Andrew Furst's Blog, page 120
July 15, 2015
Verse Us – Right Side Down – A Video Poem
Verse Us - Poems I write: haiku, senryu, mesostics, free verse, random word constructions, I might even use rhyme or meter once and a while.
Tenuous at best
This equilibrium I find myself clinging to.
Dangling from the earth by my cranium.
Watching as others, like birds must see fish,
flail about the universe,
feet bound to the firmament above us.
For us
it resembles suffocating
or haphazard design.
Unable to fathom the sensation of the skull
flopping about deleteriously.
As though hanging their brains as bait and net
to whatever hazards might glide below.
Yet, these impressions
would be invisible to the thinking mind, forgotten.
And ours pondered over as a peculiar mystery
born of some untamed imagination.
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A Birthday for the Dharma – Chokhor Duchen
Though it may sound like it, Chokhor Duchen is not a Klingon expletive or a Rastafarian ritual. It is, in fact, a major Buddhist holiday that commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon and the teaching of the Four Noble Truths. It’s a celebration of a new beginning.
With traditional western holidays so laden with cultural and commercial baggage, there’s something refreshing about learning about an foreign and unfamiliar holiday. It’s especially poignant that we can celebrate the birthday of the Dharma free from the clutter of pomp, guilt, and other emotions connected to our usual holidays. We can approach it with “beginner mind”.
For those of us familiar with the Buddha’s teachings, we’re reminded of that inspired moment when the Buddha revealed, with genius simplicity, the way to happiness.
The Four Noble Truths laid open the path to the human heart, to love, and to the divine by reminding us that the seed of our contentment lies within. We need only look to find it. This Monday July 23rd is Chokhor Duchen. Take the opportunity to look in and find some peace. You can join us for our regular sitting or find a meditation center nearby. Discover the seed that Siddhārtha Gautama discovered so long ago, let it bring you peace, let it grow, and let it bring joy to those around you.
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July 14, 2015
Is Buddhism Un-American? – Say What?
Say What? is an ongoing series of laconic exchanges on Buddhism in the format of a comic strip.
This shirt is dry clean only. Which means... it's dirty. - Mitch Hedberg
Is Buddhism Un-American?
A Few Words On What is Un-American.
Get Each Week's Say What? in your email box
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In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:
One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
The post Is Buddhism Un-American? – Say What? appeared on Andrew Furst.
Compass Songs – For Love by Robert Creeley
Compass Songs is an ongoing series of works by poets that I enjoy. Poetry, as the Zen Masters have said, is like a finger pointing to the moon. It speaks the unspeakable.
Yesterday I wanted to
speak of it, that sense above
the others to me
important because all
that I know derives
from what it teaches me.
First Name:
Last Name:
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In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:
One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
The post Compass Songs – For Love by Robert Creeley appeared on Andrew Furst.
July 13, 2015
Patterns – New Print For Sale
My latest art print is available at Fine Art America
If you enjoy andrewfurst.net’s Buddhist articles, one minute meditations, poetry, photography and all the other daily content. Please know that there is a great deal of time and effort spent putting it out there for you. One way to say you care and get something in return is to purchase one of my art prints.
This print and others are available at Fine Art America
Help defer the costs of this website. Please, consider purchasing one of my art prints.
Patterns – available at Fine Art America
The post Patterns – New Print For Sale appeared on Andrew Furst.
July 12, 2015
One Minute Meditation – Koi Pond
One Minute Meditations is an ongoing series of short videos, poems, and commentary intended as a meditation. Offered as an opportunity to step back from your cyber routine and settle into a more natural rhythm, if only for a minute.
In May, I drove down to Baltimore to pick up my eldest son. He had just finished his first year in College. The hotel I stayed at had a nice koi pond that afforded me a nice break between lengthy driving stints. I hope you enjoy as well.
These videos are produced for those of us who spend an inordinately large amount of time in the cyber-world. They are not a substitute for unplugging from your devices and taking a stroll near trees, water, or a patch of unkempt grass. Getting out into the world - touching, smelling, hearing, and seeing nature is the best way to reconnect with our prime purpose. What is our prime purpose? We are feeling and sensing machines. We are the universe looking back on itself. We are witness to the wonders and dangers of living in this corner of the cosmos. We are the seekers looking for connection a little further beyond yesterday's borders and boundaries.
But sitting and staring at the screen robs us of the sustenance that we rely upon for wonder and sanity. These videos are an opportunity to bring the sensations of nature to you, while you're in the cyber-world. Its an opportunity to relax your gaze, resettle your posture, and regain some depth in your breath. Listen and watch the video and allow your self to open up and recharge.
Most of these are best viewed in full screen
Get Each Week's One Minute Meditation in your email box.mc4wp-form input[name="_mc4wp_required_but_not_really"]{display:none !important}
First Name:
Last Name:
Email address:
In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:
One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
If You Watched The One Minute Meditation, How Do You Feel? Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
The post One Minute Meditation – Koi Pond appeared on Andrew Furst.
Sunday Morning Coming Down – Coney Island Baby
Sunday Morning Coming Down is an ongoing music video series. The songs fit my definition of music for a lazy couch bound Sunday morning.
This song got heavy play on my car cassette player in my 20’s.
Get Each Week's Sunday Morning Coming Down in your email boxFirst Name:
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In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:
One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Coney Island Baby
by Lou Reed
You know, man, when I was a young man in high school
you believe in or not I wanted to play football for the coach
And all those older guys
they said he was mean and cruel, but you know
wanted to play football for the coach
They said I was to little too light weight to play line-backer
so I say I’m playing right-end
wanted to play football for the coach
‘Cause, you know some day, man
you gotta stand up straight unless you’re gonna fall
then you’re gone to die
And the straightest dude
I ever knew was standing right for me all the time
So I had to play football for the coach
and I wanted to play football for the coach
When you’re all alone and lonely
in your midnight hour
And you find that your soul
it’s been up for sale
And you begin to think ’bout
all the things that you’ve done
And you begin to hate
just ’bout everything
But remember the princess who lived on the hill
Who loved you even though she knew you was wrong
And right now she just might come shining through
and the –
– Glory of love, glory of love
glory of love, just might come through
And all your two-bit friends
have gone and ripped you off
They’re talking behind your back saying, man
you’re never going to be no human being
And you start thinking again
’bout all those things that you’ve done
And who it was and what it was
and all the different things you made every different scene
Ahhh, but remember that the city is a funny place
Something like a circus or a sewer
And just remember different people have peculiar tastes
and the –
– Glory of love, the glory of love
the glory of love, might see you through
yeah, but now, now
Glory of love, the glory of love
the glory of love, might see you through
Glory of love, ah, huh, huh, the glory of love
Glory of love, glory of love
Glory of love, now, glory of love, now
Glory of love, now, now, now, glory of love
Glory of love, give it to me now, glory of love see you through
Oh, my Coney Island baby, now
(I’m a Coney Island baby, now)
I’d like to send this one out for Lou and Rachel
and all the kids and P.S. 192
Coney Island baby
Man, I’d swear, I’d give the whole thing up for you
The post Sunday Morning Coming Down – Coney Island Baby appeared on Andrew Furst.
July 11, 2015
Does Everything Change? – Say What?
Say What? is an ongoing series of laconic exchanges on Buddhism in the format of a comic strip.
This shirt is dry clean only. Which means... it's dirty. - Mitch Hedberg
Does Everything Change?
A Few Words On Change.
Get Each Week's Say What? in your email box.mc4wp-form input[name="_mc4wp_required_but_not_really"]{display:none !important}
First Name:
Last Name:
Email address:
In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:
One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
The post Does Everything Change? – Say What? appeared on Andrew Furst.
Tiny Drops – Lines of the World – Part II
Tiny Drops is an ongoing iPhoneographic series. The images represent moments of noticing on my part. For you, they are an offer to pause, observe, and take that noticing into your life. All photos are mine unless noted otherwise.
These works by Andrew Furst are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Click on images to view the full size slide show.
C 630
fab jesus
Gnarled Apple Tree framedGet Each Week's Tiny Drops in your email boxFirst Name:
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In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:
One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
FIVE LIMITLESS THOUGHTS
May all living beings have happiness and its causes
May all be free from unhappiness and its causes
May all dwell in equanimity, free of attraction and aversion
May all quickly find the great happiness that lies beyond all misery
May all enjoy inner and outer peace now and forever
NAMO AMITOFOThe post Tiny Drops – Lines of the World – Part II appeared on Andrew Furst.
July 10, 2015
Quote – Robert A. Heinlein on Religion and Politics
Religion and Politics
The post Quote – Robert A. Heinlein on Religion and Politics appeared on Andrew Furst.
