Mount Baker


Image by Jeff Croft
It’s a gloomy, grey morning here in Seattle, but the sun broke through in just the right spot.

Seattle

Shilshole Bay Marina


Image by Jeff Croft
If you’re wondering why I was in Seattle, stay tuned. I’ll tell you soon enough.

Update: The proverbial beans have been spilled.

Seattle

Under the Needle–Approaching 6K views


Image by papalars
This is the Experience Music Project building in the Seattle Center, under the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington. I stitched 2 photos together and also combined 3 photos of each stitched photo into an HDR. So, I guess the total is 6 shots get this one. The dusk light provided a nice reflection of the Needle on the side of the EMP.

The Experience Music Project (EMP) is a museum of music history founded by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, located on the campus of Seattle, Washington’s Seattle Center. It is sited near the Space Needle and is by one of the two stops on the Seattle Center Monorail, which runs through the building.

The structure itself was designed by Frank Gehry, and resembles many of his firm’s other works in its sheet-metal construction, such as Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Gehry Tower. Much of the building material is exposed in the building’s interior. The central "Sky Church" room pays homage to Jimi Hendrix and other rock ‘n’ roll icons using a 40 foot high, 70 foot wide video screen and an 18-panel montage of images. The last structural steel beam to be put in place bears the signatures of all construction workers who were on site on the day it was erected. Hoffman Construction Company of Portland, Oregon was the general contractor.

Kurt Cobain memorial, April 1994


Image by litlnemo
At Seattle Center.

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Staying on their feet, crowd watching the action, sledders with all kinds of sleds including a sofa!, plastic sheets, disks, fancy boards, top of the big hill, snowy trees, Lake Union, Gas Works Park, Eastlake / Wallingford, Seattle, Washington, USA


Image by Wonderlane

Seattle

HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche displaying the vitarka mudr?, Teaching, Giving Instruction, Reason, Preaching, Transmission of the Dharma mudra, after a visit to the Sakya Dharma Center, 1976, SeaTac Airport, Seattle, Washington, USA


Image by Wonderlane
Three Short Teachings
By Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche:

Thoughts and the Mind

Like waves, all the activities of this life have rolled endlessly on, one after the other, yet they have left us feeling empty-handed. Myriads of thoughts have run through our mind, each one giving birth to many more, but what they have done is to increase our confusion and dissatisfaction.

When we closely examine the ordinary habits that underlie whatever we do and try to discover where they come from, we find that their very source is our failure to investigate them properly. We operate under the deluded assumption that everything has some sort of true, substantial reality. But when we look more carefully, we find that the phenomenal world is like a rainbow—vivid and colourful, but without any tangible existence.

When a rainbow appears in the sky we see many beautiful colours—yet a rainbow is not something we can clothe ourselves with, or wear as an ornament. There is nothing we can take hold of; it is simply something that appears to us through the conjunction of various conditions. Thoughts arise in the mind in just the same way. They have no tangible reality or intrinsic existence at all. There is therefore no logical reason why thoughts should have so much power over us, nor any reason why we should be enslaved by them.

Mind is what creates both samsara and nirvana. Yet there is nothing much to it—it is just thoughts. Once we recognize that thoughts are empty, the mind will no longer have the power to deceive us. But as long as we take our deluded thoughts as real, they will continue to torment us mercilessly, as they have been doing throughout countless past lives. To gain control over the mind, we need to be aware of what to do and what to avoid, and we also need to be alert and vigilant, constantly examining all our thoughts, words and actions.

To cut through the mind’s clinging, it is important to understand that all appearances are void, like the appearance of water in a mirage. Beautiful forms are of no benefit to the mind, nor can ugly forms harm it in any way. Sever the ties of hope and fear, attraction and repulsion, and remain in equanimity in the understanding that all phenomena are nothing more than projections of your own mind.

Once you have realized absolute truth, then you will see the whole, infinite display of relative phenomena that appears within it as no more than an illusion or a dream. To realize that appearance and voidness are one is what is called simplicity, or freedom from conceptual limitations.

Self and others

As you wish to be happy, so you should wish others to be happy too. As you wish to be free from suffering, so you should wish that all beings may also be free from suffering. You should think, “May all living creatures find happiness and the cause of happiness. May they be free from suffering and the cause of suffering. May they always have perfect happiness free from suffering. May they live in equanimity, without attachment or hatred but with love towards all without any discrimination.”

To feel overflowing love and almost unbearable compassion for all living creatures is the best way to fulfil the wishes of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Even if for the moment you cannot actually help anyone in an external way, meditate on love and compassion constantly over the months and years until compassion is knit inseparably into the very fabric of your mind.

As you try to practise and progress on the path, it is essential to remember that your efforts are for the sake of others. Be humble and remember that all your exertions are child’s play compared to the vast and infinite activity of the Bodhisattvas. Like parents providing for the children they love so much, never think that you have done too much for others—or even enough. Even if you finally manage to establish all living creatures in perfect Buddhahood, simply think that all your wishes have been fulfilled. There must never be so much as a trace of hope for any benefit for oneself in return.

The essence of the Bodhisattva practice is to go beyond self-clinging and dedicate yourself to serving others. The Bodhisattva’s activity hinges on the mind, not on how your actions might appear externally. True generosity is the absence of clinging, ultimate discipline is the absence of desire, and authentic patience is the absence of hatred. Bodhisattvas are able to give away their kingdom, their body, their dearest possessions, because they have completely overcome any inner impoverishment and are unconditionally ready to fulfil the needs of others.

Practice

The teachings we need most are those that will actually strengthen and inspire our practice. It is all very well to receive teachings as high as the sky, but the sky is not that easy to grasp. Start with practices which you can truly assimilate—developing determination to be free of ordinary concerns, nurturing love and compassion—and as you gain stability in your practice you will eventually be able to master all the higher teachings.

The only way to achieve liberation from samsara and attain the omniscience of enlightenment is to rely on an authentic spiritual teacher. An authentic spiritual teacher is like the sail that enables a boat to cross the ocean swiftly.

The sun and moon are reflected in clear, still water instantly. Similarly, the blessings of the Three Jewels are always present for those who have complete confidence in them. The sun’s rays fall everywhere uniformly, but only where they are focused through a magnifying glass can they set dry grass on fire. When the all-pervading rays of the Buddhas’ compassion are focused through the magnifying glass of your faith and devotion, the flame of blessings blazes up in your being.

Obstacles can arise from good as well as bad circumstances, but they should never deter or overpower you. Be like the earth, which supports all living creatures indiscriminately, without distinguishing good from bad. The earth is simply there. Your practice should be strengthened by the difficult situations you encounter, just as a bonfire in a strong wind is not blown out, but blazes even brighter.

When someone harms you, see him as a kind teacher who is showing you the path to liberation and merits your respect. Pray that you may be able to help him as much as you can, and whatever happens, never hope for an opportunity for vengeance. It is particularly admirable to bear patiently the harm and scorn of people who have less education, strength or skill than you.

Look right into it, and you will see that the person who is harmed, the person who does the harm, and the harm itself are all totally devoid of any inherent reality. Who, then, is going to get angry at mere delusions? Faced with these empty appearances, is there anything to be lost or gained? Is there anything to be liked or disliked? It is all like an empty sky. Recognize that!

Once you control the anger within, you will discover that there is not a single adversary left outside. But as long as you pay heed to your hatred and attempt to overcome your external opponents, even if you succeed, more will inevitably rise up in their place. Even if you managed to overpower everyone in the whole world, your anger would only grow stronger; to follow it will never make it subside. The only really intolerable enemy is hatred itself. To defeat the enemy of hatred it is necessary to meditate one-pointedly on patience and love until they truly take root in your being. Then there can be no outer adversaries.

Ask yourself how many of the billions of inhabitants of this planet have any idea of how rare it is to have been born as a human being. How many of those who understand the rarity of human birth ever think of using that chance to practise the Dharma? How many of those who think of starting to practise actually do so? How many of those who start continue to practise? How many of those who continue attain ultimate realization? Indeed, those who attain ultimate realization, compared to those who do not, are as few as the stars you can see at daybreak compared to the myriad stars you can see in the clear night sky.

As long as you, like most people, fail to recognize the true value of human existence you will just fritter your life away in futile activity and distraction. When life comes all too soon to its inevitable end, you will not have achieved anything worthwhile at all. But once you really see the unique opportunity that human life can bring, you will definitely direct all your energy into reaping its true worth by putting the Dharma into practice.

If you make use of your human birth in the right way, you can achieve enlightenment in this very lifetime. All the great Siddhas of the past were born as ordinary people. But by entering the Dharma, following a realized teacher and devoting their whole lives to practising the instructions they received, they were able to manifest the enlightened activities of great Bodhisattvas.

Translated by the Padmakara Translation Group
From Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Editions Padmakara

Seattle

Ikea unpacking glass pieces for the chandelier, sporting a tye-dyed Ganesha t-shirt. Lord Buddha, Padmasambhava, and Sakya Pandita statues, shrine, Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, Seattle, Washington, USA


Image by Wonderlane
Our late friend Ikea recently passed away at a young age. May we meet him again soon! May he enjoy every happiness!

Ikea asked me to take his picture… I wish we’d had more time.

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deep red in thought (redux)


Image by vsz
Seattle Central Library "red floor".
I thought I’d post a variation of this shot where the external view was visible. Let me know what you think as always.

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Triangle Bar


Image by Slightlynorth
Seattle’s famous Triangle Bar. This is a pretty popular place to grab a beer before a Seahawks or Mariners game. I really love the Badger Meter sign in the bottom right corner.

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Lake Union


Image by cliff1066™
Seattle is home to a relatively large collection of floating houseboat neighborhoods, particularly in Lake Union and Portage Bay. Seattle’s houseboats first appeared on Lake Union, Lake Washington and the Duwamish River in about 1895 – mostly flimsy stick houses arranged on log floats as cheap housing for fishermen, mill workers and loggers who couldn’t afford land and substantial housing. After World War II, college students found them to be the cheapest of housing. But residential use of shorelines was restricted beginning in 1972, limiting the number of houseboats and driving up prices. Today only 487 are left, clustered along Lake Union and Portage Bay. Some retain vestiges of the poorly built shanties from which they evolved — walls with few studs or stuffed with newspaper insulation — many have been remodeled.

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Head Like A Kite at The Crocodile – Seattle on 2010-12-31 – DSC_4713.jpg


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Head Like A Kite at The Crocodile – Seattle on 2010-12-31
Photos by Dave Lichterman

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Head Like A Kite at The Crocodile – Seattle on 2010-12-31 – DSC_4849.jpg


Image by laviddichterman
Head Like A Kite at The Crocodile – Seattle on 2010-12-31
Photos by Dave Lichterman

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Grand Hallway at The Crocodile – Seattle on 2011-08-09 – DSC_4494-1.jpg


Image by laviddichterman
Grand Hallway at The Crocodile – Seattle on 2011-08-09
Photos by Dave Lichterman

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ventilated geometry


Image by vsz
Seattle Central Library interior
best viewed large
geotagged

Critical comments appreciated!

Seattle

Faces in the Crowd


Image by sea turtle
Seattle’s Gay Pride week kicks off with "Bat N Rouge", the annual softball game between the Drag Queens and the Dykes. It’s a fundraiser for the Capitol Hill Alano Club. Wigs fly, balls are chased, umpires are bribed, stereotypes are simultaneously mocked and reinforced, and a good time is had by all.

Seattle

Faces in the Crowd


Image by sea turtle
Seattle’s Gay Pride week kicks off with "Bat N Rouge", the annual softball game between the Drag Queens and the Dykes. It’s a fundraiser for the Capitol Hill Alano Club. Wigs fly, balls are chased, umpires are bribed, stereotypes are simultaneously mocked and reinforced, and a good time is had by all.

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Rehabilitation of Corner Market building (Pike Place Market), 1975


Image by Seattle Municipal Archives
See our online exhibit for a history of the market. Item 32196, Pike Place Market Visual Images and Audiotapes (Record Series 1628-02), Seattle Municipal Archives.

Seattle

Artist at work during Corner Market paint-in, 1975


Image by Seattle Municipal Archives
See our online exhibit for a history of the market. Item 37074, Pike Place Market Visual Images and Audiotapes (Record Series 1628-02), Seattle Municipal Archives.

Seattle

Pike Place Market spice shop, circa 1978


Image by Seattle Municipal Archives
See our online exhibit for a history of the market. Item 33202, Pike Place Market Visual Images and Audiotapes (Record Series 1628-02), Seattle Municipal Archives.

Pike Place Market spice shop, 1978


Image by Seattle Municipal Archives
See our online exhibit for a history of the market. Item 37962, Pike Place Market Visual Images and Audiotapes (Record Series 1628-02), Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Crowd watching hydroplane races in Mount Baker, 1965


Image by Seattle Municipal Archives
Item 29945, Don Sherwood Parks History Collection (Record Series 5801-01), Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Lifeguards at Denny Camp, circa 1920s


Image by Seattle Municipal Archives
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Lake Washington shoreline at Leschi, 1903


Image by Seattle Municipal Archives
Item 77247, Don Sherwood Parks History Collection (Record Series 5801-01), Seattle Municipal Archives.

Boxing match, circa 1930s


Image by Seattle Municipal Archives
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Crowd watching hydroplane races in Mount Baker, 1965


Image by Seattle Municipal Archives
Item 29945, Don Sherwood Parks History Collection (Record Series 5801-01), Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Lifeguards at Denny Camp, circa 1920s


Image by Seattle Municipal Archives
Item 31342, Ben Evans Recreation Program Collection (Record Series 5801-02), Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Lake Washington shoreline at Leschi, 1903


Image by Seattle Municipal Archives
Item 77247, Don Sherwood Parks History Collection (Record Series 5801-01), Seattle Municipal Archives.

Boxing match, circa 1930s


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City Fish Market – Seattle


Image by swanksalot
nice neon.

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Small rainbow over Seattle


Image by Preconscious Eye
Alki Beach

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Big Dogs, International Fountain, Seattle Center, Bite of Seattle, Seattle, WA


Image by djwudi

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Street signs at 90th and Aurora, 1956


Image by Seattle Municipal Archives
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Queen Anne High School, 1952


Image by Seattle Municipal Archives
Item 24387, City Light Photographic Negatives (Record Series 1204-01), Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Second Denny Regrade looking south from Sixth and Battery, 1929


Image by Seattle Municipal Archives
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Houseboat on Duwamish River, 1954


Image by Seattle Municipal Archives
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