- William Blake, from The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.
If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear as it is - infinite.
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.
Art is not a pastime but a priesthood.
Jean Cocteau, French poet, novelist, artist and visionary
Kaz Tanahashi Article
Check out this fantastic article on the acclaimed Dōgen translator, brush artist and calligrapher Kaz Tanahashi. I love his treatment of Dōgen Zenji’s writings. In the article, in reference to Dōgen, Tanashi says,
“He challenges us with an urgent question: How do we live each moment fully and meaningfully? He makes us feel not confined and tiny, but free and enormous.”
The new edition of Dōgen’s spiritual masterpiece is a true gift, as is Kaz Tanahashi.
Whitman, Dogen & the Essential Path
I find this passage from Song of Myself by Walt Whitman to be so very connected to the beautiful non-dualty of the great Zen mystics. Dōgen wrote at length about the intimacy that arises when the separation between the self and other fall away.
Whitman wrote this:
Stop this day and night with me and you shall possess the origin of
all poems,
You shall possess the good of the earth and sun, (there are millions
of suns left,)
You shall no longer take things at second or third hand, nor look through
the eyes of the dead, nor feed on the spectres in books,
You shall not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me,
You shall listen to all sides and filter them from your self.
Likewise, Dōgen wrote that: ”To hear sound with the whole body and mind, to see form with the whole body and mind, one understands them intimately.” This is the essence of Zen. It’s also as ordinary as taking a breath, walking, eating. It is this very life, this very moment.
Simple. Beautiful.
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
Happy Buddha Day
May 27th – the day of the first full moon in May – is Buddha Day, a day celebrating his enlightenment after sitting in meditation under the Bodhi tree.
So let’s all practice mindfulness today. Let’s observe a little silence. And, let’s remember to be compassionate and kind.
For a few rituals and observances and other great insights, check out this great post over at Elephant Journal.
Preparation Is Overrated
I heard a term recently that struck me. In a podcast by Gil Fronsdal, primary teacher at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California, he referred to a phenomenon in the spiritual publishing industry known as Bed Stand Buddhists. It seems that there is a sizable number of people out there who love to read about Buddhism, who love the way the literature, whether it’s one of the Sutras or contemporary writings, makes them feel. There is a sense of peace found in the writings, but this is as far as they go. Bed Stand Buddhists never take the big next step which is from bed to cushion.
Maybe the reason this struck me so much is that I am desperate to apply and actively engage in my practice – both on the yoga mat and on the cushion with my meditation practice. However, I love books, love the intellectual challenges of philosophy and various spiritual writings and if I’m not vigilant about things I could easily succumb to the lure of purely intellectual exercises at the expense of what matters most: engaged practice.
Whitman’s Words To Live By
This is a beautiful quote by Walt Whitman, one of my favorite mystical poets.
This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward toward the people…re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss what insults your very soul, and your very flesh shall become a great poem.
Whitman’s writing is timeless and profound. If you haven’t read any of this writings, start with Song of Myself from his collection Leaves of Grass. The entire collection is brilliant, earthy, spiritual, visual, sensual and very moving.
Mysterious Universe: The Greatest Podcast Ever
I’ve recently started listening to the Mysterious Universe podcast and I simply can’t get enough of this strange, engaging and endlessly entertaining show. Hosted by Ben and Aaron, the show looks at the paranormal, fringe science, supernatural occurrences including cryptid encounters, UFO abductions, sightings and other high-weirdness.
The show is really well produced with awesome music and the interaction between Ben and Aaron is tremendous. The show format includes reporting, commentary and the occasional interview with various special guests from across various paranormal fields. You can also sign up for their Plus+ membership which I plan on doing.
To get some background on the show, you can catch the transcript of an interview with the two hosts here. As an additional side note, their show has to be one of the best branded Pod Shows I’ve ever seen. I’d venture to guess one or both of the hosts have some design background because the aesthetics of the show are impeccable.