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/

Meet Etsy Artist: robinwagar

Painter Robin Wagar has created some of the most ethereally beautiful landscape paintings I have ever seen. She masterfully captures her images in vibrant watercolor, representing a window in time. "I currently am being inspired by a desire to draw attention to world heritage sites that I have visited from my travels," she explains. Each one seems to be a study in color, setting a mood. She has been painting since the '60s and hopes to turn her passion into a full time career. "Turn off the T.V and the media," she recommends, "(and) concentrate on YOUR life and your art." Please check out her shop: http://robinwagar.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com