The Echo and the light

In Search of Shambhala

a mythical Kingdom hidden somewhere in deep inner Asia, some say it's near Kyzyl, Tuva, others say Кызыл might be closer, while still others say Kizil. Most agree that within it's confines (if you believe Shambala possess borders) there are fruits that are always ripe, whose flavor is are as the leaves are to the limbs.

It's like finding hope
In an old folk song
That you've never ever heard
Still you know every word
And for sure you can sing along

-Devendra Banhart 

The double eyed fat mouse could not but invite the one eyed squirrel into its home; but it took no pains to give feast to her, and said nothing about a parting gift. She, the one eyed, however, was not to be put off; so she asked for something to excessively large to carry away with her in remembrance of her visit. The double eyed accordingly produced two baskets, same as before, but this time one of the basket’s bellies contained weight. That weight was distributed between the following items

·        a modicum of jelly

·        an extremely small replica of Namazu 鯰 a  giant catfish who lives below japan and when it move causes the earth to shift above it, sometimes violently, sometimes causing earthquakes, and sometimes causing daylight to stop entering into night for long periods of time, uncountable days. 

·        a small wooden replica of a stack of books representing the concept of Tsundoku 積んどく, which literally means reading pile, and figuratively the pile of unread book piling up on your shelf. 

·        A full size kirpan ਕਿਰਪਾਨ. A small blade that obeys the commandment given by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 that Sikhs must wear five articles of faith at all times, the kirpan being one of five articles.

·        A sack of Klippfisk,  Norwegian Fish jerky.

·        Two Korean "sport" themed novelty urinal toys to be mounted in the bottom of urinals.

·        A standard size 1930’s Sears and Roebuks Guitar (“The Juanita”, original number 12F609 originally sold for US $4.55)

The greedy old one eyed squirrel seeing what was inside each one, choose the heavier of the two, carried it off with her. But when she opened the basket to see what was inside, all sorts of hobgoblins and elves sprang out of it, and began to torment her by feeding her grapes relentlessly.