| The Silk Tunnel Initiation by G N O'Dell |
A closet Buddhist from birth, I have seized every
opportunity to participate in any spiritual rite, food
fast or initiation beginning with my first Cub Scout
pin, several baptisms, and autographs from the
spiritually developed. An initiation is a pilgrim’s rite
of passage, sometimes in the physical or in the
metaphysical sense or both. Most initiations in
physical sense are ceremonial, symbolizing
transformation of the old way of life into a new
better richer life fulfilled.
opportunity to participate in any spiritual rite, food
fast or initiation beginning with my first Cub Scout
pin, several baptisms, and autographs from the
spiritually developed. An initiation is a pilgrim’s rite
of passage, sometimes in the physical or in the
metaphysical sense or both. Most initiations in
physical sense are ceremonial, symbolizing
transformation of the old way of life into a new
better richer life fulfilled.
In the physical sense, initiation in to any order, say
the secret rites of Masons, Rosicrucian’s , or a
deep full body dunk baptism of the Christian group
of the same name, symbolize a transformation that
has already happened in the spiritual sense or at
the time of the ceremony in the metaphysical sense.
the secret rites of Masons, Rosicrucian’s , or a
deep full body dunk baptism of the Christian group
of the same name, symbolize a transformation that
has already happened in the spiritual sense or at
the time of the ceremony in the metaphysical sense.
My most profound spiritual initiations have been
those of a secret nature, at the time I did not know
the initiation was taking place in any sense.
Ceremonial rites of passage are important to mark
a special time or place which is a symbolic trigger
eidetic, “able to recall or reproduce things
previously seen with startling accuracy, clarity, and
vividness (Microsoft).”
those of a secret nature, at the time I did not know
the initiation was taking place in any sense.
Ceremonial rites of passage are important to mark
a special time or place which is a symbolic trigger
eidetic, “able to recall or reproduce things
previously seen with startling accuracy, clarity, and
vividness (Microsoft).”
Anne my better half announced that she was
staying in Guangzhou referring to me as 'Johnny'
companion "Hadji', refused to travel along with us
on our spiritual Quest (Johnny Quest ©
Hanna-Barbera).Hanna-Barbera).
staying in Guangzhou referring to me as 'Johnny'
companion "Hadji', refused to travel along with us
on our spiritual Quest (Johnny Quest ©
Hanna-Barbera).Hanna-Barbera).
| Buddha Cliff Carving High Mountain Pool Altitude 12000 ft |
| G N O'Dell The Potala Palace, Lhasa, of the Dalia Lama Lhasa Tibet November 1992 |
My Traveling Companion and I had just reached the
summit of the staircase that stretched up from the
basement of the Potala Palacethe in Lhasa Tibet.
Two young barefoot monks age 14 at the most, who
were wearing socks that the bottoms had worn
through, jump us and rattle on about a silk tunnel
ceremony and that we are fortunate to arrive at the
right time for the fun. I was dumb founded by the
chatter until my Chinese friend translated Mandarin
from our Tibetan mountain guide who translated
Tibet to Chinese from the young pilgrims.
summit of the staircase that stretched up from the
basement of the Potala Palacethe in Lhasa Tibet.
Two young barefoot monks age 14 at the most, who
were wearing socks that the bottoms had worn
through, jump us and rattle on about a silk tunnel
ceremony and that we are fortunate to arrive at the
right time for the fun. I was dumb founded by the
chatter until my Chinese friend translated Mandarin
from our Tibetan mountain guide who translated
Tibet to Chinese from the young pilgrims.
| Large Tibetan Wooden Door |
The young Tibetan monks led us to a room with a
tall open door at least 10 feet tall and 4 foot on
center. Just over the threshold lay a silk tube 36
inches in diameter with a Chinese dragon
embroideries on the side which they called "the
silk dragon." The silk tunnel snaked trough out the
dark room and into side channels as appeared
from above. I wondered, "how many silk worms and
how many years passed to produce the silk tunnel."
My thoughts were interrupted by screams of horror
with a occasional fear defining laugh bellowing
from the dragon.
tall open door at least 10 feet tall and 4 foot on
center. Just over the threshold lay a silk tube 36
inches in diameter with a Chinese dragon
embroideries on the side which they called "the
silk dragon." The silk tunnel snaked trough out the
dark room and into side channels as appeared
from above. I wondered, "how many silk worms and
how many years passed to produce the silk tunnel."
My thoughts were interrupted by screams of horror
with a occasional fear defining laugh bellowing
from the dragon.
The two young monks pushed us forward as our
knees bended down to crawl into the dragon, but I
did not really understand which end we were
entering into or if it was on any significance.
knees bended down to crawl into the dragon, but I
did not really understand which end we were
entering into or if it was on any significance.
| When I First Arrived in Tibet, and to my surprise, Tibetan people appear to be American Native Indians, Archaeologist argue new world migrations based on the dental records of the dental ridge found on the inside of the upper dental ridge found in skulls in ancient excavated graves |
First, the mountain guide then Hadji set off crawling
as I followed with the realization that if you do not
ride the lead elephant the view is always the same.
We began crawling on all fours as screaming
dragon initiates squeezed by us with horrified
claustrophobic faces. Through out the tunnel we
had to make decisions at crossroads stitched in
the sides of the dragon.
as I followed with the realization that if you do not
ride the lead elephant the view is always the same.
We began crawling on all fours as screaming
dragon initiates squeezed by us with horrified
claustrophobic faces. Through out the tunnel we
had to make decisions at crossroads stitched in
the sides of the dragon.
Our mountain guide did not do so well if the
third guy in line had to back up and make the
decision on which route which was always
away from the screaming voices. Like mice
that finally find the chesses at the end of the
maze an initiate stuck his head in a hole to
small for the body and jet passed us to the
entrance screaming.
third guy in line had to back up and make the
decision on which route which was always
away from the screaming voices. Like mice
that finally find the chesses at the end of the
maze an initiate stuck his head in a hole to
small for the body and jet passed us to the
entrance screaming.
We all challenge each other to stick our heads
in the hole, laughing as if we knew it was a
joke but the screams told us something
different. I was push up against a side and a
tear reveled what was on the other side. A
yellow hat monk with what look like a freshly
sharpened Japanese samurai sword would
raise the blade and as a head stuck through
he would bring it down with force as to remove
the head with one swing. From what I had
saw he was not a very good shot.
in the hole, laughing as if we knew it was a
joke but the screams told us something
different. I was push up against a side and a
tear reveled what was on the other side. A
yellow hat monk with what look like a freshly
sharpened Japanese samurai sword would
raise the blade and as a head stuck through
he would bring it down with force as to remove
the head with one swing. From what I had
saw he was not a very good shot.
We all dared each other and turn around to go
back several times then Hadji got a bold look
on his face and stuck his head in. At that
distance I could see a shadow silhouette
outline of a raised sword on the tunnel sides
coming down on to Hadji's neck. The
swordsman missed again as Hadji jet pass
me to the entrance with a horrified look on his
face.
back several times then Hadji got a bold look
on his face and stuck his head in. At that
distance I could see a shadow silhouette
outline of a raised sword on the tunnel sides
coming down on to Hadji's neck. The
swordsman missed again as Hadji jet pass
me to the entrance with a horrified look on his
face.
Finally, I crawled forward and stuck my head
in as the Tibetan Samaria backed off and
were replaced by the largest feet I have ever
seen as my eyes slowly followed up dragon
silk trousers held up by a rope to a mountain
of a monk with a big wide smile, looking
back at me. I sat there on all fours gazing at
the shinning countenance of this high innate
and slowing crawled backward, then turning
making my way back to my companions.
in as the Tibetan Samaria backed off and
were replaced by the largest feet I have ever
seen as my eyes slowly followed up dragon
silk trousers held up by a rope to a mountain
of a monk with a big wide smile, looking
back at me. I sat there on all fours gazing at
the shinning countenance of this high innate
and slowing crawled backward, then turning
making my way back to my companions.
November 1992 Lhasa Tibet Gregory N. O’Dell
| Tibetan Monks Breaking from Prayer |
| The Winter Palace in 1992 had no electrical lighting. The dark halls were shown to visitors by candle light only. |
O'Dell, Gregory N. "The Silk Tunnel Initiation." Linearism.Org Other Ways of Knowing I-ness Determines Its Existence. G N O'Dell, 28 Oct. 2008. Web.
28 June 2010. <http://www.linearism.org/TibetanSilkTunnelInitiatioin.html>.
28 June 2010. <http://www.linearism.org/TibetanSilkTunnelInitiatioin.html>.
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