Not Far from the Madding Crowd, a Step into Tibet
By Adam Scott Gershenson
Boston Globe, 12/21/2003
They've decorated the tree outside one Cambridge shop, but not with angels
and stars. Bodhi Tree, a new Tibetan emporium between Harvard and Porter
squares, has bedecked its tree with Buddhist prayer flags that wave in the
wind, carrying blessings far and wide.
In the midst of the Judeo-Christian holiday season, when Christmas cheer can
often become confused with crass commercialism, Bodhi Tree attracts
customers searching for harmony and peace of mind.
"We try to encourage peace and welfare and community feelings," said store
owner Tsering Ngodup Lama. "We're building a place of inspiration and
learning."
Lama and his wife, Weston native Andrea Strimling, welcomed guests at the
store's recent opening with steaming cups of chai, traditional Tibetan
dumplings known as momos, and a platter of desai, a sweet rice pudding.
Four local Tibetan students donned ceremonial dresses and performed a
traditional high-pitched love song, followed by a dance to celebrate the
recognition of the Dalai Lama.
The duplex shop at 1684 Massachusetts Ave., which sells imported jewelry,
books on Buddhism, prayer scrolls, and hand-knotted rugs, may have trouble
distinguishing itself from a host of other Tibetan stores dotting the
Cambridge landscape.
Tibetan Arts is a fixture in Porter Square, Little Tibet operates down the
block at 1174 Massachusetts Ave., and Utso Tibetan Boutique does business
right across the street from Bodhi Tree.
Yet customers had no difficulty seeing how shopping at Bodhi Tree differed
from joining the crush at the mall. Instead of a department store Santa, a
Buddhist shrine held a place of prominence. The bookshelf held no sure-fire
bestsellers, but was instead stocked with titles such as "The Tibetan Art of
Parenting," and the Dalai Lama's own treatise, "The Meaning of Life."
Strimling, who graduated from Weston High School, said she and Lama want to
offer more than the products Bodhi Tree sells.
"Our lives are so busy it is easy to become distracted by what is not
important. So many are looking for a way to connect to deeper values and
lead more meaningful lives," she said.
Jim Leffert, a 54-year-old psychologist from Cambridge, said he didn't miss
the crowds he had fought through earlier in the season when he ventured into
Best Buy. "It's very special here," he said. "They're creating a communal
place, rather than just a store."
Bodhi Tree does plan to go beyond sales of carpets and clothing. Lama
intends to offer courses on Buddhist philosophy and meditation. He said that
even traditional sales would reflect Tibetan traditions.
"Everything has a story behind it," he said, pointing to a turquoise ring he
said is thought to have healing powers. "Everything is hand-made; nothing is
mass-produced."
Marty Schmith, a student at Tufts' Fletcher School for international
relations, said she had long ago given up visiting malls and had been doing
her holiday shopping via the Internet. Schmith said visiting Bodhi Tree was
more rewarding than surfing for presents.
"Coming to a small business like this makes it more personal," Schmith said.
Allen Crockett, a media technician from Harvard University, was looking for
a present for his mother. He said coming to Bodhi Tree gave him a feeling
that he was intimately connected with the world around him. He looked at the
blouses and artwork and jewelry, but in the end, decided a gift certificate
would be the best choice. The gift itself was not the important thing, after
all.
"I'd like her to have the experience of coming here," he said. "Isn't that
the best part?"
|
