Archive for July 15th, 2010

Welcome to Kala’s Quick Five, where I chat with fascinating authors, artists, teachers and researchers and ask them five questions about their work. Our guest today is Dr. Gabriel Constans, author of the novel, Buddha’s Wife. Gabriel Constans has served the community since 1974 as a grief counselor, chaplain, social worker and massage therapist and is certified in Thought Field Therapy (TFT). He is the co-parent to five children in The States and an extended family at ROP Center for Street Children in Rwanda.

Kala: Gabriel, thousands of books, texts and stories have followed Siddhartha’s path to becoming The Buddha (and his teachings), but little has been written about his wife Yasodhara, how she reacted to his leaving her and their newborn child in the middle of the night, and her desire to find compassion and enlightenment for herself and others. What prompted you to write this book?

Gabriel: Until it was pointed out to me a number of years ago by a friend, I had forgotten that The Buddha had even been married (when he was known as Siddhartha). Even though I’d been a Buddhist for 40 years, none of my teachers had spoken about it, let alone told me about his leaving his wife and only child just days after he was born. I wanted to give Yasodhara (pronounced Ya show da rah) a voice, as well as all the other nuns and women followers.

Kala: How does the novel discuss the portrayal of women in literature and religious life, in the past and in the present?

Gabriel: Buddha’s Wife is told from Yasodhara’s perspective, as she is dying. She speaks about her life as a young girl, when married to Siddhartha, her grief and despair when he left, her life later as a nun and when she is older and leaves the order. A number of facts about Buddha’s reluctance to allow women to become nuns and his belief that “women would be the downfall of the order”are all spoken of in the story as they happened. Many of the issues women faced at that time and place (India around 550 BC) are still being perpetuated in present day, in a number of religious contexts (not just Buddhist).

Kala: Were this story to take place today, do you think Siddhartha would handle things differently?

Gabriel: Perhaps, but there have been many well known men who have been involved in large religious or social movements in the last century who also had little time for their own families or much connection with their children. We (Sacred World Productions and I) are presently in pre-production to make a film based on the book, yet set in a contemporary setting. It will be dealing with this question most intimately.

Kala: What does the novel teach about compassion, inspiration and forgiveness?

Gabriel: Even though the grief and loss experienced by Yasodhara, her son and family (when Siddhartha leaves them in the middle of the night) was great, she eventually finds a way to both acknowledge the pain and reality that it caused, while also finding forgiveness and compassion, not only for Siddhartha, but for people in general, even the woman she believes became involved with her husband later on. She doesn’t forget, but uses her life experience to work on herself and find ways to let go of her anger and resentment.

Kala: In the story, Yasodhara shares her belief that Siddhartha was scared of intimacy, emotion and love. Can you explain the thoughts around this idea to our readers?

Gabriel: I believe some people (historically male) find it difficult to share emotional love and intimacy with another. It is too threatening and raw and reveals the truth of who they are, as opposed to how they perceive themselves or wish to be, that they avoid it altogether or never completely commit. Many men (especially well known) are comfortable being superficially involved with thousands of people (in some role or capacity), but shy away from one to one relationships. In Buddha’s Wife, Yasodhara gives examples of why she believes that may be the case with Siddhartha.

Kala: Thanks for your time Gabriel, appreciate your time on Kala’s Quick Five. For more information about Buddha’s Wife and Gabriel Constans work, visit http://www.gogabriel.com or http://www.buddhaswife.com

Gabriel: Thank you for the excellent questions and the opportunity to share a little about the novel Buddha’s Wife.

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Join Kala on July 23-25, 2010 as she teaches at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York for a weekend workshop entitled:
Energy Anatomy: Exploring and Healing Your Auras and Chakras.

More about Kala Ambrose: Kala Ambrose is an award winning author, business intuitive and talk show host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show. Her thought-provoking interviews entice listeners to tune in around the globe! Described by her guests and listeners as discerning, empowering and inspiring, she speaks with world renowned authors, artists, teachers and researchers delving into metaphysical, holistic and paranormal topics. As a business intuitive she brings a wealth of knowledge to corporations, businesses and individuals providing insightful solutions with a competitive edge to achieve their business and personal goals.

Kala’s book, 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled delves into the mysteries of ancient Egyptian mystery schools and explains their wisdom teachings. Kala’s Guided Meditations CD’s include a sacred site trilogy including Spirit of Hawaii, Egyptian Mystery Temple and Tibetan Mountain Journey. Kala Ambrose is a highly interactive teacher on a mission to educate, entertain and inspire. Kala lectures on Wisdom Teachings, Developing Business Intuition, Working with Auras, Chakras and Energy Fields, and Wise Woman Wisdom (also known as the Divine Feminine). More information about Kala at: www.ExploreYourSpirit.com

Do you have a favorite haunted site in North Carolina? If so, I’d love to hear about it. I’ve been traveling the state of North Carolina from the coastal Outer Banks to the Blue Ridge Mountains in search of ghosts, unexplained paranormal mysteries and things that are just plain weird.  The results of which will be coming out in my new book in 2011, Ghost Hunting North Carolina. What I’ve discovered in some of the most haunted places of NC will keep you up at night and convince you that North Carolina ghosts are alive and well and ready to be counted as current residents of the state.

This Fall, on Explore Your Spirit TV, I’ll be delving into the paranormal mysteries from around the country. If you’re like me and can’t wait till Halloween and want more mysteries now, check out my column as the National Haunted History Examiner for supernatural explorations and paranormal mysteries.

Sweet Dreams,
*~Kala~*

More information about Kala’s new ghost hunting book: Explore haunted lighthouses, forts, and shipwrecked areas of East Carolina where Blackbeard and his pirates still roam as you join author and paranormal researcher Kala Ambrose in Ghost Hunting North Carolina. Journey across the state and visit the most actively haunted capitol in the US, and continue west into the Blue Ridge Mountains where the pink lady and her friends await your presence. Maps and travel information are provided to every haunted location for those brave enough to make the journey in person and for paranormal researchers who are interested in exploring haunted North Carolina. Ghosthunting North Carolina takes you behind the scenes with detailed information about each destination. Published by Clerisy Press as part of America’s Haunted Road Trip *available September 2011.

More about Kala Ambrose: Noted esoteric wisdom teacher, psychic, paranormal investigator, author and host of the highly acclaimed talk show – Explore Your Spirit with Kala, Kala Ambrose’s wisdom teachings are described as discerning, empowering and inspiring. Whether she’s speaking with world-renowned experts on the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show, writing about metaphysical and paranormal topics, reporting on new discoveries in the scientific and spiritual arenas or lecturing and teaching to groups around the country, fans around the world tune in daily for her supernatural musings and lively thought-provoking conversations.

Kala is the award-winning author of 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled,  which delves into the secret esoteric wisdom teachings from the mystery temples of ancient Egypt and Greece. She also writes a national column as the Metaphysical Spirituality and the Haunted History writer for the Examiner. Her next book is Ghost Hunting North Carolina, coming in 2011. As a paranormal researcher and psychic, she works with private clients and conducts paranormal investigations with The Rowan Society.

A psychic since birth as well as an empath, Kala had the good fortune to be raised by an understanding mother, who allowed her to read the tarot, create astrology charts by hand and practice other metaphysical arts and sciences at a young age, thus allowing her to explore, develop and fully connect with her unique abilities. A dedicated researcher of comparative religion, folklore, magic and mythology, her passions and other-worldy experiences connected her to the many lifetimes of her work in the ancient esoteric teachings, which she teaches to small groups of dedicated students.

Kala Ambrose is a highly interactive teacher and researcher on a mission to educate, entertain and inspire. She lectures on the Ancient Wisdom Teachings of Egypt and Greece, Developing Business Intuition, Connecting with Auras, Chakras and Energy Fields, and Following the Ancient Ways of Wise Woman Wisdom. In July 2010, she is teaching a three-day workshop entitled: Energy Anatomy: Exploring and Healing Your Auras and Chakras at the prestigious Omega Institute in New York.