"...unencumbered by modular thinking..."

                        I can't recall where I heard this or from whom for that matter -- but it "arrived" as a 1st sentence so I'm goin' with it .

             Today's blog/bloid is about Resting and Zen Master Seung Sahn's 'deployment' of 

                                         "Put it all down, put it all down, put everything down."  

             I insist that Resting-- Getting Rest-- is as important as "Hard Training".   We will 'get to' "Hard Training" in other blogs but mention it "in passing" this morning .   OBVIOUSLY, 'Resting' is the exact opposite of Hard Training but both are EQUAL with regard to their ultimate Benefit .

             The question, "Why does Meditation require Rest ?"   For some of us maintaining the 'Meditative State' is an ALL DAY 'operation' since 'holding' a Question> that its answer may arrive freely < requires EXERTION.   Here it is where Exertion demands FOCUS and Concentration, even while performing the task at hand .   Exertion is an Expenditure of Energy and this Energy must be replenished, such is the nature of Rest .

            

"The low spark of high-heeled boys "

                       "Hidden Treasure" is the opening tract of "The low spark..."  .   I am intrigued by its refrain, "There is happiness in strife."   For years I've told anyone who would listen that I, myself, find "Relief" in Suffering, vis-a-vis the Ancient Christian Ascetics who resided in the desert to "get close to God" by Meditating and inflicting upon themselves the Misery of hair-vests and the like .   The "Mortification of the Flesh" to "get closer to God" is PERVERSION according to Christian Dogmatists but to know one's Suffering as a SIMILARITY to Jesus's is a SOMETHING of which to be Aware .

            I've considered "There is happiness in strife" as a Zen Kong-an {Korean--  Koan is Japanese} bc the only qualifier is >>> the "Million Voices of the 'River' " .   River Wisdom .   Recall "The River" in Hesse's novel, Siddhartha .   Here it is where the River affords a Tranquility impossible to the City and Village dweller .   I personally believe it's a tough "Sell" but Hesse's POWER is PERSUASIVE .

          I suppose only Winwood knows WHY he chose the River as a Source of "happiness in strife" but THAT'S the kong-an .   "What does 'happiness in strife' MEAN ??? 

            

      

"Pretenders"

                       When Hip-Hop `over-ran` R&B my head broke .   I was a roaring albeit functional DRUNK during the 80's and I had no 'mind' to listen to what I thought was shit, produced by kidz who wanted only for us to "LISTEN TO ME" and "PAY ATTENTION TO ME"-- both of which was an outcome of wildly perverted Parenting~~~ but when Blondie did "The Man From Mars" I sorta had a bend toward 'receiver-ship'  .    Rap had ITS >inkling< in Bob Dylan so what need there be for ECHO-Cho-Co-co ?  

           I bought "Pretenders" bc I heard "Brass In Pocket" and later "Mystery Achievement" -- largely IGNORING the rest of the tracts on that Album/CD .  I was rwong* to do so .   Recently I've committed myself to memorizing the complete Album/CD bc of "All selections written by Chrissie Hynde" and especially Tract 5 "Space Invader" written by Pete Farndon and James Honeyman Scott --- a MARVEL of note-by-note Exaction with THRILLING Bass Exposition .

          Hynde dwells in the "Avant-Garde" -- the Realm of what I tag as 'split-rhythms' and a kind of "Fractals" based Dimension of HEAVENLY Chords .   If Hynde was stimulated by Assisted Awareness then I want that Very Same .  2 words ::  Check out "Pretenders".

          

Paw Talk

              oi999iokk  4  <<< Cat's Paw-Talk .  Kitten Liddle has some ideas about this morning's blogs !!!

            I have so much about which to write I'm daunted .   I sit in Chairy-Chair while thoughts whirl about as though in a tornado ~ although I've never been inside a tornado but I've seen images.   Now just envision a landfill the size of Oklahoma and   put it inside a Tornado the size of South America and you have what's inside my Mind .   You feel me ??

            "I've been holding the question, "How are we to conduct ourselves during the Neo-Dark Ages."  And this one as well; "What is the Zen of Mind Warfare?" .  

            During the Nazi-ism of Hileraian Fascism, [in Germany during WWII] the GREAT Hellmut Wilhelm delivered "8 Lectures on the I Ching" .   Despite being INSIDE a mentally ill Society  Wilhelm created an Academic Haven for those interested  in Ancient Chinese Philosophy .  It was a Sanctuary for Intellectuality* --- a way to maintain at least the Decor of Academic Resolve --- a way for Civilization to gain "Advancement" by the recording of Wilhem's Studies .   It ISN'T as if Wilhelm was ignoring the INSANITY that plagued German Culture, so much as a Fortress from which to remain in the Beauty of Civilization's Splendor .   I'm down with that .

             

Wordsworth

                        We mustn't  forget  Wordsworth who gave us "Child is father to the Man" in his Poem titled, "My Heart Leaps Up" .   All the Experiences of Father Son Contact are the FOUNDATION upon which all other Experiences are subjugated .  Us gyze* learn how to Act by how are fathers 'Acted' --- such is the True Nature of Childhood itself .   Dr. Susan Forward in her book, Toxic Parents informs us that our parents voices can STILL be 'heard' "from beyond the grave" .   Many of us have Scars and Psychological Deformities that were the result of less-than-beneficial 'teachings' that were themselves the MAINSTAY of NATIONAL Socialization .   Here's one now :  "Spare the rod, spoil the child."

Kipling

                       I ALWAYS thought to include Longfellow in my  Manual Of Manhood, but NEVER thought I should write Poetry as a delivery vehicle since "..it's already be done.." by the GREATEST Eva .   

            This morning, while scrolling along the Mind Field of  'Facebook', the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling [of Jungle Book Fame} was posted .   This Poem MAYBE the definitive text for aspiring young Males who are actively searching for Guide-Lines to aid and assist them on their Journey .   I gotta-tell-ya I DON'T know how I missed Kipling since this Poem reached LEGENDARY Heights in Great Britain [and therefore the World] .   

             I URGE all my Readers to Google "If" and hard copy it .   

The Village Smithy

                      Our 6th Grade Teacher, Mr. Lyons, gave us an assignment to memorize "The Village Blacksmith" by Longfellow ...  thing is, we had to stand before our classmate and RECITE it .   Because I absolutely LOVED his poem,, it was EZ for me and so so difficult for the others--- but that's not the point here .  What IS the Point is that this Poen and its `sensibilities` stayed with me throughout my entire life, so much tha. I can still recite the opening stanzas {no prob}.

         These lines stand out :  "His brow is wet with honest sweat,

                                                           He earns whate're he can,

                                                  And looks the whole world in the face,

                                                            For he owes not any man."

          These aren't just 'lines' they are GUIDE Lines for those of us that move along the Path toward Manhood .