still wondering how this all started, but here I am doing something that makes my heart sing, awakens my soul to a greater purpose in serving humanity and suddenly, giving has become receiving. This newsletter is dedicated to the project we do for the Nuns in Bhutan. I hope you will enjoy reading it and catching up with my ever exciting and busy life. |
JOURNEY TO RECORD THE NUNS
Finally the long awaited up date of my journey to Bhutan last November/December. Many of you contributed to this project and if you would like to know more about how it all begun, you can click here.
The focus of this trip was to record the sacred music of the nuns to make a CD to support their education and needs for better living.
This was my 4th visit to Bhutan and this time Raphael joined me. We packed a traveling recording studio, warm clothes and sent many prayers ahead to make sure everything would work out. We had very little preparation, besides an official invitation by Her Majesty the Queen.
Pic:[Raphael and me with Her Majesty the Queen Mother and Patron of the Nuns.] |
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO GIVE BIG
 This year the Smithsonian folklife festival will feature Bhutan. 1.5 million visitors are projected to visit this exhibition in a 3-week period and I hope this inspires you to give big. This is a once in lifetime opportunity to raise funds for the nuns. With your support hopefully we can produce at least 50,000 copies of the "Sacred Feminine Voices of Bhutan." (This is just a working title, as we have not yet decided on the final title. Maybe you can help us come up with a great one.)
Currently, Raphael is working full time at a recording studio in California and I have started with the graphics work, packaging and fundraising.
May your spirit guide you to share your outer wealth with those who are rich inside. May we support each other in giving and receiving through the gift of sacred chanting.
Please click here if you would like to find out how to contribute. All your donations are tax deductible.
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BHUTAN PREPARES FOR SMITHSONIAN FOLK FESTIVAL
Preparations are under way in the capital of Bhutan for the Smithsonian folk life festival which will be held in Washington D.C. in the United States.
The 42nd Smithsonian Folklife Festival will open in June and end in July.
This year the festival will focus on the living traditions of Bhutan. In Thimphu, a trial exhibition will open mid March.
 The festival in Washington D.C. is described as the largest living exhibition of all aspects of Bhutanese life and culture ever presented outside the kingdom. The festival will celebrate Bhutan's special approach towards life in the 21st century, which, as national policy, is described as the pursuit of "Gross National Happiness."
More than 100 Bhutanese artists, dancers, craftspeople, cooks, carpenters, farmers, and representatives of monastic life will travel to Washington to take part in the festival and celebrate the living traditions that define and sustain Bhutanese culture.
Artisans will demonstrate Bhutan's 13 traditional arts. Weavers will showcase the diversity of complex weaving traditions that have made Bhutanese textiles some of the most coveted in the world today. Sculptors, painters, and carvers will demonstrate the skilled arts that continue to adorn monasteries and temples, as well as most Bhutanese homes. Monastic dancers will perform mask dances from the highly choreographed and symbolic sacred festivals, the tshechu.
Some 1.5 million people are expected to attend the exhibition.
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THE DRAGON'S GIFT :
The Sacred Arts of Bhutan
At the end of February an amazing exhibition of the sacred arts of Bhutan came to Honolulu. For the first time in history the sacred treasurers left Bhutan. If you would like to find out more about the dragon's gift you will can click on the link to Dragons Gift: The Sacred Art of Bhutan in the Quick Links box.
The exhibition will travel to New York later on this year and also to San Francisco. I highly recommend visiting this sacred show, as it will take you on an artistic and spiritual journey through a country that counts gross national happiness as official policy.
I went with my friend William to our neighbor island as many of our friends from Bhutan arrived to bless this wonderful opening with sacred dances, lectures and an address by Her Royal Highness. Khenpo Tashi (picture), the director of the National Museum in Paro,
then shared with us the importance of the Smithsonian folklife festival this year featuring Bhutan. Right there it became clear that this is our window to share the gifts of the nuns.
Following the exhibition, Khenpo Tashi joined us in Maui and worked with Raphael for two days in our studio to make sure we are on the right track.
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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HIGHLIGHTS BHUTAN
The March 2008 issue of National Geographic magazine features an article on Bhutan.
To read the full article click: here.
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I also would like to celebrate with this newsletter that his Excellency Lyonpo Jigmy Y. Thinley just became the first elected Prime Minister of Bhutan. He has been a guiding light for me since the beginning. I will be going back to Bhutan in May to finalize the CD project. If you would like to write to me or you have questions, feel free to e-mail me by clicking here. Also, if you would like to join one of my guided spiritual journeys to Bhutan, please click here. I invite you to pass this newsletter on to your friends. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to support the nuns where your contribution could make this possible. With love,Kutira and Raphael Kahua Institute |
