- Hermann Hesse, from Demian
I realize today that nothing in the world is more distasteful to a man than to take the path that leads to himself.
The greatest need of our time is to clean out the enormous mass of mental and emotional rubbish that clutters our minds and makes of all political and social life a mass illness. Without this housecleaning we cannot begin to see. Unless we see, we cannot think.
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there.
A Stunning Existential Documentary
Wow. Wow. Wow.
Still waiting or this to show up where I live, but the trailer for General Orders #9 completely took my breath away.
If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear as it is - infinite.
- William Blake, from The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.
Absolutely Essential Listening
In my humble opinion, A Love Supreme by John Coltrane is one of the most soul-stirring recordings ever made.
The haunting modality of the songs, the melodies, the unexpected moments that feel as much like sermon as song, all combine to create a masterpiece that is one part opus and another part offering to God by Coltrane.
It’s also essential listening for creatives.
Take the backward step and turn the light inward.
- Dogen
Mary Oliver is a Blessing
I love so many of Mary Oliver’s poems, but this one has recently struck my heart.
Why I Wake Early
Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who make the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and the crotchety—
best preacher that ever was,
dear star, that just happens
to be where you are in the universe
to keep us from ever-darkness,
to ease us with the warm touching,
to hold us in the great hands of light—
good morning, good morning, good morning.
Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.
from the poetry collection, Why I Wake Early, by Mary Oliver
Listen: Beautiful podcast about Zen & Art featuring John Daido Loori, Roshi.
John Daido Loori was the Abbot at Zen Mountain Monastery and a renowned photographer. His take on creativity is powerful and inspiring.
A Beautiful Video: Bells of Mindfulness
Sister Dang Nghiem, a nun at Deer Park Monastery, discusses the mindfulness bell, cultivating peacefulness and joy.
This is a beautiful and really well shot video.
(Via Patrick Burke at Vimeo)