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  1. Yesterday
  2. tariki

    More blooks!

    Not quite sure what the final two lines mean?
  3. tariki

    More blooks!

    Another page, this with one of William Blake's depictions of God - who was often referred to in other contexts as "Old Nobodaddy"! Blake once wrote a poem addressed to this entity:- Why art thou silent & invisible Father of jealousy Why dost thou hide thyself in clouds From every searching Eye Why darkness & obscurity In all thy words & laws That none dare eat the fruit but from The wily serpents jaws Or is it because Secresy gains females loud applause
  4. Last week
  5. tariki

    More blooks!

    A couple of sample pages from "Christian Mystics":-
  6. tariki

    More blooks!

    Now awaiting a couple more Blooks from Blookup. One is "Christian Mystics" and the other is a third volume of "McDonald's Memos". The cover shows the church of Little Gidding, associated with T.S.Eliot's "Four Quartets". Which gives me the excuse to quote again the last few lines of that poem, which I love... We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. Through the unknown, remembered gate When the last of earth left to discover Is that which was the beginning; At the source of the longest river The voice of the hidden waterfall And the children in the apple-tree Not known, because not looked for But heard, half-heard, in the stillness Between two waves of the sea. Quick now, here, now, always— A condition of complete simplicity (Costing not less than everything) And all shall be well and All manner of thing shall be well When the tongues of flame are in-folded Into the crowned knot of fire And the fire and the rose are one. In the blurb to my blook I say that the pictures are large in comparison to the font of the text as I like them more than the words. A bit tongue in cheek, but almost true. Also that some of the pictures are of Buddhas and suchlike, which is "as it should be". Well, my coffee is getting cold.
  7. I've always loved biographies, mostly of artists and writers ( but of some others too ) They put flesh and blood onto their various works. Apparently some such writers insist that their works should never be related to their lives as lived (I think T.S.Eliot for instance) but - at least for me - they are inseparable. Plus learning all the time. To take a quick look at a play of Beckett's on YouTube and wonder "what on earth is that all about" and then to have it illuminated by the learning and insight of others. Always remembering:- "One can never know enough, but not in order to judge", another profound quote found in a book on Beckett to add to my repertoire! (Not Beckett's words by the way, but appropriate to his own approach to life and living) "Judgement" is incompatible with any true understanding/living - that awful coming to conclusions. I relate it to the Pure Land way of "no-calculation" (hakarai). And then we have Christ's words..... "Judge not, lest you be judged" I'm waffling again.......😀
  8. Pour away, Derek. I love reading about your interests. It opens things up that I certainly may have never considered - such as learning a little about Samuel Beckett!
  9. Samuel Beckett What more can you say?
  10. Wonderful these days to have virtually all of the art of our world at our fingertips. On Kindle there is the Delphi series of artists, each available for the price of a cup of coffee at McDonald's. Each offers all the work of the artist, in colour and HD, and you can zoom in and magnify without losing defintion. There is also commentary and additional pictures of the artist, their birthplace and various other goodies. I have a great collection now and often download a selection and work through, moving slowly through the various works. Reading a biography of Samuel Beckett recently I learnt that he would often sit for more than an hour in front of certain works, absorbing the facial expressions and the "body language" of those depicted. Beckett transferred and transformed those expressions into the visual aspects of his plays, and looking at some on YouTube you can refer back to a particular painting and see how movement and emotion becomes part of the plays performance. There is a Japanese word, I think "menji" (but I keep forgetting the actual word!) which means something like the "passing on of reality face to face", reaching beyond simple book learning or even the very best prose. Which reminds me of an old Jewish story, of a guy who travels far to see a Rabbi who is becoming quite famous and talked about. Upon his return he is asked if he liked what he heard...." Oh, I did not go to listen to him, I wanted to see how he tied his shoelaces." There is certainly a communication going on all the time that transcends words - I think that is the way love, compassion, empathy, even mercy, are truly known, expressed and communicated. In our every gesture. Often our words can betray us. Thomas Merton once spoke of a true "mysticism" as being necessarily the "contact of two liberties". In context he meant the "liberty" of each singular human being and God. Being a non-theist myself I simply see reality as the contact of various liberties, each of us playing our part. Tying our shoelaces, drinking our coffee - love is there or it is not. Sorry, I'm rambling as usual. Waffling. It's just that at nearly 75 it is now or never and more and more I simply do not care what I pour out. May true Dharma continue. No blame. Be kind. Love everything.
  11. Earlier
  12. Just finished reading the book "Damned to Fame", by James Knowlson, a biography of Samuel Beckett. My review of the book is now "live" on Amazon (if "live" is the right word......😀) and here it is:- I really enjoyed reading this biography of Samuel Beckett. Quite long but for me not a word was wasted. Before reading this I knew only of "Waiting for Godot" and "Krapp's Last Tape" and very little of Samuel Beckett's life story. This biography attains a fine balance between life story narrative and insight into the works of Beckett. Today, on a Kindle Fire, it is easy to switch from the text of the book to all the presentations of the plays on YouTube, and also to see the many great paintings that influenced Beckett. Quite an education! And I thank Mr Knowlson for sharing his deep knowledge of Becketts work that flows easily from the text. Samuel Beckett comes across as a fine human being, deeply compassionate in the very best way i.e. without any awareness of it or intent to be so. Just simply "there" for so many friends and even casual acquaintances met with as his life unfolded. The counterpoint for me is in the "eastern" ways of "emptiness", of "no-self", of the "void", of the creative nihilism that such ways promise to open in contrast to the despairing nihilism of our current "western" world. Given the information of this book, Beckett had no acquaintance with such ways and terms, yet his despair/nihilism was indeed creative and life-giving, with the potential to become so for anyone who absorbs the heart of his many plays of mime and voice, music and movement. Anyway, whatever, a superb book and one can only feel gratitude toward the learning of James Knowlson - and the life and works of Samuel Beckett. Thank you. (End of review) I love finding a book that becomes for me a "page turner" or one that "cannot be put down". Many are described as such on their blurbs, but reality often kicks in and two pages become enough before the book is put down - or turned off if on Kindle. But, whatever, as I said in the review, "educational". It has opened up so much, reviving interest in art and music. So much to feed such interest these days, when the whole artistic catalogue of say Rembrandt or Rafael can be had literally for the price of a coffee in McDonald's. Delphi's art series provides this, with indepth commentaries and extras such as pictures of the artists birthplace and even biographies. But. Beckett. I would love to have met him and sat in silence with him.
  13. One thing to me it is not. It is not an offer by some transcendent Being which can be accepted or refused, all according to some particular theology. It has much more in keeping with the new flavour of milkshake in McDonald's, vanilla. Vanilla pods, grown on the south side of any particular plantation, well ripened. A singular taste, with a beany rather than a woody tang, ending with a rather rich bouquet that lingers long on the tongue. 😀
  14. tariki

    Samuel Beckett

    Here I am in the Kaf, really McDonald's with burger and coffee prior to my stint on the tills at Oxfam. Enjoying a holiday from "heavy" books and reading a biography of Samuel Beckett, "Damned to Fame". So good. In fact it seems to do all that any "heavy" book tries to do, but by way of no-calculation, which is in fact very Becketish the more I think about it (which I try not to do......😀) Well, I waffle. Some light moments in the book, a story told of an order for a pair of trousers from a Paris tailor:- The reference to the world and the pair of trousers alludes to the story of a tailor, who takes many weeks to make a pair of trousers for a customer. The client objects that it took God only seven days to make the entire world. But, replies the tailor, ‘look at the world and look at my trousers’! Well, it made me laugh, which doesn't come cheap. The book is by no means hagiographic, but for me Beckett comes shining through as a fine human being. Compassionate without self-consciousness of being so, and actually reaching deep into others even when lost in his own solitude. "Nothing to be done" - yet he does it! All providing a counterpoint, perhaps more an illumination, of much of Dogen. Having immersed myself in Dogen for a while, the life and thought of Beckett is a feast of "east/west" perceptions and inter-relationships. Much insight into:- ......flowers fall even though we love them; weeds grow even though we dislike them. Conveying oneself toward all things to carry out practice-enlightenment is delusion. All things coming and carrying out practice-enlightenment through the self is realization. (Words from "Genjokoan", the "actualisation of reality) Beckett was all against the creation of "order", of "answers", of any "system" that will inevitably stifle our spontaneous on-going life. His prose and plays are in many ways a sheer chaos. Yet:- There's a way out there, there's a way out somewhere, the rest would come, the other words, sooner or later, and the power to get there, and the way to get there, and pass out, and see the beauties of the skies, and see the stars again. (Samuel Beckett, ninth monologue, "Texts for Nothing", as spoken by a tramp-like waif as he contemplates death) "There's a way out", but keep quiet about it! Don't even think of it. Thomas Merton's "there is no key, no door" - don't ever think that you have the key! Beckett could have remained safe as a neutral Irish citizen in Paris during WW2 and the German occupation. But he joined the French Resistance and narrowly avoided capture by the Gestapo. I've now reached the post-war years, when his literary creativity exploded. "Waiting for Godot" is soon to come! "Nothing to be done"! Creative nihilism.
  15. Some would argue, wherever you are is exactly where you should be. If by 'fit in' you mean someone to affirm your position ... I am the wrong person for that I'd be happy to question your beliefs though. Welcome rom
  16. I have weird beliefs after a painful deconstruction and I am not sure I fit anywhere. I think many key OT stories are mythological. I don’t believe in hell and I am open to heaven or even reincarnation. I think revelations is just a story and not prophecy. I don’t think we needed a savior but I think Jesus came to show us what God is really like. I am not sure Jesus was God. Any idea where someone like me might fit? I call myself a Christian.
  17. Yes, sorry about the lack of response. I've also found Forums that prove to be barely used! It can be very disappointing. Maybe try a few others, like:- www.spiritualforums.com which are very lively and with many sections where I think you would find a few responses. We all have "demons". Faith for me is in letting go, which strangely can lead to facing and overcoming all demons! But, whatever, all the best. Post more if you like.
  18. Hi Samia, Welcome to the Forum. Yes, it can seem to be a bit quiet in here at times, but our stats do show that hundreds of people are viewing posts on here throughout the month. I think many people may find information and support here, without actually declaring themselves or participating in the discussion threads. In any event, I hope you find the current forums and the backlog of interesting subjects that have been discussed here previously, both interesting and useful on your journey. Cheers Paul
  19. From my own experience, sin does indeed lead to death. A sort of death while your body is still alive yet little life or spirit remains. Depression, guilt, trauma, etc. Example for convenience would be lust. Lust is the objectification of the universe. Seeing others as simply a vehicle to attain pleasure. This leads to a denial of God and soul within others and ourselves. The greatest sin is blasphemy not because it is a sin to question God but because it is one to deny God's being and your own soul dies with that.
  20. I'm too new here to label myself as a progressive christian but to me grace means accepting God's love and forgiveness. It means being free from constant self guilt, blame, or judgement and living free and with God's love and eye always on you.
  21. To me Christianity was far too restricting and an impossible practice. This constant self and other judgement and hatred was something I dabbled with. I came to the realization that to live without sin meant to be unable to do anything in the world because simply looking at another human being was list and eating a good meal was gluttony. It also shows lack of faith in God's plan and a desire to control one's own fate and the fate of others when in reality all we can do is have faith that things will turn out good. I like this term "Jesusanity". I'm not a very good Christian. Christian music annoys me and I don't go to church but sure do find comfort in Jesus.
  22. Does anyone use this forum? Seems kinda inactive at the moment. Oh well still happy to have found some like minded folks!
  23. Hello, brothers and sisters in Christ. My name is Samia. I am a Cambodian national struggling with faith, personal demons, and religion my whole life. I identify as tans-feminine. I have only recently discovered this website and y'all seem like the kind of Christian movement I can get behind. I might stick around for a bit see how it goes. Thanks for reading!
  24. I see different people as different parts of the one environment which can create different wants across the whole.
  25. My brain experiences conflicting wants and those wants come from the greater environment. So I don't see different parts of the environment having different wants as a problem.
  26. I'm with you on the 'big picture' about everything being connected and 'as one'. But I don't think the logical conclusion then is that things such as 'wants' can't be different to other parts of the environment contained within the one. It's like there are a number of moving parts all within that one, and wants are just one of those moving parts.
  27. From my perspective, separating "I" from the environment (and ultimately everything) is at best an illusion brought on by a lack of understanding and observation. This 'connectedness' is my religion in a semantic-literal way or perhaps my philosophy.
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