Spontaneous Bliss, Sahajananda Nritya Gita

Namaste! There is a new Buddhist temple in Portland - the first of its kind outside of Nepal - which is also the new home of Dance Mandal. Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, a Newar Buddhist priest, has built a traditional temple right off 40th and Hawthorne. All of the carvings were handcrafted in Nepal by skilled artisans and it has been built in the time-honored way, including the traditional paint. It is astonishingly beautiful and I hope you have a chance to check it out...

On Saturday and Sunday August 2-3 there will be a few celebrations to commemorate the opening, titled "Spontaneous Bliss." The weekend includes a sacred dance performance on Saturday evening by Prajwal and his Dance Mandal troupe and a dance workshop Sunday afternoon. The weekend concludes on Sunday night with a Charya Nritya (sacred dance) lecture & slide presentation by Miranda Shaw. Please check out the Dance Mandal website for more info. http://dhancemandal.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Kathmandu Cafe will re-open next weekend...

The dictionary may describe momos as "Himalayan dumplings similar to potstickers," but I call them little bundles of nirvana. At least they are when Kirpa Tamang makes them! He runs the Kathmandu Cafe food stall at the Portland Saturday Market foodcourt, March through December 24th. I go EVERY Sunday for the Tour of Asia (momos, curried potatos & green beans, chicken vindaloo, rice, and lentils) and a cup or two of his handmade chai. Mmm! I am constantly amazed at what he can do with just a camp stove and tent. I've been going through withdrawls the last two months without my momos, but next weekend the market will open again. If you're in the Portland, Oregon area the Saturday Market opens March 1 and is open both Saturdays and Sunday through December 24th.

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/