tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90088318546802875142024-03-13T21:46:30.662-07:00From the Lone OakPoetry and musings with a Zen and Transplant perspective.David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-87701793070300884402017-04-18T11:01:00.000-07:002017-04-18T11:34:17.665-07:00Curtains<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-size: x-large;">Curtains</span></span></strong><span style="background-color: black; color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vZuo0XN9gas/WPZQ1ViFu1I/AAAAAAAAAeQ/Elc0Drcs9FgLxQeggGM5VnQWi1HwUZZBwCLcB/s1600/behind_the_curtains_by_kyala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vZuo0XN9gas/WPZQ1ViFu1I/AAAAAAAAAeQ/Elc0Drcs9FgLxQeggGM5VnQWi1HwUZZBwCLcB/s320/behind_the_curtains_by_kyala.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">Catch a glimpse,</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Behind the curtain?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Just one peek,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">See for certain!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Be it silken sad,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Radiant or rare,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">What one finds<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Beyond that curtain<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">May be just<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">The rustling of </span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Another curtain.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The above image is the work of the photographic artist </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;">Kayla. </span></span><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;">More of Kyala's excellent photographs may be viewed at </span><span style="background-color: black; text-align: left;">http://kyala.deviantart.com</span></span></div>
</div>
David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-28942632719748168592014-03-31T16:57:00.000-07:002014-03-31T16:57:29.571-07:00The Lucky Few<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LZKbfaZfXqY/Uzn-_iF-uQI/AAAAAAAAAc8/kD7Fd-kwF_M/s1600/flowers.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LZKbfaZfXqY/Uzn-_iF-uQI/AAAAAAAAAc8/kD7Fd-kwF_M/s1600/flowers.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Few are the lucky ones</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Who know
wisdom <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">From the
start,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For the
rest;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
must burn our hands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To
learn the stove is hot,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
must wound with words<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To
realize the virtue of silence,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
must suffer our broken hearts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To
know the true value of love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lucky are
the few<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Who know
wisdom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">From the
start. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The photo of the flowers is a found image.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-24762891342168789732014-01-08T19:44:00.000-08:002014-01-08T19:44:22.270-08:00North American Ghost Flight<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dstXtR-3sOk/Us4Xcfnp0eI/AAAAAAAAAck/DGQ27bt1pbo/s1600/20080906_van_gogh_flock_of_crows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dstXtR-3sOk/Us4Xcfnp0eI/AAAAAAAAAck/DGQ27bt1pbo/s1600/20080906_van_gogh_flock_of_crows.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Above the dry sticks
of a winter without rain<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Speed great flocks of
chattering crows.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They head east into
the fading mist at dusk,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As though searching
for the ghosts<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Of passenger pigeons,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now lost in the mists
of time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The fields and trees that surround my
home are filled with crows, and I must admit to a real
fondness for them, despite their rather dubious reputation in the popular mind.
The expression "A smiling man with a bad reputation" </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">comes close to
it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The above poem was written
after a late afternoon walk up a steep hill nearby that gives a commanding view
of this whole area. I was amazed at the tremendous number of crows flocking as
described, reminding me of the descriptions of the now-extinct passenger
pigeons darkening the sky like a cloud over the prairie.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The image is Vincent Van Gogh's last painting, called "Wheat Field with Crows"</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-84036411862090605372013-08-26T12:05:00.000-07:002013-08-26T12:05:26.815-07:00What Sea? Samadhi Poem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T3ZE1D3crv0/UhukfYYkYwI/AAAAAAAAAcM/kQuPOMmTqKs/s1600/Sea+See.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T3ZE1D3crv0/UhukfYYkYwI/AAAAAAAAAcM/kQuPOMmTqKs/s320/Sea+See.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">What Sea is this,</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Rising in the mind of Man?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What gulls are they that cry?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lord and vassal<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Regard each other<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">From the same chair.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Frozen ice may melt and seas may rise. Some may look away and try to deny, but to deny is to decline. Others regard the change and rise with the tide. Either way, the familiar slips away beneath the waves, revealing anew the shape of things as they are, revealing that this sea is no other than ourself, revealing the shape of things as they have always been. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Guest and host embrace. Lord and vassal always occupy the same seat.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>“The eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me; </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>my eye and God's eye are one eye, one seeing, one knowing, one love.” </i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>- Meister Eckart</i></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-68597443616059226432013-08-01T20:40:00.001-07:002013-08-01T20:44:48.042-07:00Opinions Are Like...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jjalBVgnhyw/UfspgsRcfwI/AAAAAAAAAb8/ueR5etrIOOY/s1600/Silence_Solitude_by_adriano10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jjalBVgnhyw/UfspgsRcfwI/AAAAAAAAAb8/ueR5etrIOOY/s320/Silence_Solitude_by_adriano10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What is the
use of having an attitude,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Of honing
an edge with pumped-up platitudes,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Or holding
your ground with no room for latitude?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No prizes
are given out to those<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Who die
with the most opinions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You’ll be
keeping them all to yourself<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In that
last silent solitude.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Today's image from: http://adriano10.deviantart.com/art/Silence-Solitude-66087022</span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-61091110044167063792013-06-03T16:09:00.000-07:002013-06-13T21:16:43.357-07:00These Tears<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gAIol56wcJA/Ua0fKhS2clI/AAAAAAAAAbo/R5ojkitZSmw/s1600/Tears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gAIol56wcJA/Ua0fKhS2clI/AAAAAAAAAbo/R5ojkitZSmw/s1600/Tears.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28px;">What is it?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">What are these </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Tears </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">really for?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">Saying good-bye,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Though no one<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Is going away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">Saying thank you,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">In deep gratitude,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">For the gift <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">No eye can<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">See.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: 13pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Today's image is from a very thoughtful posting about tears, including a number of great quotes about them, found @ : <a href="http://divinevirtuosity.blogspot.com/2012/10/tears-oceans-tides-in-your-eyes.html">http://divinevirtuosity.blogspot.com/2012/10/tears-oceans-tides-in-your-eyes.html</a></span><br />
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-45807367174171624412013-05-13T11:20:00.000-07:002013-05-13T11:21:37.929-07:00The Reason Why<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TIrwYeLrkF0/UFYSaFxMHKI/AAAAAAAAAaE/hRBkJ66qhJk/s1600/Head+against+the+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TIrwYeLrkF0/UFYSaFxMHKI/AAAAAAAAAaE/hRBkJ66qhJk/s320/Head+against+the+wall.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Make sense to you?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Makes sense to me.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How could I tell you</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How to be?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">See that man banging his head</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Against a wall so hard</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That it makes him cry?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you were standing </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In his shoes </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps you'd know</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The reason why.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I composed this poem while driving one afternoon and seeing a crazy-bad bit of driving by a complete stranger. Why the sudden stops, why the multiple lane changes? Why ask why? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I got to the meeting I was driving to I wrote this down and read it fresh to a group of friends there. One of them told me about having seen two different people literally banging their heads against walls. Both persons had just witnessed the death of someone they loved, one in combat the other in a freak accident. Their despairing actions do make a terrible sort of sense, once you know the reason.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How about our own actions? What visible or invisible walls are we currently banging our poor heads into? Would any of our painful and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">persistent collisions make any sort of terrible sense to a disinterested viewer? It's worth asking the question.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scotland's beloved national poet, Robert Burns famously put it well.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">"O would some power the giftie gie us </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">to see ourselves as others see us."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 19px;">- </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>"To a Louse" </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="irc_ho" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: -2px; padding-right: 2px; text-decoration: none;">Today's image is from: <a class="irc_hol irc_itl" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://slwakes.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/a-note-to-the-reader-of-f-o-g/" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">slwakes.wordpress.com</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-64513537111708422932013-04-29T16:33:00.001-07:002013-08-26T12:10:53.587-07:00Mortality<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_PXGfv7nK6Q/UX8AgpzHZgI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/cR97RTYwLiY/s1600/old-eating-soup-1823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_PXGfv7nK6Q/UX8AgpzHZgI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/cR97RTYwLiY/s320/old-eating-soup-1823.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">This business of
drawing a last breath is no joke,</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">It’s a serious matter,
make no mistake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">There’s so much hot
soup still steaming<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">At the bottom of the
bowl,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">So many laughs remain
at large,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Awaiting apprehension.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">An army of metaphors
are left unmixed,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">And the very next
moment is now standing in the wings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Just dying to burst
forward with its’ wild surprise!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">So, stick to your diet
while you compose,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">And revise once more
your big exit line,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Stay on your treadmill
and ponder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">All the kisses you
have left to plant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Because it’s a serious
business<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Drawing your last
breath,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Make no mistake,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">It’s no joke.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The two old-timers in Francisco Goyas' sardonic but life-affirming painting above have got the right idea, while there's soup in the bowl, keep eating! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-57847051802331514912013-04-15T17:29:00.001-07:002013-04-15T17:29:35.129-07:00Your Secret Voice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8w0riXIfC5s/UWyTVajGG6I/AAAAAAAAAa8/3Qn2EoiHbaY/s1600/P1020787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8w0riXIfC5s/UWyTVajGG6I/AAAAAAAAAa8/3Qn2EoiHbaY/s320/P1020787.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In darkest night your secret
voice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whispers to me, soft and
clear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Your words not words <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But knowing,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One truth unshaken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You are safe with me, in me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Safe beyond all changes,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All disasters, all that
passes,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All despairing, all
departures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To this alone, nothing need <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nor can be added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nothing reduced nor be
removed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No acts, no preparation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nothing to be studied, or
forgotten,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nor taken up or be forsaken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Though any and all pains <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">May befall you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of even death, be not afraid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You are with me,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And I with you.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peak experience, sudden enlightenment, satori, angel's visit, the holy spirit, gestalt or grace, there might be a billion names for that sudden moment when great doubt is altered into great understanding, Fears and anxieties drop away like the illusion they always were and in their place there is peace. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Today's image of the light of the mysterious Moon is from: http://polarblogger-charsmeanderings.blogspot.com/2011/08/missing-perseids.html</span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-88649347857169990832012-11-29T12:12:00.000-08:002012-11-29T12:15:07.888-08:00Fair Warning!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q0tRRHIy0_w/ULe1CIxeeMI/AAAAAAAAAak/4pmbNOK1C2o/s1600/f23336d8_man-i-feel-old-too-many-candles-in-this-cake.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q0tRRHIy0_w/ULe1CIxeeMI/AAAAAAAAAak/4pmbNOK1C2o/s320/f23336d8_man-i-feel-old-too-many-candles-in-this-cake.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every day we see beloved flowers fall,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With each passing year we watch</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While hated weeds grow taller,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Still we continue to cut the cake</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On each new birthday that we meet.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fair warning!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Celebrate enough birthdays without</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Learning to let go and you'll end up</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Writing somber poems just like this!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yep, another birthday come and gone and no, I'm not feeling particularly somber. In fact, I had a rather nice birthday this year as it happened to fall on the day before Thanksgiving Day. The two occasions seemed to fuse into one with a small but very pleasant feast with friends.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This poem came up as a reminder to myself about the impermanence of things. This reminder was probably triggered by the loss of a molar tooth, the first tooth loss I've experienced since the last of my milk teeth departed many years ago. I understand that with the passing years our bodies age and losing teeth is part of the deal. Okay. But my mouth suddenly feels different and I'm not all that happy about the difference.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm seeing an oral surgeon next week about having a dental implant, so perhaps this time I can get back to pretty much the mouth I'm used to. But a milestone in life like this can be a good teacher if one is willing to be a good student. I always thought of that tooth as being part of me and now it's gone. How many parts of me make up "me"? As parts fall away, as they surely will, am I still me? When every part has fallen away, what remains? Who was this "me" I thought I was and who was it doing this thinking?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That lost tooth has given me quite a bit to chew on.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Today's image of a fire-hazzard cake comes from:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">http://cdn.stripersonline.com/f/f2/f23336d8_man-i-feel-old-too-many-candles-in-this-cake.jpeg</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-80831956352072653722012-09-29T18:52:00.001-07:002012-09-29T18:52:49.736-07:00Thinking to Take Tiger Mountain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vCwwMPxBms/UGehFfxvRZI/AAAAAAAAAaU/aF4hILzuMLA/s1600/In+the+Busch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vCwwMPxBms/UGehFfxvRZI/AAAAAAAAAaU/aF4hILzuMLA/s320/In+the+Busch.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Step by step I went when young, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thinking to take Tiger Mountain </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">By strategy or storming Heaven</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just for laughs.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Trying hard to push the river,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I carried myself forward,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Quite lost through my own effort.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just seeing this and </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Doing that,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now I'm seated in my garden,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Listening to the small birds sing,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Quite content to watch all things </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Come forth, and let the world</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just turn itself.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"To carry yourself forward and experience myriad things is delusion. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That myriad things come forth and experience themselves is awakening."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- Dogen Zenji, Genjo-koan</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What a relief it is to know that our constant effort is not required to keep this big world turning, the great river flows on quite nicely all on its own. Our effort is best spent in being aware of the turning and the flowing and in listening to the small bird's songs.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today's image is of the author at 19 years of age, in the mountains of Vietnam.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-45165107267276823762012-07-23T17:11:00.002-07:002012-07-23T17:19:33.257-07:00Filling Seven Senses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w_T2qgqOQ6o/UA3m0ZmqWCI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/_R1iLp6HSC0/s1600/Seven+Senses+Cactus+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w_T2qgqOQ6o/UA3m0ZmqWCI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/_R1iLp6HSC0/s320/Seven+Senses+Cactus+-+Version+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is a cactus by my
doorstep,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I call it eloquent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blooming only once a year,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Saying all it has to say<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In just one day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While men may speak <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In shouts and whispers,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And mountains hold forth <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With thunder and falling
rain,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This cactus catches the world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With petals of pure white,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And a piercing perfume <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That fills seven senses, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">All at once.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"All of nature talks to me. If I could just figure out </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">what it was trying to tell me." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Laurie Anderson</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Today's image is an original photograph. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-18728845686727394002012-05-14T21:30:00.000-07:002012-05-14T21:30:34.638-07:00Lakavatara Sutra - A Poem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
<br /></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jDobchlyFG8/T3jov6zVjlI/AAAAAAAAAZw/t77Cc3DqQm0/s1600/lanka-sutra.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726582836137659986" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jDobchlyFG8/T3jov6zVjlI/AAAAAAAAAZw/t77Cc3DqQm0/s320/lanka-sutra.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 212px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">At Buddha's Deli Meats</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Tathagata is behind the counter,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Dharma loaf is in the slicer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The World-Honored One cuts it Lanka style,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Each slice thinner </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Than the one before,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So thin that at last,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You'd swear it was non-existent!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In the end, he'll tell you</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Not to eat meat at all.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Earlier this year, tipped off by Wild Fox Zen's Dosho Port, I was pleased to get a release day copy of Red Pine's new translation of <b>The Lankavatra Sutra</b>. This Buddhist text played an important role in the foundation and development of the Ch'an/Zen tradition in China, having been taught by the First Patriarch Bodhidharma and passed on by him to his first successor, Hui-k'o.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Previously available in English only in a dense and immensely difficult translation by Japanese scholar D.T. Suzuki, Red Pine (Bill Porter) has done the Western Zen world an immense service by providing a clearly written text with generous and illuminating facing-page notes on many terms and ideas that might otherwise be difficult for all but a scholar. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I see that a number of on-line Buddhist bloggers and reviewers have covered the book's publication, discussing its' history and significance and what each writer felt were its' merits and shortcomings. Not being a scholar, but instead a lazy poet and given only to short outbursts, I have confined my commentary to the poem above, a poem which it is largely necessary for one to have already read the book to understand. How useful is that?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I found the Lankavatra to be a total gem! It is filled with pithy explications of the mind-only view and the fundamental underpinnings of Zen thought, like the following;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Assertions and denials</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">don't exist where there is only mind</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">as for the body, the world and possessions</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">unable to see these are mind</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">and bereft of any wisdom</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">fools assert and deny."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">~ Mahamati's Questions, XXV</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"4. In truth nothing arises from causes</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">nor does anything cease</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">regard conditioned things</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">like flowers in the sky</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">let go deluded views</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">the grasping and the grasped</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">5. Nothing has arisen or ever will</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">nor do causes or conditions exist</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">nothing exists at all</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">and these are nothing but words."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">~ Mahamati's Questions, XXXI</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">************************************</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The above poem and text was written several months ago, but not posted at the time and left unfinished due to illness. I'm undergoing a treatment that has a number of debilitating side-effects which have largely caused me to lose the energy for blogging. Rather than further developing these thoughts, I'm posting what I have written here now. I'm doing so mostly because I want to recommend this exciting text and translation to anyone who is interested in Zen and its' intellectual, scriptural roots.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For more information or to order a copy of the Lankavatara Sutra, go to http://www.counterpointpress.com/</span></div>
</div>David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-90066615583158516702012-03-03T08:04:00.009-08:002012-03-05T20:56:52.440-08:00A Fool Again<div><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S1-HkrqO67g/T1VP5kZHklI/AAAAAAAAAZk/Tbm_RUssKRc/s1600/Butterfly_thumb.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S1-HkrqO67g/T1VP5kZHklI/AAAAAAAAAZk/Tbm_RUssKRc/s320/Butterfly_thumb.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716563152456880722" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Writing poems again?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Old fool!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:130%;">Catching thoughts in words</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Is like collecting butterflies</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Made of smoke.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">When I'm in the act of writing, it seems like the work at hand is the greatest thing ever written. When I'm done, the act of of reading what I've written can be terribly humbling! Those flighty thoughts just don't let themselves be pinned down on the paper. Before the ink is dry (actually, I write first-draft with a mechanical pencil) the sense of the thing has flown, leaving only dry husks fixed on the page.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Ah well, we do what we can...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I've been going through a rather demanding medical therapy these last couple of months and it has been a bit of a struggle. I'm way behind posting to this blog, among other things. I have not been idle, however, and I have quite a few new or recent poems to share. I hope to get some up here over the next couple of weeks, but I have learned through experience not to make promises when medical issues are involved.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Smoke butterfly image from:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">http://slickzine.com/art/25-pictures-of-awe-inspiring-smoke-art/</span></div>David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-19872652940695260252012-02-13T16:18:00.000-08:002012-02-13T16:29:02.059-08:00Don't Be Deceived!<div><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Py6_N_Qw-bY/Tzmpeyax39I/AAAAAAAAAZM/MOXdbDVDptM/s1600/HolyGrail114.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Py6_N_Qw-bY/Tzmpeyax39I/AAAAAAAAAZM/MOXdbDVDptM/s320/HolyGrail114.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708780349064077266" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Don't be deceived by the world around you,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Don't be deceived by yourself.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">When you look out the window just now,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Don't confuse the curtains for a landscape.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Don't mistake a pane of glass for</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Blue sky and white clouds.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Todays image is a key scene from Monty Python's Holy Grail.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div>David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-58032998002461491262011-12-18T09:14:00.000-08:002011-12-18T10:47:14.564-08:00The Broken Bowl<div><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_A15m1QDf6I/Tu4kF8HSHqI/AAAAAAAAAY0/Uq0-yauldBU/s1600/P2110032.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_A15m1QDf6I/Tu4kF8HSHqI/AAAAAAAAAY0/Uq0-yauldBU/s320/P2110032.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687523063870135970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">His hands still marked</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">By scar and callus,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">His kingdom now</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">A shattered palace,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">We drink his cup,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">No fear, no malice,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">This broken bowl,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">His sacred chalice.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; "><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; ">Just whose hands are scared and callused? What kingdom is it that now is shattered? Whose cup is it at our lips? Why must we drink? Why no fear or malice? What is broken about the bowl? What makes this chalice sacred? Where does "sacred" live?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">I wrote this poem yesterday, at noon, at work, in the middle of a very busy holiday retail workday. I'm not sure why the words came to me, but the poem formed itself pretty completely in just a few minutes and I had to stop and write it down on the back of some scratch paper. Several hours later I read it to a friend who dropped by the shop. After I did, her eyes widened and she told me she had just come from witnessing the death of a close friend of her husband. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">He had died just a couple of hours earlier, in fact at noon. He died bitter with regrets over his perceived failure to express his love to friends, his failure to get together with friends from the past, the failure to appreciate the good times he had had with others and most of all his failure to help others whom he knew were in need when he could have.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I had been thinking of my poem in terms of this world that we live in as a shattered palace, once lovely now degraded by war, overpopulation, pollution and such, degraded by our own disappointments and false views. I had been thinking of ourselves as the suffering Christ and our own scared hands. The cup as the life that we live, drinking perpetually this less than perfect, wounded moment. This moment, this life itself, as the sacred chalice. If life is not sacred, then what could be? If "sacred" lives at all, surely it is living no other place than in our own hearts and minds. It is our knowing and living itself that gives life to the sacred. How could anything be sacred if tainted with fear or rancor?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">But my friend's story forced home a more specific view. Here is one small life, one man, his life now ended. His body a shattered palace, certainly, but his dreams and cares, his feelings of love and friendship lie shattered too, now at an end and shattered by his own inaction. U</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">p to the end, t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">he bitter cup he was forced to drink was of his own making.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Lets us take heart and courage from the knowledge that we are the sacred chalice, we carry the light of life within us all. Lets us all, my friends and loved ones, take warning from the sorrow of another. Let us keep this cup we drink sweet with love, let us share the love we feel with others and when we depart, let us do so with a glad heart.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;" >Use care as you prepare</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The cup before you,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Sweet wine or gaul,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Remember,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">It is you who </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Will drink it.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">The lovely broken chalice above is the work of craftsman Ron Chamberlain. It and more can be seen on his website: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.rdchamberlin.com/Home.html"> http://www.rdchamberlin.com/Home.html</a></span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-78703868892592982422011-12-10T07:42:00.000-08:002011-12-10T07:47:54.111-08:00Lines on Viewing the Full Lunar Eclipse<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2nzSIbVuJI/TuN-6Qfb07I/AAAAAAAAAYo/XXSL55cbjpo/s1600/2011-total-lunar-eclipse-flickr-adria-pascual.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2nzSIbVuJI/TuN-6Qfb07I/AAAAAAAAAYo/XXSL55cbjpo/s320/2011-total-lunar-eclipse-flickr-adria-pascual.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684526693996024754" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;">Dawn's early light,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;">The full moon itself,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;">Drawing veil,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;">Eclipsing.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;">Face full masked,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;">She drops,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;">Glowing crimson,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;">Behind distant trees,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;">Now gone,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;">And morning fresh delivered.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;">12/10/11</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small; "><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small; ">Image from: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/lunar-eclipse-photos/</span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-28408205509675890962011-11-28T13:53:00.000-08:002011-11-28T15:26:04.635-08:00Dreaming of an Old Friend<div><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kkldGrxAq0g/TtQDPITWJoI/AAAAAAAAAYc/laXZpw1SqMU/s1600/Night%2BBloom.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 309px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kkldGrxAq0g/TtQDPITWJoI/AAAAAAAAAYc/laXZpw1SqMU/s320/Night%2BBloom.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680168588482586242" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">In the silent early hours,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">When moonlight reveals</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Those things that daylight misses,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The shades of memory </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Are quite free to come and go.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Thus a visit from an old friend,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Dead now twenty years and more,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">With a smile as warm as ever,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">But a hand as ungraspable</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">As mind itself.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">In June of 2008 I had a life-saving operation, a liver transplant. After regaining consciousness, I lay immobilized in intensive care for a few days and nights. One night, the nurse who usually hovered nearby, was called away to help deal with another patient in the next room who was dying. All of the staff became so focused on this man that I was left alone for a rather long time. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Lying there alone, I felt suddenly felt a great need to have someone there with me. I was dependent on an oxygen line and uncertain that I could keep breathing if I lost consciousness. Focused powerfully on my breathing, and powerless to move an inch, I turned to my own mind for help. I began to visualize an old friend of mine who had passed away a few years before. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Gene had suffered greatly in his life, surviving both tuberculosis in his youth and lung cancer as an adult. In the years we were friends, he walked with painful deliberation and struggled constantly for air. But he had such a powerful spirit, he never let his difficulties get in the way of his passion for the things he loved, art, music, history, literature and an appreciation for the beauty of women. Gene taught all that knew him by example how to face pain and adversity with courage, good humor and a relentless zest for life. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">He was just the sort of friend I needed at that moment and so I conjured him up. I felt his presence and I could almost see him standing by my bedside. Gene was a fierce atheist, a product of an Irish upbringing that forever soured him on anything that smacked of God or an afterlife. I apologized to him for dragging him back from non-existence, for giving him a life of sorts again, if only for a short while, to help me in my moment of need. He seemed to understand and we had a great conversation about memory, existence and where it is that life actually lives. We agreed that it lives in the mind, where the past, the present and the future all have their existence, and where we were in fact having our conversation. It is also where we are at this moment, writing and reading this blog.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">When the crisis in the other cubicle reached its' natural conclusion my nurse returned. I bid Gene farewell and allowed him to return to his beloved non-existence, thanking him for allowing me to use him in the way I had. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Now that three years have passed, I am once more undergoing another medical ordeal, this time it's interferon treatment to clear my system of the virus that has caused all the problems in the first place. It will go on for a year and it can be very demanding physically. I admit to feeling some anxiety about doing it, as it is not without serious risks. But a few nights ago, in the early hours when moonlight reveals those things that daylight misses, I had a dream visitor, my old friend Gene. He didn't say anything, he didn't have to. Although I could not grasp his hand, his smile told me all I need to know.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Thanks, Gene.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">"The past is ungraspable, the present is ungraspable, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">the future is ungraspable." </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">~ The Diamond Sutra</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Our photo today is of the eery beauty of a night-blooming cactus, photographed hours before the dawn.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-34500706546496807602011-10-22T07:15:00.000-07:002011-10-22T13:28:14.682-07:00Why Sigh?<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TE4FP7_BDVI/TqLQi5hGCCI/AAAAAAAAAYM/63fPRe287N0/s1600/Pepper%2BTree%2BShadow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TE4FP7_BDVI/TqLQi5hGCCI/AAAAAAAAAYM/63fPRe287N0/s320/Pepper%2BTree%2BShadow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666320579159263266" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;">With their leaves as fine as feathers,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;">The graceful trees must sway and sigh</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;">With every passing breeze,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;">But why, like they, must we?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">These trees have been swaying since the dawn of time, for as long as there have been eyes to see them and a heart to feel the breeze of loss. "While loved, flowers fall" says old Dogen and he wasn't wrong. "All the world is falling" sings Antony in "The Rapture", and I think he has the right of it. But "Don't let it bring you down, it's only castles burning." Trees sigh, flowers fall and castles burn, it's the heart that doesn't fail. It is because we love these ones that fall that we feel the breeze at all. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">So be brave. Live and love. And when it's blowing, feel the breeze and know that you are alive.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The feathery leaves seen above are the shadows of a pepper tree the afternoon sun casts on my bedroom window.</span><br /></span></div>David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-60131069796151599222011-10-12T21:09:00.000-07:002011-10-12T22:05:16.182-07:00Without Effort<div><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LGIWzzrb3_w/TpZnORdEirI/AAAAAAAAAYA/gVbHp-7t-tY/s1600/earth-and-sun-space-sunrise.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LGIWzzrb3_w/TpZnORdEirI/AAAAAAAAAYA/gVbHp-7t-tY/s320/earth-and-sun-space-sunrise.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662827076366142130" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Unattended and without effort,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The Earth spins on,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Endlessly describing its arc</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Around a star that never blinks.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Rain, without urging,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Always finds its way</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Back to the sea.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">The Earth, star, rain, rivers and the sea perform their endless action without intent and without effort. Our bodies function in a similar fashion, cells beyond number live and thrive without premeditation of any sort. Acting in concert, their wet net gives rise to the forms we call ourselves. The natural function of these collective cells gives rise to cognition, but its very easy to get lost in our thoughts. <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">In meditation, we may still the busy mind and restore our perspective. With balanced mind, we are free to enjoy our effortless world once more. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:100%;" >Enjoy!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Today's handsome image comes from a copyright-free archive at:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">http://www.123rf.com/photo_6956303_earth-and-sun-space-sunrise.html</span></div>David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-23864782195363785002011-10-03T12:28:00.000-07:002011-10-03T20:07:29.324-07:00The Real Way of All Flesh<div><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9hXPqUdxPcI/TooPhcFg_TI/AAAAAAAAAX4/yvAifMjctFg/s1600/Fresh%2BFish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9hXPqUdxPcI/TooPhcFg_TI/AAAAAAAAAX4/yvAifMjctFg/s320/Fresh%2BFish.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659352948893875506" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">All flesh that’s fallen,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">It is found,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Lies ever changing</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">In the ground,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:130%;">Sustaining empires of</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Small hungry creatures.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Beetles, ants and fungi</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">And bacteria all thrive</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">On the remains of those who</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Were once themselves alive.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Scattered ashes in</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Garden soil or sea</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Nourish numberless now,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">As well as those who</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Are still yet to be.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Life circles all,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Both Feed and Fed,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:130%;">And not even </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:130%;">Those who die</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Are dead.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">What's all this fuss about life and death? None of us getting out of the chain of life anytime soon, so don't bother running, you can't get away! Just relax and enjoy being fed while you can, your turn to play food will come soon enough. Those salmon were having a pretty great time up until the moment they got caught. And now? Delicious!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Life has been thriving on this mud ball for a long time and will go on thriving for a long time to come. So what if the Empire of the Meat Eating Monkeys slowly passes away or is gone in a flash? Those of us writing and reading this are the part of the process that got to sit up and admire the scenery. Enjoy the view, my friends, that's why you're here. It's a truly rare privilege to be here now, so pay close attention!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">The cool customers pictured above made their brief appearance at Seattle's Pikes Place Market earlier this year. <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">How about you?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> </span><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-83647377948123900742011-09-08T07:57:00.000-07:002011-09-09T14:36:16.209-07:00A Fundamental Truth<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eveaHQN_Lm4/TmjbY2_1SaI/AAAAAAAAAXw/TldJoRqcvg0/s1600/sheep-wolf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eveaHQN_Lm4/TmjbY2_1SaI/AAAAAAAAAXw/TldJoRqcvg0/s320/sheep-wolf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650006952662878626" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">What's so fun</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">About being demented?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Eager office seekers</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Claim to be,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Washed in the Blood</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Of the Lamb.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">But who would trust </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Their precious flocks</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">To the care of </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Such hungry wolves?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">There are some days that I just shouldn't open the newspaper. I originally included a second, very angry verse here, but after a few moment's calm reflection I decided to redact it from this page. Angry words, like angry deeds, have a way of bouncing around and coming back to one. We could all do well to keep that in mind. I'll keep trying.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Disturbing image is from PhotoshopTalent.com</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div>David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-16150179315403623312011-09-04T16:04:00.000-07:002011-09-04T20:11:44.861-07:00Zen's Chinese Heritage<div>
<br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SbCftvDbSE8/TmQHr7ClqDI/AAAAAAAAAXo/_nSf-F6XoK4/s1600/display.lasso.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SbCftvDbSE8/TmQHr7ClqDI/AAAAAAAAAXo/_nSf-F6XoK4/s320/display.lasso.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648648283793762354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">"A monk asked, "Why did the First Ancestor come from the west?"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Sansheng said, "Spoiled meat draws flies."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Wait, did he just compare Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen, to a rot seeking fly?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Yep!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> These irreverent words were the response of Sansheng Huiran, prominent disciple of Linji Yixuan. Sansheng was a well-traveled Zenist, having sharpened his abilities with the likes of Yangshan, Xiangyan, Deshan, Daowu and many other well-known teachers of the Tang Dynasty Chan, or Zen, milieu. The words of all of these illustrious characters and many, many more may be found in the pages of the new revised edition of Andy Ferguson's monumental "Zen's Chinese Heritage".</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Americans with only a casual familiarity with it may be forgiven for thinking that Zen is a Japanese creation. The art and architecture, calligraphy, tea ceremonies and the tranquil gardens of the famous Japanese monasteries are all familiar images to Westerners today. It's fair to say the the Japanese culture has deeply absorbed many of the values and perspectives of Zen into its' very core.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Zen was first transmitted to these shores by pioneering Japanese masters, its' foundational texts such as the classic koan collections "The Blue Cliff Record" and the "Gateless Barrier" came to us through Japanese texts, texts that used the traditional Japanese names for the seminal Chinese masters.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">But Chinese they were and Ferguson has delved into the pages of the previously untranslated and unavailable Chinese Chan classic Wudeng Huiyuan (Compendium of Five Lamps) as well as several other similar sources to bring to life twenty-five "generations" of Chan masters from the years 480 to 1260 C.E.. Some of these stories are already familiar to serious students in slightly different form from the previously mentioned koan collections and Japanese "Lamp Transmissions", many more will be brand new to all western readers.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">The last few days I have been staying home, recuperating from my latest liver biopsy, a yearly event in the transplant world. This, coupled with the long Labor Day holiday has given me a golden opportunity to dive into this marvelous book in an unhurried fashion, getting to know the ancestors of Zen. As the book is chronologically arranged, the reader can trace the development of the vocabulary and traditions of the various schools from master to student down the line.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I've been lying around for hours reading and making notes for myself in the margins. I've been reflecting and pondering and laughing an awful lot, these old Chan johnnies were a hilarious bunch by and large. Here, laughter and enlightenment go hand in hand. Indeed, the soul of humor is the sudden breaking of mental barriers and realization of surprising new perspectives, and what else is Zen after all?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Just as Andy Ferguson has gone straight to the source to bring us this text, you can go straight to the source to purchase a copy. Publisher, Wisdom Publications, has a great on-line deal on the book, 20% off cover price. Click right <a href="http://www.wisdompubs.org/pages/display.lasso?-KeyValue=33124&-Token.Action=&image=1">here</a> for a link to them if you want. (By the way, this is not any sort of paid ad, I just really like this book and I would like to share my pleasure with you, my gentle readers.)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Let me leave with two stories that particularly tickled my fancy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">This one's for my old friend James Ford over at <a href="http://monkeymindonline.blogspot.com/">Monkey Mind</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Baoshou asked a monk, "Where did you come from?"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The monk said, "From West Mountain."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Baoshou asked, "Did you see the monkey?"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The monk said, "I saw it."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Baoshou said, "How clever was it?"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The monk said, "I saw that I was not the least bit clever."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Baoshou hit him.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">This other is a classic case of an hapless monk asking a damnfool question and having it turned back on himself. The reader can well imagine the sudden sweat and look of terror on the face of the poor fellow!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">A monk asked, "What is the talk that is beyond the buddhas and ancestors?"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Qianfeng said, "I ask you."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The monk said, "Master, please don't ask me."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Qianfeng said, "If I ask you, it doesn't make any difference. So I ask you, what is the talk that is beyond the buddhas and ancestors?"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-57467511202854523682011-07-29T16:17:00.000-07:002011-07-29T18:19:40.629-07:00Black Crows at Dawn<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fYJl51tF5_w/TjNEPx2zZdI/AAAAAAAAAXY/UqCHdLulo20/s1600/Black%2BCrows%2BGathering.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fYJl51tF5_w/TjNEPx2zZdI/AAAAAAAAAXY/UqCHdLulo20/s320/Black%2BCrows%2BGathering.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634922596642547154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Were I to engage in recriminations,<br /><br />I would have only myself to berate,<br /><br />Wasting all those years in<br /><br />Coming and going,<br /><br />All that time spent on this and that.<br /><br />Dear readers, list while I sing,<br /><br />Sit Zazen while you are still young!<br /><br />Now grown old and quirky,<br /><br />My seated body squawks and complains,<br /><br />Like the cranky black crows<br /><br />That gather at my window,<br /><br />Daily with the dawn.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">"Caw! Caw!"<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Every Monday morning I arise at 5 AM to take a bone density medicine that requires I have an empty stomach and that I must remain upright for at least a half hour after taking. I find it to be a good opportunity to do a little pre-dawn meditation. Meditating with a mind that has not yet been engaged in performing tasks or conversations can be a very powerful practice.<br /><br />But, if undisturbed by thought, my early morning mind seems to be more closely connected to my aging body's aches and pains, especially if the night has been a cool one. At such times I sometimes wish I had practiced seated meditation more regularly when I was young and in better shape, perhaps I wouldn't find the discomfort quite so distracting if I had. Perhaps such thoughts are just black crows themselves, reflexive complaints that come as predictably as the dawn.<br /><br />After I've been sitting in my darkened room awhile, "rosy fingered dawn" begins to make her appearance through the curtains, and with her come her raucous heralds, a flock of crows that make their home in the trees surrounding our Lone Oak manse. Bela Lugosi's Dracula famously observes of his baying wolves "Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!" Let me tell you, Dracula's night children have nothing on our "children of the dawn"! Their song is hard to ignore.<br /><br />I wish to thank Jiyu Jake Gage, Sensei, for the inclusion of the actual song of the crows as the last line here. I often present first draft poems aloud to him at the Vista Zen Center first thing in the morning. "Caw! Caw!" was his immediate response and a good one, I think. It adds a touch of the real and the immediate moment, bringing the lines up to the "now".<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Today's image is from an unattributed fine art print I found through Google Images, <a href="http://s7.thisnext.com/media/largest_dimension/5F583E57.jpg">"Black Crows Gathering"</a></span><br /></span><br /></div>David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008831854680287514.post-87330308096317229362011-07-07T16:24:00.001-07:002011-07-07T18:24:55.982-07:00The Nameless Ones<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vv6UpwQN2lA/ThZAXIn4yVI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/LUWSkj5pJ00/s1600/Swan%2BNebula.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 259px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vv6UpwQN2lA/ThZAXIn4yVI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/LUWSkj5pJ00/s320/Swan%2BNebula.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626755550641965394" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The tales are true,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I can show you the scars,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The twisted cables</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And the broken spars.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">They don't care about shutters,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">They're not stopped by bars,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The Nameless Ones</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Filtered down from the stars.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Three poisons drive Man,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Hate, Delusion and Lust,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">But the Nameless Ones </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Simply feed when they must.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Some men are from Venus,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Some women from Mars,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">But the Nameless Ones </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Filtered down from the stars!</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">This weird little poem owes a great deal to the writings of the great American master, Howard Phillips Lovecraft, the virtual father of the genre of cosmic horror. Central to Lovecraft's take on our place in Space and Time is the view that vast forces and intelligences are at play across the vastness of existence and that these "nameless ones" care not one whit for the concerns of the hapless hairless apes dwelling on this little planet.<br /><br />In one of his finest stories, At The Mountains of Madness, he describes the discovery of the remains of an ancient space-faring race who settled on Earth millions of years ago. Along the way, we learn that all life on Earth is the accidental by-product of their bio-engineering projects. In classic Lovecraft fashion, the protagonists find themselves in a mind-blowing encounter with these elder beings and find all of their previous views and opinions of reality and their place in it blasted away forever in an instant of terrible realization!<br /><br />I confess that I have been a dedicated fan of Lovecraft since shortly before I began shaving, 43 years or so ago. The dark grandeur of H.P.L.'s vision fascinates me. Over the years I've come to find in it a good deal of the scope and reach of Mahayana Buddhism, sort of a Dharma seen through a glass darkly. This may be just a crazy stretch on my part, but I think Lovecraft might have found the star-spanning wonder of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatamsaka_Sutra">Avatamsaka Sutra</a> highly interesting. But unlike the Flower-Garland Sutra, Lovecraft's dark dharma holds no hope of liberation, only a blind idiot god howling away at the center of all existence. Any jeweled net Lovecraft would have imagined would turn out to be some sort of horrible trap!<br /><br />Although disturbing, we should not be alarmed by all this, Lovecraft's dark dharma was created to entertain. Written for his own amusement and for that of his large circle of like-minded friends, the highly rationalistic Lovecraft wrote his scary stories to tease the rational mind. He gives us a close brush with the vast unknown from the safe distance of our armchair.<br /><br />My little exercise in "dark dharma" came about at the end of a very intense morning of sitting Zazen. It began with the appearance in my mind of a phrase of H.P.L.'s, "filtered down from the stars". The Nameless Ones and the Three Poisons came rushing in close behind and the poem was finished before lunchtime. Phew!<br /><br />If you have the slightest interest in Lovecraft and his writings, you must check out the outstanding <a href="http://hppodcraft.com/">H.P.Lovecraft Literary Podcast</a>!! Hosts Chris Lackey and Chad Fifer have been doing an absolutely fantastic job, working their way through the Master's works in chronological order, discussing each story in depth and having a heck of a lot of fun along the way. I listen to each new episode in my car going to work and they totally make my entire day!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Today's image is a NASA image from the Hubble telescope of the Swan Nebula, a small section of M17, a "hotbed of star formation". Check it out on the blog where I found it, <a href="http://www.ecodigerati.com/content/articles/index.php?page_id=23">Ecodigerati</a>.<br /></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>David Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00067864986953584353noreply@blogger.com0