LITTLE BUDDHAS IN THE WOODS

Little Buddhas in the woods
On a magical sunny day, in the month of August (2015), we decided to spend a day with the young monks of the Chemdey Monastery in the village of Sakti. Our friends, artist, Abhishek Singh, musician and drum-jammer Kumi Masunaga and her lovely daughter Aya, came with us to share their talents, their skills and to spread joy! We were also accompanied by my little daughter Samira, my husband, our Ladakhi friends and Sushil, a Mumbai-based photographer who captured some glorious moments!

Assembling hula hoops
The young monks from Chemdey Gonpa school participated in ice-breaking musical activities that Kumi had designed for them. Abhishek introduced them to a few art activities, took them through the process of creating their group artwork and showed them stunning visuals from his comic book. Aya demonstrated how to ‘hula-hoop’! We also set up a book corner in the school.
The young monks were keen to learn and listened carefully to the process, enjoyed drawing and colouring, asked questions and at the end, proudly exhibited their artwork in the woods!
Kumi is a Japanese percussionist and a drum circle facilitator who lives in Hong Kong with over fifteen years of performing, teaching, and facilitating experience. She has worked with a range of ages and cultural backgrounds, designing, planning and executing programmes. For more- www.drum-jam.com
Aya is natural performer. She sings, dances and has lead her “Circle Game” playshop for groups of children at events. She has acted in youth musicals, theatre play and some TV commercials in Hong Kong. She speaks English, Japanese and basic Cantonese and Mandarin. Here engagement with the children we visited, has been both endearing very valuable!
Abhishek Singh is artist,animation film-maker and graphic novelist who currently lives between his studios in Brooklyn, New York and Mumbai. Whenever possible he retreats for a meditation trek in the Himalayas. For more – www.abhishekartstore.com
Photo courtesy, Sushil, Kumi and Abhigya
In the slideshow you will see- Chemdey Gonpa, the village of Sakti, the monks at play and at work, receiving their Ladakhi copies of ‘Chuskit Goes to School’ , a group photo and more.
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Chemdey Gonpa
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The village of Sakti
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Kumi initiating the workshop with a musical icebreaker.
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Abhishek introducing the monks to art activities for the day
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Understanding the process
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Browsing through Abhishek’s comic book
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In groups
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The beginning
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Explaining their artwork
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Asking questions
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Displays
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Listening carefully
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Little helpers
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Balancing
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Assembling hula-hoops
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Demonstration
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Quick to pick up
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talking about buddhist philosophy
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Stamping the logo
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a present
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Chuskit Goes to School – in Ladakhi
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A group photo
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Tidying up
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Tour of the gonpa
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in one of the chambers
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makes a friend
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The artist