Well, it's going to be obvious by the Day 756 entry onto THE 800 DAYS blog that Mr. B. Hall has a near obsession with Mr. Burroughs! The first thing on the said post on said blog is a 2 minute and 25 second message via you tube video and the message is from a William S. Burroughs... from Thanksgiving Day (In USA) on the date of November 28th, 1986.
And a message of harsh social commentary this is! This must be some You Tube member's tribute to Burroughs, I imagine - but regardless, this is a gem of a tribute that Blake found! If you're looking for feelgood, warm fuzzy feelings from this video, you'll have to go elsewhere (my suggestion is go back to listen to Eden Sky's messages: Day 774/Blake's 800 Days blog). If you're looking for telling-it-like-it-is, have a listen to Burroughs' viewpoints once you get to the Day 756/800Days blog post.
And if that wasn't enough... Blake relates a truly funny AND baffling story about a Thanksgiving event that was both sad and silly and that truly happened... It's called "Talking Turkey." Really, if I mention any of it here, I will start laughing and turn red with embarrassment (on behalf of Blake's unfortunate friend mentioned in the story). Go directly to The 800 days blog via the link above and read for yourself!
Now, my mind is already thinking up some jokes - in bad taste, too - however, because I do feel poorly for the unfortunate friend in the Talking Turkey story, I am going to refrain from writing/saying anything derogatory... and just say "What a freakin' TURKEY that guy was..."
:) (that's a mild statement compared to the jokes Blake makes in reasonable taste - in the article)
All I can say is that I'm glad that Thanksgiving Day is in the past for Blake and Blake's friends and that things turned out alright in the end because now many handfuls of people have a fantastic story to tell each year on Thanksgiving Day... and all but 1 person can actually laugh and not turn red with embarrassment about the event from the past! That's not a bad score - dozens to one? Not much loss incurred there!
:)
The funny story as the Day 756 post is associated with Thanksgiving Day 2010 and Thursday November 25 2010.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Day 757 (Tidbits)
One of my favourite topics is being opened up for discussion over on THE 800 DAYS blog for the Day 757 entry. The topic is: DISCORDIANISM
...and for me, Discordianism is closely related to some studies I have done in the recent past regarding DISSENT LITERATURE. For me, anyway, I find the two topics fairly related. Quite naturally, when discussing either topic, the word "anarchism" or "anarchy" will invariably surface.
Burroughs and 23 Enigma are a nice segue into the topic of Discordianism and a major work, Principia Discordia states that "All things happen in fives, or are divisible by or are multiples of five, or are somehow directly or indirectly appropriate to 5." ie: "THE LAW OF FIVES." 23 is related (considered a corollary to the Law of Fives and the number "5").
Although I am not a Discordian, myself, I find the concepts, correspondences, corollary details within Discordianism fascinating. I have to admit, some of the concepts make one wonder if CHAOS really rules in our world. If I take a look at all the war and mayhem in just the recent past - since the year 1900, I have to start stating that there are very few rational events going on in the world since 1900 'til now. At least it can be said that human beings do not seem to have been behaving with much rational logical grounding for the past several decades... we seem to be causing our own chaos...
Before the 800 Day countdown narrows down to that well-known date in December 2012, I am sure to know a whole lot more about Discordianism than I do right now. I admit, upon first glance, Discordianism and the most basic definitions of it brought an air of pessimism to me but on looking into things, I find that I had just rested into a set way of thinking about the world. Discordianism has made me stretch the comfortable "explanation of the world" that I was at least marginally content with and made me take second and third views of certain situations and explanations that have been handed to me by those who spout off the current societal ideologies in my region of the the world. If pessimistic, Discordianism at least seems to aim to put people in a place where complacency with the status quo is just not acceptable nor applauded. For that, I give a big thumbs-up!!
The article: Discordianism as Religion by Blake Hall
Now I'll let you go read and learn more as I delve into the Principia Discordia (provided in links within the article, so you'll find the Principia Discordia, too, as you read on) so that I can learn more about these principles and The Law of Fives, etc.
The post for Day 757 is associated with Wednesday November 24, 2010.
...and for me, Discordianism is closely related to some studies I have done in the recent past regarding DISSENT LITERATURE. For me, anyway, I find the two topics fairly related. Quite naturally, when discussing either topic, the word "anarchism" or "anarchy" will invariably surface.
Burroughs and 23 Enigma are a nice segue into the topic of Discordianism and a major work, Principia Discordia states that "All things happen in fives, or are divisible by or are multiples of five, or are somehow directly or indirectly appropriate to 5." ie: "THE LAW OF FIVES." 23 is related (considered a corollary to the Law of Fives and the number "5").
Although I am not a Discordian, myself, I find the concepts, correspondences, corollary details within Discordianism fascinating. I have to admit, some of the concepts make one wonder if CHAOS really rules in our world. If I take a look at all the war and mayhem in just the recent past - since the year 1900, I have to start stating that there are very few rational events going on in the world since 1900 'til now. At least it can be said that human beings do not seem to have been behaving with much rational logical grounding for the past several decades... we seem to be causing our own chaos...
Before the 800 Day countdown narrows down to that well-known date in December 2012, I am sure to know a whole lot more about Discordianism than I do right now. I admit, upon first glance, Discordianism and the most basic definitions of it brought an air of pessimism to me but on looking into things, I find that I had just rested into a set way of thinking about the world. Discordianism has made me stretch the comfortable "explanation of the world" that I was at least marginally content with and made me take second and third views of certain situations and explanations that have been handed to me by those who spout off the current societal ideologies in my region of the the world. If pessimistic, Discordianism at least seems to aim to put people in a place where complacency with the status quo is just not acceptable nor applauded. For that, I give a big thumbs-up!!
The article: Discordianism as Religion by Blake Hall
Now I'll let you go read and learn more as I delve into the Principia Discordia (provided in links within the article, so you'll find the Principia Discordia, too, as you read on) so that I can learn more about these principles and The Law of Fives, etc.
The post for Day 757 is associated with Wednesday November 24, 2010.
Day 758 (Tidbits)
Blake brings readers some tidbits on "The Arts" for the Day 758 post on the 800 DAYS! Now since I am not very familiar with the particular individuals Blake writes about for this post, I'm just going to send you over and say, in no uncertain terms, "Read What Blake Has To Say on William S. Burroughs!"
Article: Ah Pook Is Here by William S. Burroughs...The Lost Graphic Novel by a Master of Modern Literature.
What I DO "GET" about Burroughs is that he is reportedly the first or at least one of the first to take the topic of "23 Enigma" seriously - and "way out there." We've already viewed a post from the 800 Days blog about 23 Enigma, found here: (Day 789, Follower blog) and here: (Day 789, THE 800 Days, Blake's blog). Also, a prominent actor, Jim Carrey (as Walter Sparrow), was in a film made in 2007 called "The Number 23" that was all about the topic of 23 Enigma.
I watched the film with Carrey in it - just a few minutes ago... and will review the film (it's WORTH SEEING) in an upcoming blog post once I've caught up a little bit with Blake's posts on The 800 Days blog.
After just a little digging on Burroughs, I found that details in his biography are less than shining and that Burroughs lived a questionable lifestyle, suffered from addictions and all sorts of mayhem in his life - however - one thing that seems close to unanimous is that he put out some worthy works, even if many of these were controversial and, in his time, harshly criticized...
One little tidbit I found that was interesting is that Burroughs is on the Sgt. Pepper's (Beatles) Album cover:
Burroughs is in the 2nd row (start at the top) between a likeness of Marilyn Monroe (actress) and Sri Mahavatar Babaji (Hindu guru). To look at a larger and interactive image with better resolution than I am able to get here, please see link below:
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography - Interactive Sgt Pepper's image
The Day 758 post on the 800 Days blog is associated with Tuesday November 23 2010.
Article: Ah Pook Is Here by William S. Burroughs...The Lost Graphic Novel by a Master of Modern Literature.
What I DO "GET" about Burroughs is that he is reportedly the first or at least one of the first to take the topic of "23 Enigma" seriously - and "way out there." We've already viewed a post from the 800 Days blog about 23 Enigma, found here: (Day 789, Follower blog) and here: (Day 789, THE 800 Days, Blake's blog). Also, a prominent actor, Jim Carrey (as Walter Sparrow), was in a film made in 2007 called "The Number 23" that was all about the topic of 23 Enigma.
I watched the film with Carrey in it - just a few minutes ago... and will review the film (it's WORTH SEEING) in an upcoming blog post once I've caught up a little bit with Blake's posts on The 800 Days blog.
After just a little digging on Burroughs, I found that details in his biography are less than shining and that Burroughs lived a questionable lifestyle, suffered from addictions and all sorts of mayhem in his life - however - one thing that seems close to unanimous is that he put out some worthy works, even if many of these were controversial and, in his time, harshly criticized...
One little tidbit I found that was interesting is that Burroughs is on the Sgt. Pepper's (Beatles) Album cover:
Burroughs is in the 2nd row (start at the top) between a likeness of Marilyn Monroe (actress) and Sri Mahavatar Babaji (Hindu guru). To look at a larger and interactive image with better resolution than I am able to get here, please see link below:
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography - Interactive Sgt Pepper's image
The Day 758 post on the 800 Days blog is associated with Tuesday November 23 2010.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Day 759 (Tidbits)
There is the most STRIKING picture of Mythbuster up on THE 800 DAYS BLOG for the Day 759 post, associated with the date Monday November 22, 2010. I'm extremely happy that - FINALLY - someone got a picture of me with my eyes open! I tend to blink too much (for some odd reason) when photos are being taken, adding the erroneous effects that I'm either stoned, asleep - or both - when really, I am neither! Yep, that's me alright...wide-eyed and serious over on the Day 759 post!
I'm basically stumbling over thoughts and words right now because the Day 759 post hasn't got anything much to do with the finer details of The 800 Day Countdown... instead, it's about Blake writing about ME!
I am very honoured that Blake has taken the time for quite a lengthy post dedicated to MOI and the content I've put out online. THANK YOU BLAKE HALL! I'm very flattered!
HOWEVER...
Since I'm not sure how that picture of me got out so easily and got to circulating around, I figure I might as well COME OUT, myself, with a few other photos that might cause me some embarrassment if they get into the wrong hands and get posted online. I might as well just post them myself - along with the explanations I PREFER people to have... just - in - case!
Explanation:
First of all... I was a PREEMIE baby, so I'll just start with possible embarrassing photos right from birth. Now if you know ANYTHING about preemie babies - of course they're as precious as any other babies, but they just don't always look just right, okay? Obviously, I was very tiny - more than two months too soon, so I fit in the palm of the hand of anyone who picked me up immediately after I was born...
NEXT
Explanation: okay, this picture isn't too embarrassing... it's after I managed to grow a bit and the docs figured out I had all my organs, toes, fingers and everything in the right place after all (I lived in the hospital for over a month 'til I was allowed to ever come home with my mom, my dad and my older sister).
Growing and finally able to suck a bottle properly...later on I sucked my thumb for a little too long ('til age 12) but maybe that was going to happen seeing as I was fed intraveneously for quite a while right after birth... it's the NEXT PHOTO that is super embarrassing for me...
Explanation: all my cousins, my older sis and some friends all ganged up on me, put me in this awful outfit then took pictures... HOW EMBARRASSING!
Explanation: Your basic nekkid "blackmail" photos... I might as well just post 'em together...
Explanation: if I look very confused, looking at the computer screen, it's because this picture was taken several years ago when I was just learning how to operate a computer... Thank goodness I had some help learning how a computer works, otherwise I could have stayed hunched over that screen forever!!
And that's about all...
Thankfully, I have my "act together" in the photo that Blake found of me... and the photo over on The 800 Days blog looks a lot more like my current self and how people know me now...
The Day 759 post on the 800 Days blog is associated with Monday November 22 2010 in the Countdown.
NICE TO MEET YOU!
I'm basically stumbling over thoughts and words right now because the Day 759 post hasn't got anything much to do with the finer details of The 800 Day Countdown... instead, it's about Blake writing about ME!
I am very honoured that Blake has taken the time for quite a lengthy post dedicated to MOI and the content I've put out online. THANK YOU BLAKE HALL! I'm very flattered!
HOWEVER...
Since I'm not sure how that picture of me got out so easily and got to circulating around, I figure I might as well COME OUT, myself, with a few other photos that might cause me some embarrassment if they get into the wrong hands and get posted online. I might as well just post them myself - along with the explanations I PREFER people to have... just - in - case!
Explanation:
First of all... I was a PREEMIE baby, so I'll just start with possible embarrassing photos right from birth. Now if you know ANYTHING about preemie babies - of course they're as precious as any other babies, but they just don't always look just right, okay? Obviously, I was very tiny - more than two months too soon, so I fit in the palm of the hand of anyone who picked me up immediately after I was born...
So here's a look at one of the first photo ever taken of me:
Told ya! Tiny, right?
NEXT
Explanation: okay, this picture isn't too embarrassing... it's after I managed to grow a bit and the docs figured out I had all my organs, toes, fingers and everything in the right place after all (I lived in the hospital for over a month 'til I was allowed to ever come home with my mom, my dad and my older sister).
Explanation: all my cousins, my older sis and some friends all ganged up on me, put me in this awful outfit then took pictures... HOW EMBARRASSING!
I WAS FORCED INTO THAT DRESS...it was SO UNFAIR -
look at the size of me? What could I do???
I was only about 3 years old!
Explanation: Your basic nekkid "blackmail" photos... I might as well just post 'em together...
AND
Okay, well that's enough... nekkid Mythbuster pics, not funny people!
Explanation: if I look very confused, looking at the computer screen, it's because this picture was taken several years ago when I was just learning how to operate a computer... Thank goodness I had some help learning how a computer works, otherwise I could have stayed hunched over that screen forever!!
Thankfully, I have my "act together" in the photo that Blake found of me... and the photo over on The 800 Days blog looks a lot more like my current self and how people know me now...
The Day 759 post on the 800 Days blog is associated with Monday November 22 2010 in the Countdown.
Day 760 (Tidbits)
Get your left and right brain parts working together before delving into the Day 760 material on THE 800 DAYS blog!
There are definitely some unrelated tidbits put together for this post but don't worry... they're all enjoyable anyway.
I got SUCKED IN BY BLAKE... *LOL*
There's a text/image "loop" application of some sort right at the beginning of the post... I WATCHED/READ IT ALL TWICE haha! You might, too... btw, the "Action Jackson" font IS pretty cool, so look for it!
On a more serious note, Blake continues outlining and presenting some messages from a personality we've seen on two other posts already - "EDEN SKY." In an audio presented on the 800 DAYS blog, Eden Sky endorses and speaks about "The Universal Flag." The link provides Brian McClure interviewing Eden Sky on the topic of The Universal Flag and the concept behind this is that this flag transcends borders, race, etc. This audio is "Show 89: A Conversation With Eden Sky" from August 28, 2010. Much of the content should interest almost any person who can manage to find this recording... it's on very important information about "TIME," along with The Universal Flag.
I have a special interest in "TIME" because I've been studying about how humankind has manipulated time over the centuries...and I've been studying this topic of time in a multidisciplinary way - for about three years. A great book I've read more than once and that I keep close at hand AT ALL TIMES is Jeremy Rifkin's "Time Wars." If you can find this book, read it! You will NEVER look upon a sundial, clock or digital timekeeper of any kind in the same way after reading the Rifkin material... You will never think of the work week, the workday or things of this nature in the same way ever again... You will also likely want to learn more about "circadian rhythm" too, but...hey, I'm going too far here and getting off topic!
In short, I have found that Eden Sky's information is NOT in any way challenging to Rifkin's material or material studied on historical time-keepers and time-setters (like St. Benedict of Nursia)... and am quite happy to have come across the McClure/Sky interview!
Aside from the audio material available via The 800 Days blog, the Day 760 post also contains some fantastic images!
Then once you scroll down past some images - after careful observations, of course, then BINGO! You get to some really COOL, BASIC information about The Mayan Calendar (Mayan Calendar for Dummies - YES !!!)...thank goodness because there definitely ARE a lot of info bytes on varying topics so far on THE 800 DAYS blog...
Article: 2012 : the Pleiades and the Mayan Calendar for Dummies
Definitely read all the content for this post on the 800 DAYS blog. The 2012/Pleiades/Mayan Calendar article is a collaboration between Blake Hall and Cricket Rockastellar and is basically subtitled, "A User Guide For The Rest Of Us." If you've had a lot of difficulty understandint Mayan Calendar information, reading this article will clear a lot of things up and make things clear for you.
What you'll find:
It's a good idea, as stated at the beginning of this post, to get your left and right brain portions working together here. This means - get your CRITICAL THINKING "going on" when you read this post! There is a lot of information here but all of it is important as basic, fundamental information on Mayan Calendar details that will help people understand more in-depth and possibly more difficult discussions and details later on as the Countdown progresses and more 2012 Theories, Mayan Calendar Theories, etc. are introduced.
The Day 760 post coincides with Sunday November 21 2010.
There are definitely some unrelated tidbits put together for this post but don't worry... they're all enjoyable anyway.
I got SUCKED IN BY BLAKE... *LOL*
There's a text/image "loop" application of some sort right at the beginning of the post... I WATCHED/READ IT ALL TWICE haha! You might, too... btw, the "Action Jackson" font IS pretty cool, so look for it!
On a more serious note, Blake continues outlining and presenting some messages from a personality we've seen on two other posts already - "EDEN SKY." In an audio presented on the 800 DAYS blog, Eden Sky endorses and speaks about "The Universal Flag." The link provides Brian McClure interviewing Eden Sky on the topic of The Universal Flag and the concept behind this is that this flag transcends borders, race, etc. This audio is "Show 89: A Conversation With Eden Sky" from August 28, 2010. Much of the content should interest almost any person who can manage to find this recording... it's on very important information about "TIME," along with The Universal Flag.
I have a special interest in "TIME" because I've been studying about how humankind has manipulated time over the centuries...and I've been studying this topic of time in a multidisciplinary way - for about three years. A great book I've read more than once and that I keep close at hand AT ALL TIMES is Jeremy Rifkin's "Time Wars." If you can find this book, read it! You will NEVER look upon a sundial, clock or digital timekeeper of any kind in the same way after reading the Rifkin material... You will never think of the work week, the workday or things of this nature in the same way ever again... You will also likely want to learn more about "circadian rhythm" too, but...hey, I'm going too far here and getting off topic!
In short, I have found that Eden Sky's information is NOT in any way challenging to Rifkin's material or material studied on historical time-keepers and time-setters (like St. Benedict of Nursia)... and am quite happy to have come across the McClure/Sky interview!
Aside from the audio material available via The 800 Days blog, the Day 760 post also contains some fantastic images!
Then once you scroll down past some images - after careful observations, of course, then BINGO! You get to some really COOL, BASIC information about The Mayan Calendar (Mayan Calendar for Dummies - YES !!!)...thank goodness because there definitely ARE a lot of info bytes on varying topics so far on THE 800 DAYS blog...
Article: 2012 : the Pleiades and the Mayan Calendar for Dummies
Definitely read all the content for this post on the 800 DAYS blog. The 2012/Pleiades/Mayan Calendar article is a collaboration between Blake Hall and Cricket Rockastellar and is basically subtitled, "A User Guide For The Rest Of Us." If you've had a lot of difficulty understandint Mayan Calendar information, reading this article will clear a lot of things up and make things clear for you.
What you'll find:
- explanation of what Pleiades is/are
- list of items contained in The Pleiades
- basic workings of the Mayan Calendar
- the basic four cycles of the calendar
- some historical information about the Mayans
- walk-through tidbits regarding mathematical calculations
- some narrative/mythological details on Quetzalcoatl
- details on something known as the Hell Cycle
- details on "The Time of Flowering"
It's a good idea, as stated at the beginning of this post, to get your left and right brain portions working together here. This means - get your CRITICAL THINKING "going on" when you read this post! There is a lot of information here but all of it is important as basic, fundamental information on Mayan Calendar details that will help people understand more in-depth and possibly more difficult discussions and details later on as the Countdown progresses and more 2012 Theories, Mayan Calendar Theories, etc. are introduced.
The Day 760 post coincides with Sunday November 21 2010.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Day 761 (Tidbits)
There's an audio selection set upon the Day 761 post and within the larger scope of THE 800 DAYS blog content that is amazing, in my humble opinion...
If you do NOT feel calmed and garner positive feelings from hitting the "play" arrow over on the 800 DAYS blog, well... I just wouldn't know what to say to that because as soon as I started listening, I felt more calm, and got in touch with a more positive set of "I" statements within...
I was reviewing other materials before I checked out the audio on Blake's 800 Days blog today. These materials were Doomsday and Apocalypse articles, videos and audios - so although I have my own pretty solid beliefs about these matters and am not actually afraid of some of the prophecy materials that I see online in various media forms, I admit - some of the information is pessimistic and FRIGHTENING... if one gets into a mindset of believing in some of what might only be propaganda, misinformation or disinformation about Doomsday and Apocalypse Theories...
The audio selection is called "Agents of Calm" and has narrative and vocal messages on it from EDEN SKY... Christian Burne mixed the selection, so credit goes, in part, to Mr. Burne for aligning great audio with vocal bytes!
Also in this post...
THE GALACTIC BUTTERFLY... something that I didn't have much awareness of prior to reading the content for Day 761 on Blake's blog. Strangely, it must have been just the right time and head-space for me to read this blog post right on this day because in my earlier activities, along with pessimistic concepts about the future, I did learn a lot more (on a positive note) about symbols, the importance and power of symbols... so the giant, revolving GALACTIC BUTTERFLY image that is flippin' around on Blake's Day 761 post seems really important and interesting to me now. I'll refrain from describing or explaining the concepts around The Galactic Butterfly here because Blake's attention to this topic is well done over on his blog. Instead, I'll insert a definition soon for "Galactic Butterfly" in the Glossary section/tab of the blog here.
There are some charts, 13-moon calendar information, 260-day calendar explanations and things that are better left on the 800 DAYS blog... I'd just be tossing jargon out if I explained here as "narratives," psych and sociology stuff, legends and related details are more my area of experience. I'm still learning much about the various calendars as Blake posts content. If you're a beginner just heading into or just becoming interested in 2012/Mayan Calendar topics, and find a bit of this stuff confusing, I HEAR YA!!! I know what this feels like... but we'll learn together!
Go check out The 800 Days blog, Day 761 post: Take me to Day 761 on THE 800 DAYS BLOG
The Day 761 content is associated with Saturday November 20 2010 in the 800 Day Countdown.
If you do NOT feel calmed and garner positive feelings from hitting the "play" arrow over on the 800 DAYS blog, well... I just wouldn't know what to say to that because as soon as I started listening, I felt more calm, and got in touch with a more positive set of "I" statements within...
I was reviewing other materials before I checked out the audio on Blake's 800 Days blog today. These materials were Doomsday and Apocalypse articles, videos and audios - so although I have my own pretty solid beliefs about these matters and am not actually afraid of some of the prophecy materials that I see online in various media forms, I admit - some of the information is pessimistic and FRIGHTENING... if one gets into a mindset of believing in some of what might only be propaganda, misinformation or disinformation about Doomsday and Apocalypse Theories...
The audio selection is called "Agents of Calm" and has narrative and vocal messages on it from EDEN SKY... Christian Burne mixed the selection, so credit goes, in part, to Mr. Burne for aligning great audio with vocal bytes!
Also in this post...
THE GALACTIC BUTTERFLY... something that I didn't have much awareness of prior to reading the content for Day 761 on Blake's blog. Strangely, it must have been just the right time and head-space for me to read this blog post right on this day because in my earlier activities, along with pessimistic concepts about the future, I did learn a lot more (on a positive note) about symbols, the importance and power of symbols... so the giant, revolving GALACTIC BUTTERFLY image that is flippin' around on Blake's Day 761 post seems really important and interesting to me now. I'll refrain from describing or explaining the concepts around The Galactic Butterfly here because Blake's attention to this topic is well done over on his blog. Instead, I'll insert a definition soon for "Galactic Butterfly" in the Glossary section/tab of the blog here.
There are some charts, 13-moon calendar information, 260-day calendar explanations and things that are better left on the 800 DAYS blog... I'd just be tossing jargon out if I explained here as "narratives," psych and sociology stuff, legends and related details are more my area of experience. I'm still learning much about the various calendars as Blake posts content. If you're a beginner just heading into or just becoming interested in 2012/Mayan Calendar topics, and find a bit of this stuff confusing, I HEAR YA!!! I know what this feels like... but we'll learn together!
Go check out The 800 Days blog, Day 761 post: Take me to Day 761 on THE 800 DAYS BLOG
The Day 761 content is associated with Saturday November 20 2010 in the 800 Day Countdown.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Day 762 (Tidbits)
If you've been following along, the last post should have gotten your head a little distance away from "Western World View" and this will continue for the Day 762 entry on THE 800 DAYS blog. More ZEN references and details are on the 800 Days blog.
In the spirit of Zen, I thought I'd add some little stories here to coincide with the Zen tidbits that Blake has written about...
Here's a little "Zen" story...
"Eat The Blame"
Some unforseen circumstances arose one day and delayed the preparation of dinner for a Soto Zen master, Fukai, along with his dedicated followers. In great haste, the cook tried to make up for lost time. He ran out to the garden with his curved blade and quickly cut off the tops of various green vegetables. He then chopped the vegetable tops all up and threw them in a pot, fashioning a fast soup recipe. In his haste in the garden, the cook was unaware that, along with the vegetable tops, he'd also included a chunk of snake in the recipe...
Fukai's followers believed they had never tasted such delicious soup before but when Master Fukai, himself, found the snake's head in his own soup bowl, he immediately summoned the cook...
"What is this?" Fukai demanded - holding out the head of the snake.
Thinking most quickly and brilliantly, the cook said,
"Oh, thank you, master!"
The cook took the snake's head as if it were a tender, tasty delicacy - and HE ATE IT - then performed a respectful bow...
How's THAT for quick thinking??
And another little Eastern derived story:
"Sound of One Hand"
Mokurai, Silent Thunder, was the master of Kennin Temple. Toya, 12 years old, was Mokurai's little protege. Now, Toya watched the older disciples as they visited Master Mokurai's room each morning and each evening. The disciples received instruction in the disciplines of sanzen or personal guidance and they received koans from the master to stop their minds from wandering.
Young Toyo also wished to do sanzen.
"Wait a while - you are too young" Mokurai told Toyo.
But young Toyo kept insisting, so after many requests from Toyo, Mokurai finally obliged...
That very evening, little Toyo showed up at the proper time to Mokurai's sanzen room. Toyo struck the gong to announce his presence, then bowed respectfully three times while outside the door before entering to sit before the master in respectful silence.
"You can hear the sound of two hands when they clap together." Mokurai stated. "Now, show me the sound of one hand."
Toyo bowed then went to his room to carefully consider this problem. From his open window, he could hear the sound of music from the geishas. After listening a while, "Ah! I have it!" Toyo said.
On the next evening, when the master asked Toyo to illustrate the sound of one hand, Toyo began to play the music of the geishas.
"No, no," corrected Mokurai, "That will never do. That is not the sound of one hand. You've not got it at all."
Toyo left again - to think on the problem of the sound of one hand. He felt that music might interupt his thoughts so to ponder over the sound of one hand, he choose a different location than before. This time, he selected a very quiet place. He meditated again, wondering, "Now what can the sound of one hand be?" At this time and location he heard the sound of water dripping. "I have it now" thought Toyo.
When Toyo went before his master again, he imitated the sound of dripping water.
"And what is that now?" asked Mokurai... "That is the sound of dripping water - not the sound of one hand. Try again."
Toyo tried to meditate upon what must be the sound of one hand clapping. He heard the sighing of the wind. When he took this explanation and sound to his teacher, this, like the previous assertions, met with rejection.
The sound of one hand was not the music of the geishas, not the sound of dripping water, not the sound of a sighing wind, or of the cry of an own - or of locusts - or anything else Toyo managed to assert to his master over several days and evenings. After 10 times, Toyo still had not been able to come to the master and say what the sound of one hand was.
Finally, Toyo entered into a meditation that transcended all sounds... when he visited his master after this,
"Master, I could collect no more - so I reached the soundless sound..."
Toyo had finally realized the sound of one hand.
Hopefully these little Zen stories fit in well with the Day 762 post on The 800 Days blog. At the 800 Days blog, you'll also find a few words about writing a Chinese poem, so I hope you'll allow these eastern tidbits take your outside of western world view in your mind for just a little while. It's always a good exercise for the mind to think outside the box, take on a different viewpoint for a little while.
I've found many Zen stories quite full of humour and wisdom at the same time...also, they are occassionally full of a practicality and simplicity that will make you laugh at how your own mind will try to complicate a situation provided in a short Zen story.
I hope you will enjoy the koan/Zen stories as much as I have. Reading the Day 762 prompted me to look up more Eastern "koan" pieces and THERE ARE MANY. In the course of the 800 Day Countdown, I'm sure I will return to posting some KOAN tidbits again, so watch for them...
Day 762 in the 800 Day Countdown is from Friday November 19, 2010.
In the spirit of Zen, I thought I'd add some little stories here to coincide with the Zen tidbits that Blake has written about...
Here's a little "Zen" story...
"Eat The Blame"
Some unforseen circumstances arose one day and delayed the preparation of dinner for a Soto Zen master, Fukai, along with his dedicated followers. In great haste, the cook tried to make up for lost time. He ran out to the garden with his curved blade and quickly cut off the tops of various green vegetables. He then chopped the vegetable tops all up and threw them in a pot, fashioning a fast soup recipe. In his haste in the garden, the cook was unaware that, along with the vegetable tops, he'd also included a chunk of snake in the recipe...
Fukai's followers believed they had never tasted such delicious soup before but when Master Fukai, himself, found the snake's head in his own soup bowl, he immediately summoned the cook...
"What is this?" Fukai demanded - holding out the head of the snake.
Thinking most quickly and brilliantly, the cook said,
"Oh, thank you, master!"
The cook took the snake's head as if it were a tender, tasty delicacy - and HE ATE IT - then performed a respectful bow...
How's THAT for quick thinking??
And another little Eastern derived story:
"Sound of One Hand"
Mokurai, Silent Thunder, was the master of Kennin Temple. Toya, 12 years old, was Mokurai's little protege. Now, Toya watched the older disciples as they visited Master Mokurai's room each morning and each evening. The disciples received instruction in the disciplines of sanzen or personal guidance and they received koans from the master to stop their minds from wandering.
Young Toyo also wished to do sanzen.
"Wait a while - you are too young" Mokurai told Toyo.
But young Toyo kept insisting, so after many requests from Toyo, Mokurai finally obliged...
That very evening, little Toyo showed up at the proper time to Mokurai's sanzen room. Toyo struck the gong to announce his presence, then bowed respectfully three times while outside the door before entering to sit before the master in respectful silence.
"You can hear the sound of two hands when they clap together." Mokurai stated. "Now, show me the sound of one hand."
Toyo bowed then went to his room to carefully consider this problem. From his open window, he could hear the sound of music from the geishas. After listening a while, "Ah! I have it!" Toyo said.
On the next evening, when the master asked Toyo to illustrate the sound of one hand, Toyo began to play the music of the geishas.
"No, no," corrected Mokurai, "That will never do. That is not the sound of one hand. You've not got it at all."
Toyo left again - to think on the problem of the sound of one hand. He felt that music might interupt his thoughts so to ponder over the sound of one hand, he choose a different location than before. This time, he selected a very quiet place. He meditated again, wondering, "Now what can the sound of one hand be?" At this time and location he heard the sound of water dripping. "I have it now" thought Toyo.
When Toyo went before his master again, he imitated the sound of dripping water.
"And what is that now?" asked Mokurai... "That is the sound of dripping water - not the sound of one hand. Try again."
Toyo tried to meditate upon what must be the sound of one hand clapping. He heard the sighing of the wind. When he took this explanation and sound to his teacher, this, like the previous assertions, met with rejection.
The sound of one hand was not the music of the geishas, not the sound of dripping water, not the sound of a sighing wind, or of the cry of an own - or of locusts - or anything else Toyo managed to assert to his master over several days and evenings. After 10 times, Toyo still had not been able to come to the master and say what the sound of one hand was.
Finally, Toyo entered into a meditation that transcended all sounds... when he visited his master after this,
"Master, I could collect no more - so I reached the soundless sound..."
Toyo had finally realized the sound of one hand.
Hopefully these little Zen stories fit in well with the Day 762 post on The 800 Days blog. At the 800 Days blog, you'll also find a few words about writing a Chinese poem, so I hope you'll allow these eastern tidbits take your outside of western world view in your mind for just a little while. It's always a good exercise for the mind to think outside the box, take on a different viewpoint for a little while.
I've found many Zen stories quite full of humour and wisdom at the same time...also, they are occassionally full of a practicality and simplicity that will make you laugh at how your own mind will try to complicate a situation provided in a short Zen story.
I hope you will enjoy the koan/Zen stories as much as I have. Reading the Day 762 prompted me to look up more Eastern "koan" pieces and THERE ARE MANY. In the course of the 800 Day Countdown, I'm sure I will return to posting some KOAN tidbits again, so watch for them...
Day 762 in the 800 Day Countdown is from Friday November 19, 2010.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Day 763 (Tidbits)
Welcome to the world of "ZEN," brought to you by Blake Hall.
Although there are some quotes and very short stories on Day 763 of The 800 Days blog, do not take them all too lightly, please.
There are some definite light-hearted details on the Day 763 post, however, there are also bits of wisdom embedded in the quotes. If you read each quote then pause, you'll likely find that larger messages reside in the funny details...even messages that are pertinent pieces of wisdom for your life today.
It's a look at Zen worldview without having ZEN placed too harshly in your face.
Day 763 in the 800 Days Countdown is Thursday November 18, 2010.
(this post is short because the quotes on the 800 DAYS blog are important to ponder over rather than focusing on my ramble)
:)
:)
Although there are some quotes and very short stories on Day 763 of The 800 Days blog, do not take them all too lightly, please.
There are some definite light-hearted details on the Day 763 post, however, there are also bits of wisdom embedded in the quotes. If you read each quote then pause, you'll likely find that larger messages reside in the funny details...even messages that are pertinent pieces of wisdom for your life today.
It's a look at Zen worldview without having ZEN placed too harshly in your face.
Day 763 in the 800 Days Countdown is Thursday November 18, 2010.
(this post is short because the quotes on the 800 DAYS blog are important to ponder over rather than focusing on my ramble)
Day 764 (Tidbits)
Blake has really offered a lot of good information (in my opinion) and has given prime attention to the Muslim celebration of Eid Al-Adha on the previous Day 765 post. On Day 764 of his The 800 Days blog, he does something a little different and writes something to appreciate and honour a person from India who is held dearly in his heart. Blake does this in poetic form - and to my way of thinking, the poetics are as close to an "act of reverence" (definitely a focused "mindfullness") as one can get when coming from a different culture.
Blake has dedicated this piece to a dear friend of his, "dreamreachout" who was already mentioned recently in my "Follower Reader Appreciation" post.
The poem is called "Do Good" and to my knowledge, you're not going to be able to find this piece anywhere, save for THE 800 DAYS blog.
My perception of the general essence of this poem is that Blake is associating his dear friend, dreamreachout, with someone (or the sort of person) who will just "Do Good," regardless of circumstances... There are those who do good things for different motives and who sometimes need the right coaxing in order to act humanely and rightly. I gather that Blake feels his friend is one of the exceptional people who just "Do Good" without requiring additional motivational factors to push them in the right, humane direction. Of course, the poem is open to interpretation, but this is my interpretation.
I sincerely hope to get to that humane level, myself, someday but as yet... I have this poem to absorb as a guideline - and, of course, dreamreachout's materials to read when I so choose, too!
DO GOOD, dreamreachout, poetry, hints of Eid Al-Adha and Day 764 in the 800 Days Countdown are all associated with Wednesday November 17 2010.
Blake has dedicated this piece to a dear friend of his, "dreamreachout" who was already mentioned recently in my "Follower Reader Appreciation" post.
The poem is called "Do Good" and to my knowledge, you're not going to be able to find this piece anywhere, save for THE 800 DAYS blog.
My perception of the general essence of this poem is that Blake is associating his dear friend, dreamreachout, with someone (or the sort of person) who will just "Do Good," regardless of circumstances... There are those who do good things for different motives and who sometimes need the right coaxing in order to act humanely and rightly. I gather that Blake feels his friend is one of the exceptional people who just "Do Good" without requiring additional motivational factors to push them in the right, humane direction. Of course, the poem is open to interpretation, but this is my interpretation.
I sincerely hope to get to that humane level, myself, someday but as yet... I have this poem to absorb as a guideline - and, of course, dreamreachout's materials to read when I so choose, too!
DO GOOD, dreamreachout, poetry, hints of Eid Al-Adha and Day 764 in the 800 Days Countdown are all associated with Wednesday November 17 2010.
Day 765 (Tidbits)
Getting back to "tidbits" and review type posting on the follower blog here. Now I know I am behind, 'cos I typically stay a few days behind Blake's posted material, and in doing so I am a little off on celebration days. I think of it this way - I learn as I go so although I was aware of certain celebrations, writing about them a few days off keeps me in mind of them for longer and I don't see that as a negative!
A celebrated topic/observance on THE 800 DAYS BLOG for the Day 765 post on Tuesday November 16 2010, was "Eid Al-Adha."
Eid Al-Adha isn't something that I personally have celebrated in the past but is something I have become more interested in just in the past few years. Eid Al-Adha is a Muslim religious holiday and festival whereby Muslims celebrate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Ishmael, his son, as an act of obedience to God. Now, God intervened, according to traditions, legend and myth - and provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice instead of doing so with Ishmael, so this holiday and festival is known also as the "Festival of Sacrifice" or the "Greater Eid."
As stated earlier and above, this isn't a festival I have been familiar with celebrating in my personal life. Luckily, I have learned more about this festival via contact with Blake, his writings and through searching around online to learn about Muslim traditions. Even though I do not identify primarily as a Muslim, myself, I believe that any culture's or peoples' traditional days have importance in the world...a belief I have only picked up in the past few years - so I think it is an act of reverence to start learning about things another culture's people feel are of tantamount and religious importance. I will be taking more care in years to come from this year forward - and start to honour other days/festivals that are important even if I do not adhere to all unfamiliar traditions outside of my own belief system.
I am learning that we can only "other" people, place prejudices against, act out against other people if we continue to ignore their ways and beliefs and then oppress these beliefs and people. We may not always be able to adhere to every belief foreign to our upbringing but I can't imagine it can be wrong to learn more or honour the beliefs of another culture... so I will not be missing Eid Al-Adha anymore in the future. Thankfully, Blake has placed the explanation on how the days of Eid Al-Adha are determined with Muslims and also has next year's days of celebration posted on the Day 765 entry on the 800 Days blog.
A quote - for the purpose of displaying the days:
Naturally, because there are quite rigid rules surrounding days of reverence for Muslims during Eid Al-Adha, I cannot participate fully - but I will make special prayers in my own faith during the next Eid Al-Adha which will contain wishes that others honour the elaborate, reverent celebration of the Muslims regardless of affiliation with other religions and cultures. For example, according to Muslim traditions, I would not be allowed to be in a position during Eid Al-Adha to "sacrifice" a ram or acceptable sacrificial animal - because I am not Muslim myself. I believe, however, that doing special cleansing rituals on the same days that Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Adha will not be looked upon poorly by anyone and cleansing rituals would put me in mind to be respectful of other cultures, even if I am not Muslim and even if I cannot quickly adopt or learn all about every Muslim point of belief or tradition.
What I have found very interesting and awesome about the Muslim celebrations is the great intricacy of ritual involved with Eid Al-Adha. When involved in these days of reverence, it must be that great care and mindfulness is employed for many hours of the day and for several days on end... this attention to personal relationships with God/Allah, to human relationships with the Earth and on humans together with humans should be more widely known and accepted in my opinion. These considerations are what I intend to project and experience next November! Until then, I will be learning more about the Muslim traditions.
Be sure to visit Blake's descriptions, article and details about Eid Al-Adha as I have in no way provided extensive explanations - only my belief here - that I ought to learn more about these Muslim days of reverence. There are a few things from Blake's article that I will have to get committed to memory so that I understand Eid Al-Adha better for next year.
Article: Eid Al-Adha the Festival of Sacrifice
The Day 765 post is associated with Tuesday November 16, 2010.
Allahu Akbar ("God is the Greatest," or "God is Great.")
A celebrated topic/observance on THE 800 DAYS BLOG for the Day 765 post on Tuesday November 16 2010, was "Eid Al-Adha."
Eid Al-Adha isn't something that I personally have celebrated in the past but is something I have become more interested in just in the past few years. Eid Al-Adha is a Muslim religious holiday and festival whereby Muslims celebrate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Ishmael, his son, as an act of obedience to God. Now, God intervened, according to traditions, legend and myth - and provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice instead of doing so with Ishmael, so this holiday and festival is known also as the "Festival of Sacrifice" or the "Greater Eid."
As stated earlier and above, this isn't a festival I have been familiar with celebrating in my personal life. Luckily, I have learned more about this festival via contact with Blake, his writings and through searching around online to learn about Muslim traditions. Even though I do not identify primarily as a Muslim, myself, I believe that any culture's or peoples' traditional days have importance in the world...a belief I have only picked up in the past few years - so I think it is an act of reverence to start learning about things another culture's people feel are of tantamount and religious importance. I will be taking more care in years to come from this year forward - and start to honour other days/festivals that are important even if I do not adhere to all unfamiliar traditions outside of my own belief system.
I am learning that we can only "other" people, place prejudices against, act out against other people if we continue to ignore their ways and beliefs and then oppress these beliefs and people. We may not always be able to adhere to every belief foreign to our upbringing but I can't imagine it can be wrong to learn more or honour the beliefs of another culture... so I will not be missing Eid Al-Adha anymore in the future. Thankfully, Blake has placed the explanation on how the days of Eid Al-Adha are determined with Muslims and also has next year's days of celebration posted on the Day 765 entry on the 800 Days blog.
A quote - for the purpose of displaying the days:
- "This year is 1431 (Islamic Calendar): November 17 - 19 ,2010
- Next year is 1432 (Islamic Calendar): November 6 - 8 , 2011
- And the year 1433 (Islamic Calendar): October 26 - 28 , 2012"
Naturally, because there are quite rigid rules surrounding days of reverence for Muslims during Eid Al-Adha, I cannot participate fully - but I will make special prayers in my own faith during the next Eid Al-Adha which will contain wishes that others honour the elaborate, reverent celebration of the Muslims regardless of affiliation with other religions and cultures. For example, according to Muslim traditions, I would not be allowed to be in a position during Eid Al-Adha to "sacrifice" a ram or acceptable sacrificial animal - because I am not Muslim myself. I believe, however, that doing special cleansing rituals on the same days that Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Adha will not be looked upon poorly by anyone and cleansing rituals would put me in mind to be respectful of other cultures, even if I am not Muslim and even if I cannot quickly adopt or learn all about every Muslim point of belief or tradition.
What I have found very interesting and awesome about the Muslim celebrations is the great intricacy of ritual involved with Eid Al-Adha. When involved in these days of reverence, it must be that great care and mindfulness is employed for many hours of the day and for several days on end... this attention to personal relationships with God/Allah, to human relationships with the Earth and on humans together with humans should be more widely known and accepted in my opinion. These considerations are what I intend to project and experience next November! Until then, I will be learning more about the Muslim traditions.
Be sure to visit Blake's descriptions, article and details about Eid Al-Adha as I have in no way provided extensive explanations - only my belief here - that I ought to learn more about these Muslim days of reverence. There are a few things from Blake's article that I will have to get committed to memory so that I understand Eid Al-Adha better for next year.
Article: Eid Al-Adha the Festival of Sacrifice
The Day 765 post is associated with Tuesday November 16, 2010.
Allahu Akbar ("God is the Greatest," or "God is Great.")
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