Figure-ground
Venerable Thubten Ngawang 
Dharma Poetry 
Jul 4, 2016 
Click to open a full-size PDF.
Like plazas emerging from the voids
within the dense urban fabric,
likewise conventional objects appear
when bounded by their basis.
The piazza is neither its casual atmosphere,
the hurried pace surrounding it,
the elaborate facades bounding it
or the decorated pavement underfoot.
Its unique character comes from its composition.
In the context of a crowded city,
a public place provides a social focal point.
An obvious gap in the impenetrable urbanity.
As public squares are meeting places,
so too, are conventions–
where we meet in communication
formed only by our agreement.
Not by way of its unique characteristics,
but simply by its popularity, the plaza becomes renowned.
In the same way, all objects, not because of inherent qualities,
but simply by their being designated, do they come to exist.
Even though coming from different directions,
we are able to meet where our lives intersect.
Likewise, while our experiences may be varied,
we are able to agree on the conventionally-existent.
Venerable Thubten Ngawang
Originally from Florida, Venerable Thubten Ngawang met the Dharma in 2012 when a friend gave him Venerable Chodron’s book, Open Heart, Clear Mind. After exploring Buddhism online for awhile, he began to attend talks at Drepung Loseling Monastery’s Center for Tibetan Studies in Atlanta, where he took refuge. He first visited the Abbey in 2014 and then spent extensive time here in 2015 and 2016. After about six months of training as an anagarika, he decided to remain as a lay person to reassess his spiritual aspirations and moved to Spokane in early 2017. During his time in Spokane, Ven. Ngawang worked at a non-profit in the affordable housing industry, facilitated classes on Nonviolent Communication at the local prison, and attended the weekly meditation class offered by Abbey monastics at the Unitarian Universalist Church. Coming up to the Abbey frequently to attend retreats and offer service sustained and increased his Dharma practice. In 2020, with the pandemic interrupting many of these activities, Ven. Ngawang moved to Tara’s Refuge, a small house on the Abbey property, to focus more on Dharma. This situation proved very supportive and eventually led to him moving up to the Abbey in the summer of 2021. After reflecting on the distractions of lay life and the disadvantages of following attachment, Ven. Ngawang resumed anagarika training in August, 2021. With more confidence in his ability to work with afflictions, and recognition of his improved ability to live happily in community, he requested ordination ten months later. He was ordained as a sramanera (novice monk) in September 2022. Currently, Ven. Ngawang is a part of the Abbey’s prison program; facilitates SAFE and offering service; supports the grounds team and utilizes his architectural design background where needed.
