Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Fracted Up!



Caught about a third of this mind blowing segment on PBS last night- did anyone else see it?

Collective Counsciousness, Jung, Aurobindo, Buddha...

AND, music by David Gilmour!

Follow this link for more information on The Colours of Infinity.

Monday, November 28, 2005

Hodge Podge

Thanksgiving

Back at it with much to share after a break for celebrating Thanksgiving holiday. I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving! Our family enjoyed being surrounded by loved ones and friends. My father along with Cathy’s parents, our nephew Jeb and our friend Sarah were with us on Thanksgiving day.

Om Namah Shivaya

Jon at The Wild Things of God says, “and sometime, do translate that line of Sanskrit for us, please!” The line Jon is referring to is:

Oम् णमह् षिवय, Oम् णमह् षिवय

Om Namah Shivaya is an initiation mantra in Hinduism and means "I bow to Shiva," the supreme reality, the inner Self or Consciousness that dwells within all of us. This mantra or chant is sung (alone or in chorus) to remind ones self there is Unity or oneness where we may see duality and pluralism.

The sage Upamanyu says: "What severe austerities does one need to practice, what holy centres does one need to visit, what difficult spiritual practices does one need to do, when in his heart "Om Namah Shivaya" vibrates constantly?"

Upamanya goes on to say, "Om Namah Shivaya is nothing but a concrete embodiment of the Guru and Shiva. One should be constantly aware that one's own Self, the Guru and Shiva are absolutely one. There is not the least difference between these three."

When I find myself less than centered (which is most times!) I try and keep this beautiful mantra in my heart as a reminder of Oneness and Unity. I try and remember that where there is a song- there is remembrance and peace.

“…When we gather together to sing like this we are helping each other find our own paths. We all must travel this path by ourselves because each of us is our own path. All these paths wander on in their own way, but in truth we are all traveling together and until the last of us arrives we will all keep traveling. So let's sing!”
- Krishna Das

Akilesh

Akilesh, Meredith’s benevolent teacher has written a beautiful piece at Graceful Presence in response to my request that he share of himself more of his story. Akilesh composes and teaches through his sharing a grace and knowledge of life’s mysteries which I find quite fascinating. In his writing on embracing the shadow self to wholly embrace the One self (that which is beyond naming) I recognize parts of myself that are wounded and hid away from fear of the light, from fear of other’s knowing me and from the fear of my full recollection of all that I truly am. Akilesh reminds me that I am not only Light, but also darkness and shadow- and that this is in perfect and divine order, for as Jung said “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” In our many names (and corners where we hide from the light) we become confused. Realizing we are truly nameless and none other than that which is beyond all attempts at naming- we can then safely assume this limited identity in body and take every occasion to Re-Member who we are.

Thank you Akilesh for sharing with me and with us all.

Trevor & Amy Harden

Again, my wife and I were blessed to spend time with Trevor and Amy Harden over the holiday. Trevor and Amy, along with baby Kalli (who is simply the cutest little girl in the world!) were down with their family over the holidays and we were able to catch up, and get to know each other a little more. Trev and I had coffee one afternoon and talked over music, Ken Wilber, Paramahansa Yogananda, Joseph Campbell, religion and spirituality and all matter of subjects in between. I really had a great time talking at length with Trevor. Saturday night Cathy and me and Trevor and Amy, along with two other couples went to Savannah and took in some music and sights about the town.

Trev surprised me with an unmastered copy of his EP disc that he has been working on over the past few months. The "sneak preview" four- song disc (song five is still in the works) is everything I believed it would be and more. I want to take the time and give it the accolades it deserves but will wait until I hear the last song before sharing all of my two cents worth…but for now, here’s a penny of thought on Trev Diesel’s music.

From listening to his music I can tell Trev writes, records, and performs with a big smile on his face. His music appears to be the climax of fun for him- something instilled inside, not laboriously nurtured over the years and coaxed into being. Like trying to describe in writing a vast Pollock mural on display in some museum I cannot fully convey the dynamics of his music and words- you simply must hear his songs to understand the large picture. I can say that the intricate and instantly memorable melodies, intelligent lyrics, and emotional presentation coupled with the dynamic musicianship on behalf of his players and the sleek, warm capture of sound by the production team make this EP a refreshing diversion from the norm. Simply put, it’s music at its best performed by those who know where their bliss resides and aren’t afraid to call this magical place home.

Friday, November 18, 2005

I've Still Got It!


Picked and sang a few folk tunes outdoors at the Bluffton Artwalk last night to complement the Bluffton Coffee House, which was selling coffee to the patrons.

Had Johnny Law called on me because I was causing such a ruckus with my music. It must have been the song between "Leaving on a Jet Plane" and "Tequila Sunrise."

Don't mess with me-I'm a BAD man!

Yep- I've still got it!

Friday, November 11, 2005

Today

Today, be happy that in all your past thinking, there has been this heart breaking struggle and confusion readily available, making itself like a second body to be dragged around, the weight which feels like the weight of the world. Now, you can begin to see how it was all completely necessary, every tear, every pang of fear, and every doubt. Now you have a sense of what you can choose to shatter and destroy by realizing, today, it was all necessary to arrive here, now. Whatever you think you are, you are more than this, and one thing is certain, you don’t know fully the complete and perfect being you already are.

Oम् णमह् षिवय, Oम् णमह् षिवय

"... Many people make the mistake of thinking that since ego is the root of suffering, the goal of spirituality must be to conquer and destroy ego. They struggle to eliminate ego's heavy hand but that struggle is merely another expression of ego. We go around and around, trying to improve ourselves through struggle, until we realize that the ambition to improve ourselves is itself the problem. Insights come only when there are gaps in our struggle, only when we stop trying to rid ourselves of thought, when we cease siding with pious, good thoughts against bad, impure thoughts, only when we allow ourselves simply to see the nature of thought.

We begin to realize that there is a sane, awake quality within us. In fact this quality manifests itself only in the absence of struggle. So we discover the Third Noble Truth, the truth of the goal: that is, non-striving. We need only drop the effort to secure and solidify ourselves and the awakened state is present. But we soon realize that just "letting go " is only possible for short periods. We need some discipline to bring us to "letting be". We must walk a spiritual path. Ego must wear itself out like an old shoe, journeying from suffering to liberation."


Chogyam Trungpa - Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Verify This!


Word Verification _______________________

Type the characters you see in the picture above.


I can't tell you how many times I've carefully crafted a response to someone's post, thought I'd actually posted it (after painstakingly typing in those difficult to decipher characters) only to realize after surfing away that my response wasn't really posted!

Damn those comment spammers!

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Joan Baez

Caught Joan Baez in concert in Atlanta this past Sunday evening and have to say it's the best concert I've seen in a very long time. All the elements making for an outstanding concert were in place: undeniable talent and decades of songs and history, a warm house sound, friendly and interesting concert- goers, conscientious and candid criticism against war and violence (what should one expect- it's Joan Baez), and the element of Spirit flowing through music, reaching out and touching each person in attendance. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to join in with Joan and sing “Amazing Grace” you cannot help but feel that ‘Grace’ flowing through you, out into the world… and suddenly it’s not such a bad place after all.

Joan reminds me that sometimes being meek and mild gets us all nowhere. Yes, there are roles we all play and sometime with our grace we can change the world quietly and without much fanfare. More often change comes about slowly by way of our willingness to dare stand with the oppressed and against the oppressor. Change comes about with our vocal and courageous action, by our moving forward to the sound of a different beat that keeps tempo with the masses of the suffering, the over- looked, the underprivileged; our fellow human beings, brothers and sisters.

Yes, I still am and always will be an idealist. Ever since I can remember I’ve though it possible I could change the world for the better. People like Joan Baez remind me that long ago I had the nerve to believe there was something inside of me greater than myself that longed to make a difference. I still believe most of what is mine to do is largely left undone. But, I also remind myself I do make a difference and I have changed the world for the better. Each time I stop and take the time to give to others of what is mine, doing so from the heart- I have changed the world for the better. Each time I offer a smile or a hand to a stranger or acknowledge their presence and offer up a silent blessing for their well being- I have changed the world for the better. Each time I stop whatever I am doing and devote my full attention to my child- I am changing the world for the better. Each moment I fully support those I love by genuinely listening to them and offering love, no matter the circumstance- I am changing the world for the better.

Each of us has an impact upon the world, upon the other that we cannot fully comprehend. When we dare remind ourselves we are far greater than our biggest problem, far superior to our best effort, and vastly endowed with more potential than we can begin to imagine, we open ourselves up to a greater power that inexorably unveils itself, performing the most divine and compassionate of acts through us, as us.

Photo © 2005 Joan C. Baez/Diamonds & Rust Productions.

Friday, November 04, 2005

Clarity



Sometimes in the ‘not getting’ something- the entire answer reveals itself, then and there. Answers float quietly about; so delicate, so silent- yet we are so caught up in the ‘not getting it’ state of mind that we can’t see or hear the tiny wings of emancipation fluttering about us.

Only when we are quiet and the mind is stilled and unadulterated by either thought or substance do we begin the process of realizing our freedom.

The axiom is true..."we really have no problems whatsoever- we only think we do, and that’s the problem."

Only when we stop thinking with the same mind that creates our ‘problems’ can we realize the answers all about us, here and now.

It is really…….this simple.

Thursday, November 03, 2005

HTML Hell

Anyone reading this care to take a peek at my template to see why my text vanishes and reappears when scrolling down the page?

It's driving me MAD!

Any suggestions?

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