Erin King- Outside Reading

For my final research paper, I chose to read teachings of the Dali Lama. In some of his essays and talks he discusses the importance of nature. Specifically one of viewpoints I read he talks about the power and force of a mountain. The Tibetan people have rituals of placing stones on the tops of mountains or hills and shouting, ""Lha-gyal-Io- Victory to the gods". Sometimes they leave prayer rocks or flags."In Tibet, mountains are often considered the adobes of deities." Often many people go on pilgrimages around the mountain. I found this interesting because it relates to other pilgrimages around the world, and also supports the idea that mountains are powerful. In class we have talked about so many different hikes and spiritual journeys in which mountains are involved. What is it about a mountain that people gravitate to give thanks or take part on a spiritual journey? The Dali Lama believes mountain tops provide a way to look into the vast emptiness and see "phenomena as empty of inherent existence."I believe mountains are apart of the sublime. They create that feeling of being so small and insignificant, and show the true power of nature. In class we talked about how mountains participate and can take lives, which I think also shows the sublime power of the mountain. I found this reading, like others of the Dali Lama, to be a fascinating perspective and I find myself agreeing with him on most every issue.