4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS VENDOR VOICES Lama Karma visits the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow The last weekend in March Lama Karma Drodhul visited from Ann Arbor's Karma Thegsum Cholin (KTC) Center's parent monastery, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra in Tibet. Lama Karma was here teaching a lesson on “Compassion.” The following interview was raw — unguided and printed with limited injecture to allow Lama Karma's own words speak for themselves, including broken English. This was an intimate interview at the end of our private breakfast. So Lama Karma, we went to the powwow yesterday. What were your experiences with that? “You know, it was really beautiful. I didn’t expect how wonderful it was. When I got there, I saw all these indigenous people. They looked like one of my brothers, with long hair and a big build. When we got to the stage, we saw this little kid with long braided hair, running up and down. To me, I saw him as a little Tibetan boy running in the village,” said Lama Karma. “Markona and Ken [Parks] introduced me to everyone at the desk who was very friendly.” The Elder in charge shook Lama Karma’s hand, thanking him for his support. “The Native American Woman announcer was very busy but she came and greeted me,” said Lama Karma. “We were honored to meet William Shakespeare (Groundcover News writer and vendor No. 258) and Lindsay (Groundcover Publisher) and her boyfriend, Tom, and it was a very nice and touching experience,” recalled MARKONA LOVE Groundcover vendor No. 590 Lama Karma. Lama Karma and William Shakespeare got along famously. “So I think sometimes with the newspaper, you know, a lot of people have access to news with technology, but it’s so nice to see on [physical] paper. Unfortunately, so many people don’t have the opportunity to access [print news]. People need something to hold onto. Some nations began to lose those newspapers, so it’s good that those stories can be heard.” “All kinds of people were there, and everyone was supportive, and in the end we don’t really care how anyone looks, it’s about humanity. And it was such an honor for me. Even though I didn’t get to go to some parts because we were obligated to do a practice of compassion at the meditation center.” “I am very fond of the indigenous people where we reside at the monastery in Woodstock. It’s a very important place for Native American people. The monastery is situated on a mountain, a particular mountain that’s a very sacred place to Native Lama Karma, Will Shakespeare, Lindsay Calka, Tom McCormick and Ken Parks at the Groundcover booth during the powwow March 26. Americans. The mountain was shaped like a man on his back with Native headdress. The Monastery was on the Chest of Man [Mountain]. Many years ago indigenous people riding on horseback visited the monastery, because it’s a very holy place. I have always had a really close connection with them. “In Michigan there are many tribes, and I would like them to join us at the monastery and dance with us, and I would be very honored, and we could do some prayer at the gathering. I would pray that they are able to maintain their tradition. Their language and all their traditions, and rights are very precious and I pray that for next year, next visit will coincide with powwow.” Lama Karma was escorted by myself (Markona) and Ken through the display and sales tables. He browsed for an authentic Native American flute to play in Tibet with meditations. I showed him a rainstick. He enjoyed shopping and talking with the Native American merchants and purchased a lockbox. The purchase was a surprise. Even when going shopping for necessary items, he might not buy anything. He is a man of modest needs. Every three years he gives ALL of his belongings away. I didn’t ask, but I believe he purchased that lockbox not just for his wife, but for the benefit of the older merchant selling the box, who then asked for only $20 instead of $30 at final purchase. MAY 5, 2023 First things first: we need housing Instead of continuing to build condos and high-rise apartments for the wealthy, our community should be building affordable housing for low-income and homeless people. Housing is a right, not a privilege. Then why is homelessness increasing at a high rate throughout the United States? I notice more homeless people in the neighborhood and less resources. On all American minds right now is the growing inflation. Think about the low-income, houseless people who really feel the pinch. Gas prices went up, food and housing prices are through the roof. Homelessness is nothing new in America. Decades of failed policies stopped the United States from renters cannot get affordable housing, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Finding housing is like playing musical chairs. U.S. homelessness has grown 3% in the last three years, increasing three years in a row, and 60% of the homeless are men. Don Bosco, in the 19th century, MIKE JONES Groundcover vendor No. 113 building enough affordable housing, experts say. With over half a million homeless, the U.S. poverty rate is at 12.8%: Black people having the highest poverty rate at 19.5%, people of color suffering the most. Seven million extremely low-income came up with the idea of “Housing First.” What is the housing first philosophy? Housing first is a homeless assistance approach that prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness. By having a stable place to live, people can pursue personal goals and turn their attention to improving their quality of life. This concept inspired Dorothy Day and is the basis of her Catholic Worker Movement, founded in 1933, and their houses of hospitality. When a person has permanent housing, food and clothing they have time to make themselves a complete person. Without these three things one cannot become a complete person because they are too busy trying to survive.
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