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Dharmacakra

Posted on Thursday, August 29th, 2013

Dave!I left home at 3:30am. Flew out of my local airport at 6:00am. Was scheduled to fly out of Seattle at 9:55am, but ended up delayed, so I arrived into San Francisco three hours late. This blew both a meeting and an important errand I had lined up, so my day was not off to a great start.

But after meeting up with Jester & friends for drinks and a fantastic falafel dinner, things started looking up.

It was tattoo time!

I promised myself that with each new trip to the Bay Area, I'd visit my tattoo artist, the ridiculously talented Michael DeMatty of Black & Blue Tattoo, to add a piece to the forearm band that I started back in February.

Part Two (of Six) completed!

Dhamacakra Tattoo

This is the all-important centerpiece that all the other pieces will revolve around...

Forearm Band Map

The circle-design is my personal interpretation of the Buddhist symbol known as the "Dharmacakra."

Or "Dharma Wheel."

There's a great deal of meaning behind it, but the most relevant part to me is the eight spokes of the wheel that represent the "Noble Eightfold Path"... one of the primary concepts from the teachings of the Buddha. They are eight ideals that Buddhists follow so as to eliminate suffering. I don't consider myself to be an actual Buddhist, but applying the Noble Eightfold Path to my life where I can has led me to becoming a much happier, healthy person. If you're interested in finding out what the Noble Eightfold Path is all about, Wikipedia has a decent introduction.

And so now I have a constant reminder of the road I strive to walk in life.

And it's cool because it kinda looks like the cockpit window of a TIE Fighter from Star Wars...

TIE Fighter by JR Bassett
Beautiful TIE Fighter model by JR Bassett!

Different schools of Buddhism have different thoughts on tattoos. Some Buddhists believe that tattoos are a form of attachment that should be avoided. I personally feel that the impermanence of our bodies makes tattoos no more an attachment than fingernails, eyeballs, or the arm my tattoo has been written upon. It's entirely possible that my arm could be lost in a tragic boating accident tomorrow, which means it's kind of silly to think that having a tattoo on it will somehow make it impervious to change or detatchment. But to each their own, I suppose.

I'm just thrilled to have yet another bit of ink on me.

Now I just need to figure out when I can squeeze another trip to San Francisco into my travel schedule.

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Categories: DaveLife 2013, Travel 2013Click To It: Permalink
   

Comments

  1. I love that tattoo. I think it’s going to look really good when finished.

    I really want to get another one done at some point. I’m kinda toying with the idea of getting some kind of equality tattoo. But then my wife wants us to get some kinda, some sorta matching tattoo so who knows 😉

  2. excellent! can’t wait to see the next piece!

  3. claire says:

    Cool tattoo addition, Dave!

  4. Congrats! It’s lovely!

    Sounds like you’re in the same situation I am…both our respective artists are HUNDREDS of miles away!

  5. Poppy says:

    You are geeking me out with that tattooooooo!

    Yes, I’m fulfilling my promise about leaving comments on your posts. I have 26 more to go.

  6. Wade says:

    Nice job. Love the TIE fighter reference.

    Looking forward to the finished piece.

  7. martymankins says:

    Looking good there. And nice way to bring in a Star Wars reference.

  8. Might as well face it: you’re addicted to getting inked!

  9. See, I go on vacation and get behind on reading blogs and you go and get another tattoo. Again!

    Love, love, love! Kudos to your artist.

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