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| Nechung Monastery in Lhasa |
*UPDATE: The Boy's Kickstarter was concluded successfully! I also learned that I garnered him some pledges using this site, so way to go! Thank you so much and wait to see your name when I put up the thank you post :)
This post was supposed to be about Cappadocia, but before I release that, I just wanted to make a quick plug for the Boy's Kickstarter Project. There are only eight days left and he's got about two grand to go!
For those of you not in the know, Kickstarter is a website that accepts funding for projects that range from books to music to movies and everything in between and outside. It allows people to be the backers for whatever they choose to support and to gain some pretty awesome prizes as well.
If the funding asked is not raised in the time allotted, none of the money goes towards the project.
The Boy's project is pretty much the reason that I was backpacking all over China and India last year. He is researching a monastery in Lhasa and its deity pantheon. There is plenty of blood, men-changing-into-animals, trickery, romance, and all other interesting topics covered with these gods. He is trying to raise the money so that he can finish his dissertation in a timely manner. Don't worry though, this isn't just a charity fundraiser: you are actually purchasing stuff when you donate. Look at the rewards column and you can see what you fancy!
Here is what the Boy said about his project and why he is using Kickstarter:
"There are several reasons why I am using Kickstarter to raise money rather than sticking with the traditional academic methods of applying for grants and fellowships. First, a lot of the funding for higher education has dried up over the last decade. This has resulted in fewer grants and scholarships for an increasing number of graduate students to compete over. I already applied to many dissertation writing fellowships and unfortunately did not receive any. Second, this is my attempt to peek out of the “Ivory Tower,” to show that academics are not living the high life but are struggling—our marble rooms are filled with tears, sweat, and ramen noodles. Moreover, I would like to think this presents a possible alternative for other grad students seeking financial support for scholarship that contributes to the vast store of human knowledge. This is not an endeavor that should be kept behind thick iron gates, where grad students face a gauntlet of dwindling funds. It should be shared. Everyone should have the opportunity to play a part in the process and support the research that they consider important. It is for this reason that I am asking for help in supporting this endeavor. Living securely for the next year will ensure that my dissertation gets finished on time. Also, everyone who helps will get due recognition for their part in this project, and some will be handsomely rewarded—handsomely."
Here is what the Boy said about his project and why he is using Kickstarter:
"There are several reasons why I am using Kickstarter to raise money rather than sticking with the traditional academic methods of applying for grants and fellowships. First, a lot of the funding for higher education has dried up over the last decade. This has resulted in fewer grants and scholarships for an increasing number of graduate students to compete over. I already applied to many dissertation writing fellowships and unfortunately did not receive any. Second, this is my attempt to peek out of the “Ivory Tower,” to show that academics are not living the high life but are struggling—our marble rooms are filled with tears, sweat, and ramen noodles. Moreover, I would like to think this presents a possible alternative for other grad students seeking financial support for scholarship that contributes to the vast store of human knowledge. This is not an endeavor that should be kept behind thick iron gates, where grad students face a gauntlet of dwindling funds. It should be shared. Everyone should have the opportunity to play a part in the process and support the research that they consider important. It is for this reason that I am asking for help in supporting this endeavor. Living securely for the next year will ensure that my dissertation gets finished on time. Also, everyone who helps will get due recognition for their part in this project, and some will be handsomely rewarded—handsomely."
The reason I am putting this out there is that publicity is part of the battle. At the very least, I ask that you spread the word and see if there are others who are interested in the subject of Tibetan Buddhism and gods that are willing to put down a dollar or more. Remember, nothing is too little and if you have anything to spare, we would both really appreciate your generosity! To those who have already donated, THANK YOU! Also, I hope you are excited about being featured on my blog.
Thank you for reading and please send this out far and wide!
Thank you for reading and please send this out far and wide!
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| The deity Pehar |
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| This is a picture of an oracle possessed by another Nechung god called Dorje Drakden |
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